Character Analysis Of Michael Frrayn's 'Mr. Greenfield'

Initially, Michael Frayn portrays Mrs Hayward as someone with the perfect life, from Stephen’s perspective, someone who does not appear to warrant sympathy. She is always “unhurried and composed”, and has a “rest” in the afternoon, reflecting the idea her life is tranquil and stress-free. Stephen feels a sense of admiration towards the Haywards and describes them as “impeccable”, a contrast to his own “unsatisfactory family”; He continually feels inferior to them, portraying the idea they are superior and above Stephen’s status. He describes the presentation of their house “in all its perfection” as Mr Hayward is “for ever making perfection yet more perfect” the use of hyperbole demonstrates Stephen’s attitude of admiration towards the Haywards.
Mr Hayward is characterised as a cruel man. His direct speech of minor and monosyllabic sentences with imperatives, “Silly games. Don’t play them”, shows how he forces his authority onto others. He is calm yet stern in his approach that is often accompanied with a “thin smile” creating an even more menacing profile. It is not only Mr Hayward's stern manner that creates sympathy for Mrs Hayward but his tyrannical, violent actions and behaviour. Mr Hayward corporally punishes Keith and often threatens him in order for Keith to conform. He states, “I’ll cane you”, when Mrs Hayward takes the thermos flask; it is Keith who receives the repercussions “You know what you’re going to get”. I believe that, although not explicitly stated, Mr Hayward is aware of Mrs Hayward's and Uncle Peter’s affair and is projecting his anger towards Keith, which is the most painful way to punish Mrs Hayward for her betrayal. Michael Frayn writes, “She winces, as if it were her own hands that were red hot” the use of the simile exhibits how, as a mother, she feels the pain that Keith suffers. The metaphor emphasis the pain he endures as a consequence of his mother’s infidelity. Sympathy for Mrs Hayward is also created as the reader feels she married the wrong person. She and Mr Hayward have contrasting personalities shown in the description of both characters’ manner of speech. Mrs Hayward “[she] spoke softly and smilingly” the
Auntie Dee becomes a victim of her sister’s situation. This is emphasised by her positive portrayal throughout the novel as her personality reflects Uncle Peter’s. Auntie Dee is “ welcoming, cheerful and untidy” the triplet of adjectives establishes her joyful personality. Uncle Peter has the “same recklessly open smile as Auntie Dee.” The reader feels antipathy towards Mrs Hayward as she has broken up the marriage between her sister and brother-in-law. Although Mrs Hayward is indifferent to Mr Hayward, Auntie Dee is more welcoming and would “speak, not just to Keith, but quite directly to both of [us]” them, this is a contrast to Mrs Hayward's attitude towards Stephen “She didn’t speak to him personally” Michael Frayn shifts the sympathy of the reader towards Auntie Dee, as the more amiable character and better suited to Uncle Peter. The betrayal is amplified through the picture displaying Auntie Dee whom “looks up so trustingly and apprehensively”. Mrs Hayward has betrayed her younger sister, who she has looked-up to her whole life and relied on, “Keith's mother was back and forth to the shops all the time to get things for Auntie Dee”. The reader feels disgust towards Mrs Haywood as she acted selfishly to escape her relationship with Mr Haywood, and was disloyal Auntie Dee, who is undeserving of the