Character Study

Today I will be writing about Taylor Markham, the main character of my English novel, On the jellicoe road. I will be writing about her characteristics and the importance they play in the novel. The book is written in first person, from her perspective. Taylor is a senior and the leader of her school house. She is an orphan as both of her parents died in a car crash when she was younger. It is September, meaning the beginning of the territory wars between the Townies, the Cadets and the Jellicoe School. Taylor has been raised to lead the jellicoe school and she will do her best to succeed.

Taylor’s most prominent characteristic is leadership. She is a born leader and, since year 7, has been trained to become the leader of her house and of the school. She has the right to surrender to the others and she has to contact the leader of the Townies and Cadets to negotiate land, paths and areas. She controls the other house leaders, even though they hate her, they cant kick her out because they need 5 votes and they only have 4. Taylor is also strong-willed and minded and will not let anyone tell her what to do.

Taylor is quite an erratic character. Both of her parents dying hen she was young affected her greatly. Going to a boarding school she had no authority figure an her grief made her wild. When she was in year 8 she ran away from the school, and found a Cadet who was also running away. They boarded a train but it derailed so off they went, to find Taylor’s sister. The Cadet “betrayed” her and they both got taken back.She burnt down the laundry one year as well. She is quite a rebel and doesn’t listen to many people.

The third major characteristic Taylor posses is empathy. She mentions a lot how bad she feels for certain people. She feels sorry for Ben who is always getting bashed by the seniors and that they always target his fingers and hands so he won’t be able to play music. She is sorry that she doesn’t try to look after the younger children in her house and that Hannah has to do it because Taylor has never bothered. She carries a lot on empathy but she doesn’t empathise the right people.

Taylor Markham plays an important role in the story as the main character. Without her the story would not be. Her leadership is important and her erotica move the story along and keep it interesting.