The Go-Between: Is Ted a coward?

In Hartleys The Go-Between, lower-class Ted, a major character takes his life following a passionate affair with upper class Marian, at Brandham Hall in the year 1900.Teds felo-de-se could be judged as a cowardly act. However, Hartley has disposed(p) the ref try to prove that Ted is a very strong and brave character in this sassy.Hartley explores the difficult path of the cognize between Marian and Ted against the strict loving background of 1900 England.In the garden of Eden setting of Brandham Hall, Hartley tells the floor through the eyes of an innocent 12-year-old boy, king of beasts, who discoers the importance of class distinctions in the resilient summer of 1900. In the resulting loss of innocence, Leo discovers the true nature of the kind between central characters Ted and Marian, and the lives of all the people at Brandham Hall ar changed forever.The endorser is send-off introduced to Ted at the locomote hole. This is important to the decision of Teds coward ice as we ar possessn a very strong tangible description of him. The following description persuades the reader that Ted epitomizes strength. He is not fallible and t herefore not a coward. it was Ted Burgess clinging to the post, hauling himself out. Hismuscles bunched, his face stress with effort. He did not see me, andI retreated almost in tear before that powerful body. (Pg 63)Hartley successfully uses symbolism to convey the stem that Ted is a strong man. At the beginning of the novel, young Leo is marveling over the zodiac signs which decorate his diary. He is unsure of which sign he would like to be the water carrier or the archer. Throughout the novel, Leo makes connections with Ted and the water carrier. He describes the water carrier as strong and sturdy.Striding across the distantmyard came the farmer, a pail of water ineach hand. I remembered him it was Ted Burgess of the swimmingpool. (Pg 85)Ted is withal described by Hartley as a lamentable reaper. The grubb y reaper is a man that personifies death as an old man or skeleton carrying a scythe. This again gives the reader a manly impression of Ted and not a gutless one.It wasnt difficult to find him, for he was usually working in theharvest fields on the far side of the river from the sluiceplatform I could see where he was. The first time I went he wasriding the reaper, a new fangled tool which cut the corn butdid not bind it.Hartley used a gun as another symbol. This symbol was crucial to the deeper understanding(a) of primary(prenominal) character, Ted. Ted actually describes himself as a pretty good shot. Guns are a symbol of strength, a symbol of power. They are designed stringently to injure or kill.There are a few references during the novel about Ted and his gun, as well as these weapons in general.He was standing with his gun suck uping for the rabbits andother creatures, which clung to their shelter till the last arcminutebefore bolting out. (Pg 109)He was sitting on a cha ir easy the table with a gun betweenhis knees so absorbed that he didnt hear me. The muzzle wasjust below his mouth, the barrel was pressed against his unsandedchest, and he was peering down it. (Pg 186)These descriptions of Ted and his gun are very important to the reader because it gives us the understanding that Ted is comfortable around this weapons and he has access to one. The reader is less surprised when we learn that Ted has shot himself.Throughout the novel, Leo visits Ted at Black Farm to deliver messages from Marian. Ted is defined by his environment thats his rest home and his job. Ted is a working-class man who works as a dwell on the land. Ted is tanned from spending long days working outside. He is will never earn enough money to advance up the social class ladder because he is bound to give dinero from his farm to the owner, Lord Trimingham.The description of Teds house and some dialogue helps the reader to assume that Ted is physically and mentally resilient. This man is no coward.We entered the house, which struck me as a mean abode,through a door that led unbowed into the kitchen.This is where I mostly live, he said defensively, Im notwhat you call a gentleman farmer. Im a working one.(Pg 87)Ted is physically strong but also mentally tough too. From the beginning, the reader learns that Ted knows exactly where he fits in the social class structure of 1900 England. This is shown when Leo trespasses visits Teds farm. What the devil- he began, and his red-brown eyessparkled with angry lights. What the sin do you thinkyoure doing here? Ive a good mind to give you thebiggest thrashing youve ever had in your life.As soon as Ted realises that Leo is staying at the tone completely changes and he apologises to Leo. You mustnt mind if I rung to you a bit hasty. Thatsthe way I am, and these old boys round here they driveme half demented.I did not despise him for changing his cable when he knewwhere I came from it seemed to me right, natural a ndproper that he should.The acceptance of Teds blank space in hostelry is very important to the development of his character. We understand that Ted is not resentful of where he stands but compliant. This is crucial to the understanding Teds suicide. He realises that Marian will never marry him. He would rather die than watch Lord Trimingham live a life with Marian. This is not cowardice, but acceptance.Teds suicide could be described as cowardly. However, Hartley has given the reader enough evidence to suggest otherwise. Ted is compared to strong characters such as the water carrier and the grim reaper. He is initially described as being very physically strong and attractive at the water hole. Ted has a knowledge and love of guns, they make him feel virile. Ted is very intelligent. He realises where he stands in caller and is accepting of this. He understands that Marian will never marry him because society will not accept it. Ultimately, Ted killed himself out of love for Maria n. He didnt requisite to live a life that would not include Marian. Ted is not a coward but simply head-over-heels in love.