Minnie Bibble Essay, Research Paper

Minnie Bibble

In many short stories authors develop the characters by using different ways of

characterization. These methods may include both direct and or indirect characterization.In the short story “He Thinks He’s Wonderful,” F. Scott Fitzgerald develops Minnie Bibble in both of these ways.

Fitzgerald uses direct characterization first in describing Minnie. Direct characterization is statements or facts that the author tells the reader directly. Using this we learned that Minnie is a fifteen-year-old girl, whose father had moved her to Southampton from New Orleans in May, in order to get her mind off of boys and love. This move was not very effective, she was engaged before the first of June.

Second, Fitzgerald also uses indirect characterization, through thoughts, words, and actions and through perceptions of other characters. This shows that Minnie has a wonderful personality and is very charming. We also learn immediately that she has taken a liking to the main character Basil. He thinks “She is certainly a wonderful girl” and that she is very addicting.

As the story develops so does Minnie’s character. After she and Basil had made plans for him to accompany her and her family to Glacier Park and talked about meeting each other constantly, her plans fell through. Though Minne seemed not to be very upset about leaving Basil, his heart was broken that she was gone.

Through Fitzgerald’s methods of characterization we know that Minnie Bibble is a round character because of her change of heart at the end of the story. At first it seems Minnie and Basil were to have a solid love relationship but when the plans fall through and Minne acts as though it doesn’t effect her, it seems Basil had just fallen for Minnie’s charm as other boys had in the past.