Character Study : Harry Hobson :: English Literature

Character Study Harry HobsonHarold Brighouse Although a prolific and popular playwright andnovelist during his lifetime, the reputation of Harold Brighouse todayrests intimately entirely on his play Hobsons Choice. Born in Eccles nearSalford on 26 July 1882, his mother was a teacher and his father wasin the cotton business. Despite gaining a scholarship to ManchesterGrammar School, Harold was not a keen student at seventeen he leftschool to start work in the textile industry.Henry Hobson, a boot shop owner in Salford, not a very successful oneeither. Henry has three children, every(prenominal) girls, Maggie, who is thirty,Alice, twenty-three and finally Victoria, known as Vickey who istwenty-one. All of the girls work for Hobson, but do not receive anyform of wage. Hobson treats the three girls with no jimmywhatsoever we understand that this is true by the tone and aggressionin Hobsons voice when he interacts with them.He is the most hypocritical man in Hobsons Choice this is pr ovenby the change in his tone and body language when Ms Hepworth, a highclassed customer, enters his shop. When Hobson greets Ms. Hepworth heimmediately rushes to suck up up a chair for her to sit on. Ms Hepworthquestions Henry Hobson about who made her shoes, which she hadrecently purchased in this shop. Hobson does not give her a straight decide so Ms. Hepworth uses a different, more violent approach toreceive an answer. Maggie immediately calls, tubby while pulling upthe trap door from the pavement referring to Tubby Wadlow, a shoemakerwho works for Hobson. Henry assures Ms. Hepworth that he isresponsible for all work done in the premises. Tubby is also asked ifhe made the boots to which he replied, They are Willies making,those. Ms. Hepworth then asked who Willie was, when Henry Hobsonrushed to answering by saying that he is capable of making the mansuffer for it.