Primary Characters in "Keeping it from Harold"
Bill Bramble (The Masked Marvel)
Bill Bramble is the central figure of the story, a professional boxer who lives a double life to protect his son's sensibilities. His character embodies several key traits:
- Professional Identity: Known in the boxing world as "The Masked Marvel," he fights under this pseudonym to maintain his respectable facade
- Internal Conflict: Constantly struggles between his boxing career and maintaining his son's idealized image of him
His internal turmoil is evident in passages like:
"Bill Bramble wiped his mouth, closed his eyes, and nodded. The moment which he had dreaded for so many years had arrived. The problem which had haunted him had presented itself for solution."
Harold Bramble
Harold represents the catalyst for the story's central conflict. His character is defined by:
- Intellectual Aspirations: A gifted young student with refined sensibilities
- Naivety: Unaware of his father's true profession
- Class Consciousness: Despite his young age, shows clear signs of social climbing
Harold's character serves as both the motivation for and obstacle to his father's actions, creating the story's central tension.
Jane Bramble
Bill's wife and Harold's mother, Jane plays a crucial mediating role:
- Practical Wisdom: Often sees situations more clearly than her husband
