The Games Were Coming: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Games Were Coming: Analysis of Major Characters" examines the intricate relationships and emotional struggles of several key figures surrounding the Southern Games cycling event. At the center is Leon Seal, a dedicated cyclist whose ambition drives him to neglect his girlfriend, Sylvia, who grapples with feelings of abandonment and seeks fulfillment elsewhere. Leon's father, Fitz, instills a strict sense of discipline but struggles with emotional expression, affecting his interactions with family members. Sylvia's friend, May, represents a contrasting perspective on motherhood and relationships, encouraging Sylvia to manipulate Leon into accepting a child that may not be his.
Dolphus Seal, Leon's younger brother, finds himself torn between admiration for Leon's athletic prowess and a desire for recognition. Meanwhile, Imbal Mohansingh, Sylvia's married employer, complicates her life further, highlighting themes of desire and betrayal. The narrative emphasizes the challenges of ambition, emotional detachment, and the quest for identity, particularly within the context of societal expectations and personal aspirations. Through these character analyses, the story delves into the broader implications of ambition and the consequences of emotional neglect on personal relationships.
The Games Were Coming: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Michael Anthony
First published: 1963
Genre: Novel
Locale: Southern Trinidad, British West Indies
Plot: Social realism
Time: From January to April during a year in the early 1950's
Leon Seal, a competitive cyclist who has quit his job to devote himself to preparing for the fifteen-mile race at the Southern Games. In his early twenties, big and powerfully built, he obeys his father's instructions and pays exceptional attention to the training and care of his body. He ignores the Trinidad Carnival celebrations and willfully turns his back on his emotional life by severely limiting contact with his girlfriend, Sylvia. Disciplined, cold, and calculating in his quest for personal glory, Leon naïvely misreads the complexity of Sylvia's personality and her potential for an identity independent of him. Controlled and cautious in his own behavior, Leon allows his ambition to blind him to Sylvia's physical and emotional condition and her manipulation of him; in promising to marry her if he wins the race, he may have committed himself unknowingly to rearing another man's child.
Sylvia, Leon's girlfriend, a store clerk. A tall, attractive twenty-one-year-old, she is quiet and easygoing, the product of a poor but respectable upbringing. She is in love with Leon but hurt, frustrated, and confused by his recent neglect of her. Never particularly interested in sports, she is increasingly taken with the spirit of the Trinidad Carnival, with its under-current of abandon and immorality. Resentment and a desire for retribution combine with loneliness, boredom, and a shaken sense of self-worth to make Sylvia vulnerable to the advances of her married employer, Imbal Mohansingh. When she becomes pregnant, Sylvia wants an abortion but accepts her friend May's suggestion and decides to try and trick Leon into accepting the baby as his own.
Dolphus Seal, Leon's preadolescent brother. Observant, imaginative, and reflective, he is equally excited by two approaching events: the Southern Games and the Carnival. He cannot decide whether to become a cyclist or a steel band musician. When he thinks of the games, he imagines himself like Leon: big, strong, and powerful. Steel band music makes him feel tender, artistic, and emotional. He takes great pride in Leon's growing prowess and celebrity but is sometimes bitter and resentful that Leon is too preoccupied to recognize him publicly and allow him some reflected glory.
Fitz Seal, Leon's father and trainer. A big, powerful oil refinery worker in his early fifties, he is a reformed rum-drinking, dancing Carnival man who has imparted a strong sense of order and discipline to Leon and oversees his preparations for the race. He likes Sylvia but wants Leon to keep her away during his training. Embarrassed by shows of emotion, he is superficially severe and undemonstrative to his children; however, his wife knows him to be gentle and loving. A perfectionist who only grudgingly gives praise, he is sustained by his son's admiration and boasts of Leon's abilities to others.
May, a friend of Sylvia who works in a café. She brazenly admits to having illegitimate children and having had several abortions. Surprised by Sylvia's innocence and naïveté, May is annoyed by her air of moral and social propriety and feels a vindictive satisfaction when Sylvia becomes pregnant. May refuses help in finding an abortionist but suggests that Sylvia pass the baby off as Leon's.
Imbal Mohansingh, Sylvia's employer and owner of a small clothing and dry goods store. Nearing fifty and married, he is amazed at his success in seducing Sylvia.
Melda Seal, Leon's mother. Good-natured, with a lively sense of humor, she is amused by Dolphus' antics. She has great affection for her husband and knows the real man behind the reserved exterior. She senses that there is a problem between Sylvia and Leon despite his denial.
Ironman Hamille, a great cyclist from the same club as Leon and a rival in the fifteen-mile race. He no longer has the necessary dedication and discipline and fails to stay the distance. He is attracted to Sylvia and tries unsuccessfully to form a liaison with May.
Mr. Grays, an athletics coach who is proud of his own past glory and strongly believes in dedication and the brotherhood of sportsmen.