How Green Was My Valley: Analysis of Major Characters
"How Green Was My Valley" is a poignant exploration of life in a Welsh mining community, focusing on the intricate relationships and struggles of the Morgan family against the backdrop of labor disputes and personal tragedies. The narrative is primarily conveyed through Huw Morgan, the narrator and youngest son, who reflects on his childhood and the impact of social change on his family. Gwilym Morgan, Huw's father, initially shows sympathy for union causes but later clashes with his sons over their beliefs, portraying the generational divide in perspectives on labor rights.
Key characters include Angharad, who navigates her love for Mr. Gruffydd while ultimately marrying Iestyn Evans, and Ivor, Huw's oldest brother, who is committed to his father's views and tragically dies in a mining accident. Other notable figures include the ambitious Davy, who seeks a new life in New Zealand, and the sensitive Marged, whose unrequited love leads to her tragic demise. The novel delves into themes of love, loss, and the harsh realities of mining life, offering a rich tapestry of character dynamics that reflect both personal and collective struggles within a changing society.
How Green Was My Valley: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Richard Llewellyn
First published: 1939
Genre: Novel
Locale: Wales
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: Nineteenth century
Gwilym Morgan (GWIH-luhm), a Welsh miner. At first sympathetic with union agitators, he is later opposed to strikers and quarrels with his sons over their views. As mine superintendent, he is disliked by many of the workers. He dies in the cave-in of a flooded mine.
Beth Morgan, his wife, whose life is saved by young Huw just before Angharad's birth.
Huw (hew), their son and the narrator, who many years afterward sadly recalls the days of his childhood and young manhood. He remembers the strike troubles that divided the family, his illness from exposure suffered in saving his mother's life, his fights at school and his expulsion for beating the schoolmaster, his joining his brothers in the pits, his leaving to become a carpenter, and finally his entering the mine to find his father and staying with him until he died.
Ivor (EE-vohr), the oldest son, sympathetic with his father's views. He is killed in a mine cave-in.
Davy, another son, the last one to leave the mines. He migrates to New Zealand.
Owen and Gwilym, two sons who (with Davy) move away from home for a time because of their union views. They later leave the valley for London and then America.
Ianto (YAHN-toh), a son who marries a village girl and leaves the valley. He returns after her death and works in the mines until he leaves for similar work in Germany.
Angharad (AHN-gah-rad), the Morgan daughter who loves Mr. Gruffydd but marries Iestyn.
Bronwen, Ivor's wife, whom Huw loves from the moment he sees her as a child. He goes to stay with her after Ivor is killed.
Marged (MAHR-gehd), Gwilym's wife, who goes mad from love of Owen and burns herself to death.
Iestyn Evans (YEHS-tuhn), son of the mine owner and husband of Angharad.
Mr. Gruffydd (GRIH-fuhth), the new minister who becomes Huw's best friend. He loves Angharad but is too poor to marry her.
Ceinwen Phillips (KEEN-wehn), Huw's sweetheart.