The Ice Age: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Ice Age: Analysis of Major Characters" provides an exploration of the complex individuals at the heart of a narrative centered around personal failure, ambition, and familial struggles. The central character, Anthony Keating, is a disillusioned property developer in his thirties, grappling with the consequences of his past decisions, including a misguided partnership with the fraudulent Len Wincobank. Keating, once a hopeful television producer, now faces bankruptcy and seeks to maintain his life with his beloved, Alison Murray, who is depicted as a talented yet troubled woman.
Alison's challenges are compounded by her daughters' issues—her eldest, Jane, is imprisoned for a tragic accident in Wallachia, while her youngest, Molly, requires significant care due to cerebral palsy. In contrast, Wincobank represents the archetype of the ambitious and unscrupulous individual, whose relentless pursuit of wealth leads to both personal ruin and collateral damage to those around him. The narrative emphasizes themes of regret, familial loyalty, and the harsh realities of life choices, inviting readers to reflect on the motivations and moral complexities of each character.
The Ice Age: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Margaret Drabble
First published: 1977
Genre: Novel
Locale: England and the Balkan country of Wallacia
Plot: Social
Time: The mid-1970's
Anthony Keating, an unhappy, once upwardly mobile property developer in his thirties who made rash speculations at the behest of a business associate, Len Wincobank, who later was imprisoned for fraud. Keating, the impassioned lover of Alison Murray, attempts to understand how life went wrong for him. He had worked as a television producer, and in 1968, he interviewed Wincobank. The experience convinced him to go into property development. Now facing imminent bankruptcy, he hopes to be able somehow to keep his spectacular Midlands home and live there with Alison.
Alison Murray, another protagonist. Beautiful, talented, and troubled, she is caught up not only in Keating's plight but also in her own daughters' problems. Daughter Jane has been imprisoned in the mythical country of Wallachia after having run over and killed a Wallachian peasant while on a tourist excursion; she faces a long term of imprisonment. Youngest daughter Molly suffers from the long-term effects of cerebral palsy and demands considerable attention and affection. Alison gave up a promising career as an actress to care for Molly. She is married to a successful but unfaithful actor.
Len Wincobank, a supremely self-confident confidence man who symbolizes the get-rich-quick London go-getter of the 1970's whose greed and vaunting ambition lead to a downfall. Sent to prison for fraudulent dealings, Wincobank not only ruins his own life but also hurts others in the process, primarily Anthony Keating, his disciple. Wincobank, though highly intelligent, clearly lacks a conscience: He shows no remorse over his crimes against society and friends. He speculates that once released from prison, he can go back to his property development schemes.
Jane Murray, the sullen, withdrawn eldest daughter of Alison Murray. She shows little interest in other people, even her own mother. Involved in what clearly should have been seen as involuntary manslaughter, she is treated by Wallachian authorities as a murderer and is therefore given a life sentence. Despite the drabness of prison existence, Jane spurns her mother's offer of comfort and possible release.