STLT (Central Character)

Who is the central character in Small Things Like These and how is he introduced?

The central character is Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant in New Ross. He’s introduced through his pre-Christmas deliveries, giving insight into his dependable, hardworking nature and establishing him as the moral center of the novella.

What key personal qualities of Bill Furlong are highlighted early on?

Early on, Furlong’s conscientiousness, empathy, and sense of duty are underscored by his meticulous work routines, his care for his family, and the quiet attention he pays to each customer’s needs—even in the face of his own hardships.

How does Furlong’s family life shape our understanding of his character?

References to his wife and daughters reveal his protective, nurturing side. His role as provider offers a contrast to the neglect he later witnesses, emphasizing his inherent compassion and deepening our sense of his moral stakes.

In what ways does Furlong’s backstory inform his worldview?

Furlong recalls the kindness shown to him during his own childhood, which anchors his belief in small acts of generosity. This memory frames his empathy as both personal history and guiding principle, shaping how he reacts to injustice.

How does Furlong’s routine work reveal aspects of his moral character?

His daily coal deliveries bring him into contact with the town’s poorest residents. By noting their struggles in his reflections—rather than dismissing them—he demonstrates a moral sensitivity that foreshadows the choices he’ll make.

How does Keegan use Furlong’s internal monologue to develop the General Vision and Viewpoint?

Through sparse but poignant inner reflections, readers access Furlong’s doubts, memories, and convictions. This interiority anchors the novella’s viewpoint in his moral perspective, blending realism with quiet ethical urgency.

What transformation or development does Furlong undergo, and how does it reflect the novella’s vision?

Furlong moves from observer to active responder when he chooses to intervene in the lives of the vulnerable. His shift from routine dutifulness to courageous action embodies the novella’s message about individual responsibility amid collective complacency.

Bill & Privilege

Bill is aware that he is luckier than most financially. He is aware that his mother could've been the one in the launderies

Bill and the church

Society appears to be Christian but doesn't uphold the values as both the nuns are hypocrites for their treatment of the girls and society for turning a blind eye