6.1 Martin
| Trait | Evidence |
|---|---|
| nervous, anxious, lacking confidence | dreads the elevator; hopes it will not stop |
| sensitive, imaginative | hears footsteps following him on the stairs; believes the lady knew he would fall |
| ashamed and insecure | ashamed to fear an old lady; tries to live up to his father's idea of a "man" |
| lonely | no one believes or supports him |
| tries to be brave | forces himself to use the elevator |
| vulnerable at the end | on crutches, alone, trapped |
6.2 Martin's father
| Trait | Evidence |
|---|---|
| unsympathetic, lacks empathy | dismisses Martin's fears as ridiculous |
| harsh, humiliating | calls Martin a coward; mocks him about being afraid alone |
| expects his son to be "a man" | disappointed that Martin is thin and bad at sports |
| angry rather than caring | does not speak to Martin on the way to hospital |
| neglectful at the crucial moment | gets off at the ninth floor: "Grow up, Martin." |
6.3 The fat lady
| Trait | Evidence |
|---|---|
| mysterious | we never learn who she is or where she lives |
| physically overwhelming | fills the tiny elevator; it sinks under her weight |
| silent and staring | never speaks until the last line |
| strangely knowing | learns his floor; seems to know he will fall; knows his name |
| sinister | the smile; pressing STOP; "Hello, Martin" |
| ambiguous | real person, supernatural being, or a figure magnified by Martin's fear? |