Laminex and Mirrors Character Analysis

Narrator

– The unnamed narrator and protagonist is an Australian eighteen-year-old girl who has just taken a job as a hospital cleaner. The narrator plans to work at the hospital throughout the summer, and has calculated… read analysis of Narrator

Mr. Moreton

– Mr. Moreton is an “old bloke, ex-Army” who is a patient at the hospital where the narrator works. Though he often jokes and laughs with the narrator, he appears melancholy in the environment of… read analysis of Mr. Moreton

Dot

– Dot is one of the narrator’s coworkers at the hospital and Len’s wife. On her first day of work, the narrator remarks, “I've never met anyone like Dot, whose hair is backcombed… read analysis of Dot

The Matron

– The matron is an unnamed woman who holds a supervisory position in the hospital where the narrator works. Though she never speaks in the narrative, her presence and her policies loom large in the… read analysis of The Matron

Marie

– Marie is the head cleaner at the hospital. She serves as the narrator’s supervisor, and often speaks to her in a cold, harsh manner. Though she is intent upon upholding the matron’s… read analysis of Marie

Noeleen

– Noeleen is another of the narrator’s hospital coworkers, a working-class woman who—like Dot—gives the narrator several pieces of cleaning advice throughout the narrative. She supports Dot’s catalogue side business by purchasing body… read analysis of Noeleen

Len

– Len is Dot’s husband. He visits Dot on her morning break as he is coming home from his night shift at the printing works. Len doesn’t “take [Dot’s] home business seriously,” and doubts… read analysis of Len

Tony

– Tony is a male nurse from South Africa who works at the hospital. The narrator explains that she has agreed to go to the hospital’s staff Christmas party with him because she is moved… read analysis of Tony