Leaf by Niggle

Niggle is the protagonist of the story. He lives in the countryside and wants to spend all his time painting, but he feels bombarded by the requests of others and the practical tasks he must… read analysis of Niggle

Parish is Niggle’s only neighbor in the countryside. At the beginning of the story, he is more of a hassle than a friend to Niggle, constantly asking him to run errands and only valuing… read analysis of Parish

Parish’s wife lives with Parish in the house next to Niggle’s home. She refers to Niggle in an offhand way as “that Mr. Niggle” and is perhaps slyer than Parish himself in taking advantage… read analysis of Parish’s Wife

The Inspector of Houses is an especially tall man who comes to visit Niggle. He, like all visitors, is perceived as a nuisance by Niggle, doubly so because his purpose is to ensure that… read analysis of The Inspector of Houses

The Porter first appears on the platform at the station where Niggle gets off the first train. Instead of yelling the name of the stop, he yells Niggle’s name, implying he has some knowledge of… read analysis of The Porter

The doctor tends to Niggle at the Workhouse. When Niggle first arrives, the doctor treats him harshly, prescribing bitter medicine. But at the end of Niggle’s time in the Workhouse, the doctor gives him a… read analysis of The Doctor

The First Voice is one of the two Voices Niggle hears when he is ordered to rest after his long stint of hard labor at the Workhouse. The Voices discuss whether Niggle is ready to… read analysis of First Voice

The Second Voice is one of the two Voices that discuss Niggle’s character and decide whether he deserves to move from the Workhouse to the “next stage.” It is gentler than the First Voice… read analysis of Second Voice

The shepherd appears when Niggle ventures to the foot of the mountains after he has finished tending to the land of his painting. He offers himself to Niggle as a guide and reveals that he… read analysis of The Shepherd

Councillor Tompkins is an official of high importance from Niggle’s town. At the end of the story, he discusses Niggle’s life and work with Atkins—another one of the townspeople—and dismisses Niggle’s painting as… read analysis of Councillor Tompkins

Atkins is a schoolmaster who, at the end of the story, discusses Niggle with Councillor Tompkins. He is more sympathetic towards Niggle and disagrees with Tompkins when he suggests that Niggle was useless before… read analysis of Atkins