Ketch Freeman (James Freeman) Character Analysis

Another convict in the penal colony. Along with Handy Baker, Ketch is part of the group that steals from the colony’s food supply at the beginning of the play. Unlike the others, though, he avoids the death penalty by accepting a job as the colony’s hangman. This upsets him deeply, but since he was only going along with the plan to steal food, he thinks he doesn’t deserve to die. Still, though, he admits to Ralph that he’s worried God won’t forgive him for hanging his co-conspirators. Furthermore, his role as the hangman has made him wildly unpopular in the camp. Because of this, he pleads with Ralph to be cast in the play, hoping he’ll be able to redeem himself by joining the production. At first, the other actors only continue to resent him, refusing to act alongside him. By the end, though, they stop giving him a hard time.