Keith’s Father / Mr. Ted Hayward Character Analysis

A stoic ex-officer who displays his military achievement for killing five Germans in the First World War, Keith’s father largely spends his time doing work around the house and the garden. The garage is his personal abode where he completes different kinds of projects. From Stephen’s description, he works for the Home Guard, a volunteer organization for those who are ineligible for military service, which is very likely embarrassing for Keith’s father and contributes to his desire to maintain strict control of his household and family. It is also likely why Keith tells Stephen that he actually “works for the Secret Service.” He exerts an enormous influence on Keith, who echoes his father’s cold snobbishness and inherits his domineering and violent personality. Keith’s father never acknowledges Stephen’s presence unless he believes Stephen knows something he shouldn’t. Frayn portrays Keith’s father as being violent to his wife, who covers her neck with a scarf to hide the sadistic method with which he punishes her—cutting her with his bayonet, the same method that Keith uses on Stephen. Although he generally uses casual and even playful language, Keith’s father also frequently threatens Keith with physical punishment. He is referred to as “Ted” by Keith’s mother near the end of the story.