Vera Sappleton Character Analysis in The Open Window

Fifteen-year-old Vera greets Mr. Nuttel upon his arrival to the Sappleton home and spins the tragic tale that sends him running away. Immediately described as “very self-possessed,” Vera is an observant, clever, and above all imaginative young woman who handily fools the adults around her with “romance on short notice.” Vera’s name comes from the Latin for truth, and her innocent demeanor makes her tales all the more convincing.

Vera Sappleton Quotes in The Open Window

The The Open Window quotes below are all either spoken by Vera Sappleton or refer to Vera Sappleton. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Framton Nuttel endeavoured to say the correct something which should duly flatter the niece of the moment without unduly discounting the aunt that was to come. Privately he doubted more than ever whether these formal visits on a succession of total strangers would do much towards helping the nerve cure which he was supposed to be undergoing.

Related Characters: Vera Sappleton, Framton Nuttel

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 189

Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Nuttel is at a loss for words when Vera greets him upon his arrival at the Sappleton home. He is presented as a man greatly concerned with social decorum, which here appears complicated to the point of absurdity—in seeking to say the “correct something,” he ends up saying nothing at all, thus appearing rude through too much politeness. These lines also establish Mr. Nuttel’s anxiousness and the reason for his visit; he has gone to the country because of an ailment of “nerves,” his sister has written ahead to strangers in the area, and now Mr. Nuttel is obligated Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mo

Poor aunt always thinks that they will come back some day, they and the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in at that window just as they used to do. That is why the window is kept open every evening till it is quite dusk. … Do you know, sometimes on still, quiet evenings like this, I almost get a creepy feeling that they will all walk in through that window - "

Related Characters: Vera Sappleton (speaker), Framton Nuttel, Mrs. Sappleton

Related Symbols: The Open Window

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 190

Explanation and Analysis:

Vera’s elaborate explanation for the open window ends with an element of horror. Knowing full well that her uncles are not dead, and in fact will be returning through the open window later that afternoon, Vera sets the stage to frighten Mr. Nuttel. She includes specific details as well, like the little brown spaniel, to make her story seem more reliable, thoroughly convincing Mr. Nuttel (who has no reason to disbelieve the seemingly innocent Vera) that her fiction is fact. He, along with the reader, does not know the true fate of Vera’s uncles, and as such her words create Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non

Romance at short notice was her speciality.

Related Characters: Vera Sappleton

Page Number and Citation: 191

Explanation and Analysis:

Only in the final line of Saki’s story do we get an explanation of Vera’s behavior—that is, that she is deeply imaginative, quick-thinking, and prone to telling stories. “At short notice” she has been able to entirely fool the gullible Mr. Nuttel and get away with it, leaving her relatives to assume that he must be extremely rude or even insane. This pithy line thus explains everything that came before and suggests that Vera has been getting away with this kind of tale-telling for some time. Saki also takes a dig at the seriousness of traditional romantic tales by presenting Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt.

Vera Sappleton Character Timeline in The Open Window

The timeline below shows where the character Vera Sappleton appears in The Open Window. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Vera, a “self-possessed” young woman, greets Framton Nuttel, who has just arrived at her house. Vera... (full context)

Mr. Nuttel attempts to think of an appropriate greeting to flatter Vera without going so far as to belittle her aunt, Mrs. Sappleton. He ends up saying... (full context)

After “sufficient silent communion” has elapsed, Vera asks Mr. Nuttel about his knowledge of the area. Mr. Nuttel replies that he knows... (full context)

Vera tells Mr. Nuttel that Mrs. Sappleton’s “great tragedy” happened three years prior, after Mr. Nuttel’s... (full context)

Vera points out a large open window, commenting that Mr. Nuttel may wonder why it has... (full context)

Mr. Nuttel notes that Vera’s voice has become less self-assured, and instead is “falteringly human.” She continues, saying that her... (full context)

Mrs. Sappleton enters the room, much to Mr. Nuttel’s relief, and asks her guest if Vera has been amusing him. Mrs. Sappleton apologizes to Mr. Nuttel for the open window, remarking... (full context)

...time for tea. Mr. Nuttel pities her delusion, before catching a look of terror on Vera’s face. (full context)

...raincoat slung over his arm and another singing “Bertie, why do you bound?”—just as in Vera’s story. (full context)

Immediately Vera explains that Mr. Nuttel ran off because of the spaniel, adding that he is scared... (full context)

Vera Sappleton Character Analysis

Vera Sappleton Quotes in The Open Window

The Open Window Quotes

Vera Sappleton Character Timeline in The Open Window