Character Clues
Character Analysis
Physical Appearance
Maybe we can't judge a book by its cover, but in Crispin: The Cross of Lead, we sure can judge a character by the way he or she is described. Take a look at this description of John Aycliffe:
It was always hard for me to look on others. To look on John Aycliffe was hardest of all. His black-bearded face—hard, sharp eyes and frowning lips—forever scowled at me. (1.12)
According to Crispin, John Aycliffe is as hard to look at as he is to work for, and his facial features are an outward sign of the danger he presents to peasants like Crispin and his mother. Now contrast the description of Aycliffe's face to that of Bear's:
As for his face, most striking was a bushy beard of such ruddy red it seemed as if the lower part of his face was aflame. He also had a large, red, and fleshy nose and hairy eyebrows of the same hue, as well as a cherry-lipped mouth big for even such a face as his. (16.6)
Bear appears to exude warmth—check out all the red imagery—and his broader features mark him as more approachable, while Aycliffe's face sounds like the business end of a sword. It leaves very little confusion for which of these troublemakers is truly up to no good.
Actions
Forrest Gump tells us that stupid is as stupid does, and that's certainly the case in this book. We're not saying any of the characters are stupid, just that their actions do reflect the truth about their characters. In other words, nobody in this book is different from what their actions show them to be.
For example, Widow Daventry is warm and generous with her time, her friendship, and her pies, as she demonstrates many times by providing a hiding place for Bear, by protecting Crispin as well as she can in her tavern, and by not fussing too much when Crispin eats food he didn't pay for.
Father Quinel's kindness and acceptance of Asta and her son are genuine, as he proves by not turning away from them like all the other villagers do, as well as by continuing to be a friend to Crispin beyond anything that his position as priest requires him to do.
Speech and Dialogue
Examine just about any page, and you'll see that this is a very chatty book. Most of the time, people are talking to each other, about each other, or about the injustices of the land. For example, Crispin finds out about Bear's political leanings through their many conversations:
"What think you of that sermon?" he said, cocking his head, as if he really wished me to reply.
"I… didn't understand it," I said.
"Not at all?" he asked, showing disappointment.
"It sounds like… treason," I said, only to instantly regret my words. (16.35-38)
Conversation is such a major player in this text that the key moment that sets the whole book in motion is a conversation Crispin overhears between the selfish John Aycliffe and Sir Richard du Brey. Check it out:
"Are you not her kin?" the stranger said. "Do you not see the consequences if you don't?"
"A great danger to us all."
"Precisely. There could be those who will see it so and act accordingly. You'll be placed in danger, too." (2.19-21)
This conversation lets us know that these two armed adults don't mind killing a kid if they think he's a threat. So watch out.