How Minor Characters Advance the Plot

Minor Characters such as Loretta Bird and Mrs. Peebles in the story “How I Met My Husband” may seem to have insignificant parts; but actually play important roles that advance the plot of the story. We see in the beginning that Mrs. Peebles is Edie’s employer. This shows us how important it was for Edie not to get caught wearing Mrs. Peebles clothing. This is how Edie and Chris Watters meet in the first place; he seeing her in Mrs. Peebles clothes and telling her how beautiful she looked and she going to him later so that he wouldn’t mention to anyone that she was wearing her employer’s clothing. By the author introducing Mrs. Peebles to us she also introduced her wardrobe.

Mrs. Peebles is somewhat a mysterious character, in a sense that we do not know what her outlook on Edie is. In one scene she appears against Edie and sharp towards her about taking a cake to Chris Watters when they did not have one already made. This causes the story to advance and the plot to thicken as the other characters realize Edie baked a cake just for Chris Watters; were as we see Loretta Bird showing her conflicting character by implying that Edie was intimate with Chris Watters. This caused much name calling and rudeness towards Edie making us feel pity towards her. Then in the same scene we see Mrs. Peebles coming to Edie’s defense. Without Mrs. Peebles minor character intervening and standing up for Edie the truth may have not have been brought out. Another scene in the story that may not seem of nothing to speak of is where Mrs. Peebles mentioned to Alice Kelling that they go for a ride for the day. This is minor at first but we see as the story progresses that this gave Edie the time to Chris by herself.

Loretta Bird, although she wasn’t consistent in the story, played the conflicting character. She catches our attention at the beginning of the story by being crude to Edie about the peaches. This gives us the implication that she is going to be difficult whenever she is around. She is also the type to tell things as she sees them and does not withhold information to spare other character’s feelings. As shown towards Alice Kelling when mentioning her and Chris Watters long engagement. She also played an important part by bringing Alice Kelling to the Peebles’ house to see Chris Watters. By bringing Chris Watters’ fiancé into the scene it gives a slight twist in where Edie stands with him.

Loretta Bird contrast as an ill tempered and nosey neighbor shows us how nice and naïve Edie is. She is the opposite of Edie and we see her treating Edie with unfair behavior, causing us to take a dislike to Loretta Bird immediately. This also gives us a sympathetic view of Edie. These minor characters help to create the environment that makes not only an interesting story but a complete one.