Kidnapped: Character
20 lenses on character for Kidnapped by R.L. Stevenson. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17 B18 B19 B20
B1. Cast list with first appearance and share of mentions. Count
Lead David Balfour; 14 main characters. See the full lens on the book page.
B2. Who is on the page in each chapter (presence heat map)? Count
Lead David Balfour; 14 main characters. See the full lens on the book page.
B3. What does the lead want, and what do they truly need? AI
To claim his rightful inheritance and escape the schemes of his wicked uncle Ebenezer.. See the full lens on the book page.
B4. What false belief does the lead hold, and how is it tested? AI
David believes he can recover his inheritance through legal means alone without understanding Highland honour and clan loyalty. This is tested when he witnesses the Red Fox's murder (Ch 17) and must flee with Alan, learning that loyalty and friendship matter more than law.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 17, Ch 18
There’s something fine about it; no perhaps Christian, but humanly fine. Even Alan Breck, by all that I hear, is a chield to be respected. (Ch 16, para 29)
Alan,” said I, “I’ll not say it’s the good Christianity as I understand it, but it’s good enough. And here I offer ye my hand for the second time. (Ch 18, para 31)
B5. Arc type: positive, flat or negative? AI
Positive arc. David begins as naive and sheltered, becomes brave and loyal through hardship, and ends as a man of property with moral integrity and deep friendship.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 30
I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of grace 1751 (Ch 1, para 1)
Well, good-bye,” said Alan, and held out his left hand. (Ch 30, para 15)
B6. Key arc moments with chapter and line. AI
Chapter 1: David leaves home innocent (quote 1). Chapter 6: David kidnapped, loses freedom (quote 17). Chapter 17: David witnesses murder, becomes fugitive (quote 43). Chapter 24: David nearly dies, reconciles with Alan (quote 65). Chapter 29: David confronts uncle, wins inheritance (quote 80). Chapter 30: David enters Edinburgh alone, changed (quote 83).
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 6, Ch 17, Ch 24, Ch 29, Ch 30
I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of grace 1751 (Ch 1, para 1)
I saw a great flash of fire, and fell senseless (Ch 6, para 40)
But just as he turned there came the shot of a firelock from higher up the hill; and with the very sound of it Glenure fell upon the road. (Ch 17, para 24)
B7. The antagonist: goal, methods, and when they show their hand. AI
Ebenezer Balfour. See the full lens on the book page.
B8. How is each main character first shown (first line, first act)? Both
David: 'I will begin the story' (Ch 1, first line). Ebenezer: 'I'm your born uncle, Davie' (Ch 3, first speech). Alan: 'his eyes were unusually light' (Ch 9, physical description). Rankeillor: 'Why, that is his house' (Ch 27, first appearance). Captain Hoseason: 'ye have a kind of gliff' (Ch 6, first line).
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 3, Ch 9, Ch 27, Ch 6
I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of grace 1751 (Ch 1, para 1)
I’m your born uncle, Davie, my man, and you my born nephew (Ch 3, para 12)
his eyes were unusually light and had a kind of dancing madness in them, that was both engaging and alarming (Ch 9, para 9)
B9. Who appears with whom? Network chart of shared scenes. Count
Pairs who share the most paragraphs. Counted where both names appear in one paragraph.
| Pair | Paragraphs together |
|---|---|
| Alan Breck Stewart and David Balfour | 17 |
| Alan Breck Stewart and James of the Glens | 10 |
| David Balfour and Mr. Campbell | 9 |
| Alan Breck Stewart and Mr. Campbell | 9 |
| David Balfour and Ebenezer Balfour | 8 |
| Captain Hoseason and David Balfour | 8 |
| David Balfour and Mr. Shuan | 7 |
| David Balfour and Ransome | 7 |
| David Balfour and James of the Glens | 7 |
| Alan Breck Stewart and Colin Campbell | 7 |
B10. Which relationships change most over the book? AI
David and Alan change most: from strangers to brothers-in-arms, tested by hardship and gambling debt but reconciled by loyalty. David and Ebenezer change: from nephew seeking family to enemies locked in legal battle. David and Rankeillor change: from stranger to trusted mentor and advocate.
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 18, Ch 24, Ch 27, Ch 29
That will I!” said I. “I am no thief, nor yet murderer. I’ll stand by you. (Ch 9, para 64)
Alan,” said I, “I’ll not say it’s the good Christianity as I understand it, but it’s good enough. And here I offer ye my hand for the second time. (Ch 18, para 31)
For just precisely what I thought I liked about ye, was that ye never quarrelled:--and now I like ye better! (Ch 24, para 74)
B11. Foils and mirrors: who reflects the lead? AI
Alan mirrors David's journey: both are fugitives, both learn loyalty through hardship, both are hunted by authority. Ebenezer is David's dark mirror: both seek the inheritance, but Ebenezer through murder and lies, David through courage and integrity. Rankeillor reflects David's growth: wise mentor who sees David's true worth.
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 18, Ch 3, Ch 27
I am come of kings; I bear a king’s name. My badge is the oak. Do ye see my sword? (Ch 10, para 5)
There’s something fine about it; no perhaps Christian, but humanly fine. Even Alan Breck, by all that I hear, is a chield to be respected. (Ch 16, para 29)
I’m your born uncle, Davie, my man, and you my born nephew (Ch 3, para 12)
B12. Backstory wound: how and when is it revealed? AI
David's father was the elder brother, cheated of his inheritance by Ebenezer. This wound is revealed gradually: Chapter 2 (locals hint at curse), Chapter 3 (uncle evasive), Chapter 4 (David finds father's handwriting), Chapter 5 (innkeeper reveals father was murdered). Full truth emerges in Chapter 28 (Rankeillor explains the love affair).
Chapters: Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 28
It was a word that seemed to surprise those of whom I sought my way (Ch 2, para 3)
To my brother Ebenezer on his fifth birthday (Ch 4, para 2)
For,” says he, really with embarrassment, “the matter hinges on a love affair. (Ch 28, para 2)
B13. Agency: how often does the lead act rather than react? AI
David acts in roughly 60% of scenes: he chooses to flee uncle (Ch 4), helps Alan (Ch 9), witnesses murder (Ch 17), reconciles with Alan (Ch 24), seeks Rankeillor (Ch 27), confronts Ebenezer (Ch 29). He reacts in kidnapping (Ch 6), shipwreck (Ch 13), and illness (Ch 22 to 24).
Chapters: Ch 4, Ch 9, Ch 17, Ch 24, Ch 27, Ch 29
That will I!” said I. “I am no thief, nor yet murderer. I’ll stand by you. (Ch 9, para 64)
Alan,” said I, “I’ll not say it’s the good Christianity as I understand it, but it’s good enough. And here I offer ye my hand for the second time. (Ch 18, para 31)
B14. Physical description: how much, when, which traits repeat. Both
Looks words (eyes, hair, face and so on) in paragraphs that name each character. A rough guide to who gets described most. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Character | Looks words nearby |
|---|---|
| Alan Breck Stewart | 97 |
| James of the Glens | 11 |
| Mr. Campbell | 10 |
| Captain Hoseason | 8 |
| David Balfour | 7 |
| Mr. Riach | 6 |
| Colin Campbell | 5 |
| Mr. Rankeillor | 4 |
David's physical traits are sparse: 'a lad' (Ch 1), 'ragged' (Ch 27), 'rag-and-tatter' (Ch 26). Alan is described more: 'light eyes' with 'dancing madness' (Ch 9), 'prettiest man' and 'best swordsman' (Ch 12), 'pock-marked' (Ch 21). Ebenezer is 'miserly' and fearful. Physical description is minimal overall.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 9, Ch 12, Ch 21, Ch 26, Ch 27
his eyes were unusually light and had a kind of dancing madness in them, that was both engaging and alarming (Ch 9, para 9)
Alan was advertised as “a small, pock-marked, active man of thirty-five or thereby, dressed in a feathered hat, a French side-coat of blue with silver buttons (Ch 21, para 36)
ye have a fine, hang-dog, rag-and-tatter, clappermaclaw kind of a look to ye, as if ye had stolen the coat from a potato-bogle (Ch 26, para 44)
B15. Names, nicknames and titles, and how their use shifts. Count
The forms of each name used most, and how often the name comes up in each third of the book.
| Character | Most used forms | Mentions by third |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Breck Stewart | Alan (414), Alan Breck (15), Alan Breck Stewart (2) | 44 / 183 / 204 |
| David Balfour | Davie (25), Mr. David (15), David Balfour (11) | 22 / 2 / 27 |
| Mr. Riach | Mr. Riach (40), Riach (7) | 33 / 14 / 0 |
| Mr. Campbell | Campbell (29), Mr. Campbell (18) | 13 / 25 / 9 |
| James of the Glens | James (34), James of the Glens (9) | 0 / 36 / 7 |
| Captain Hoseason | Hoseason (36), Captain Hoseason (5) | 24 / 10 / 7 |
| Mr. Rankeillor | Mr. Rankeillor (23), Rankeillor (12) | 6 / 0 / 29 |
| Colin Campbell | Red Fox (9), Glenure (7), Colin Campbell (5) | 0 / 19 / 2 |
B16. Mentors and sidekicks: their role and how they exit. AI
Rankeillor is David's mentor: appears in Ch 27, believes David's story, devises the legal strategy, and exits after securing the inheritance (Ch 30). Alan is sidekick and friend: appears Ch 9, saves David repeatedly, and exits at Rest-and-be-Thankful (Ch 30) to escape arrest. Mr. Riach is minor ally: helps David on ship (Ch 7), then disappears.
Chapters: Ch 27, Ch 30, Ch 9, Ch 7
Why,” said he, “that is his house that I have just come out of; and for a rather singular chance, I am that very man. (Ch 27, para 7)
Well, good-bye,” said Alan, and held out his left hand. (Ch 30, para 15)
B17. Repeated tags, gestures and tics per character. Both
Gestures that come in the same sentence as each name. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Character | Top gestures |
|---|---|
| Alan Breck Stewart | laughed 1, shook 1, smiled 1 |
| David Balfour | none |
| Mr. Riach | none |
| Mr. Campbell | none |
| James of the Glens | none |
| Captain Hoseason | none |
| Mr. Rankeillor | none |
| Colin Campbell | none |
Alan: 'dancing madness' in eyes (Ch 9), swears oaths on 'Holy Iron' (Ch 18), whistles tunes while fleeing (Ch 20), plays pipes (Ch 25). Ebenezer: locks doors, pockets keys (Ch 4), wrings hands (Ch 19). David: weeps twice (Ch 14), falls ill repeatedly (Ch 22 to 25). Rankeillor: speaks of 'Providence' and legal terms.
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 18, Ch 20, Ch 25, Ch 4, Ch 14
his eyes were unusually light and had a kind of dancing madness in them, that was both engaging and alarming (Ch 9, para 9)
And now,” continued Alan, taking out his dirk and laying his hand upon it in a certain manner, “I swear upon the Holy Iron I had neither art nor part, act nor thought in it. (Ch 18, para 16)
throughout the rest of our night-march he beguiled the way with whistling of many tunes, warlike, merry, plaintive; reel tunes that made the foot go faster (Ch 20, para 51)
B18. Moral choices that define the lead. AI
Chapter 9: David chooses to help Alan despite danger, proving his loyalty over self-interest (quote 25). Chapter 18: David accepts Alan's oath of innocence, choosing trust over suspicion (quote 48). Chapter 24: David reconciles with Alan despite anger, choosing friendship over pride (quote 66). Chapter 30: David refuses to interfere in James's case, choosing caution over loyalty (quote 82).
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 18, Ch 24, Ch 30
That will I!” said I. “I am no thief, nor yet murderer. I’ll stand by you. (Ch 9, para 64)
Alan,” said I, “I’ll not say it’s the good Christianity as I understand it, but it’s good enough. And here I offer ye my hand for the second time. (Ch 18, para 31)
For just precisely what I thought I liked about ye, was that ye never quarrelled:--and now I like ye better! (Ch 24, para 74)
B19. Balance of speaking parts by gender. Count
Of attributed speech, women have 0% and men 94%; 6% is unclear. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Group | Words spoken |
|---|---|
| Women | 0 |
| Men | 7463 |
| Unclear | 476 |
B20. Who changes and who stays fixed? AI
David changes: from naive to brave, from isolated to loyal, from seeking law to valuing friendship. Alan stays fixed: loyal, passionate, honourable throughout. Ebenezer stays fixed: guilty, fearful, miserly. Rankeillor stays fixed: wise, legal-minded, protective. James of the Glens stays fixed: caught between clan and law.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 30, Ch 9, Ch 3, Ch 27, Ch 19
I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of grace 1751 (Ch 1, para 1)
Well, good-bye,” said Alan, and held out his left hand. (Ch 30, para 15)
I am come of kings; I bear a king’s name. My badge is the oak. Do ye see my sword? (Ch 10, para 5)
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