(24) They were finding him heavy. (38) .
His intelligence was adequate to his surroundings, and that is a passport, not only to reasonable success, but still more to happiness. (39) There was in Charles Strickland at least something out of the common. (41).
Appearance.
In point of fact he was broad and heavy, with large hands and feet, and he wore this evening clothes clumsily. He gave you somewhat the idea of a coachman dressed up for the occasion. He was a man of forty, not good-looking, and yet not ugly, for his features were rather good; but they were all a little larger than life-size and the effect was ungainly. He was clean shaven, and his large face looked uncomfortably naked. His hair was reddish, cut very short, and his eyes were small, blue or grey. He looked commonplace. It was obvious that he had no social gifts, but these a man can do without; he had no eccentricity even, to take him out of the common run; he was just a good, dull, honest, plain man. One would admire his excellent qualities, but avoid his company. He was null. He was probably a worthy member of society, a good husband and father, an honest broker; but there was no reason to waste one's time over him. (38) That man is incalculable. (42) p.86, 121.
Strickland was not a fluent talker. He seemed to express himself with difficulty, as though words were not the medium with which his mind worked.
There was something in his personality which prevented him from being dull. Perhaps it was sincerity. (64) He was blind to everything but to some disturbing vision in his soul. (64) He had the directness of the fanatic and the ferocity of the apostle. (66) He was independent of the opinion of his fellows. .
Here was a man who sincerely did not mind what people thought of him, and so convention had no hold on him; he was like a wrestler whose body is oiled; you could not get a grip on him; it gave him a freedom which was an outrage.
Poor gift of expression, sardonic temper (88-89).
