Question

Write a brief character sketch of Jerome.

Answer 1

Jerome is the narrator of the novel 'Three Men in a Boat'. He is single, middle-class man living in London. He is fond of history and literature, and spends much of his time day-dreaming about the days when knights roamed the countryside of England. This day-dreaming sometimes gets him into trouble when he does not pay attention to what he is doing.

His sense of observation is quite sharp. He has a wonderful knack of describing incidents in humorous ways. He misses no opportunity to make readers laugh with his intelligent and indirect humour. He does through his anecdotes. Jerome prefers country peace and serenity to city's noisy and restless life. He believes river should remain open to everyone. He condemns those who put up 'no trespassing' signs or try to restrict the use of the river.
At times he gets philosophical and gives the readers some valuable gems of wisdom. for example his advice on how a man should journey through life is worth heeding.

The narrator's advice for a journey and packing for a voyage of life is very wise and practical. According to him, we the men and women load up our boats with too much of useless lumber thinking it will make our voyage pleasurable and comfortable. Men and women pile the poor little craft mast-high with fine clothes and big houses; with useless servants, and a host of swell friends that do not care twopence for them, and that they do not care even a bit for; with expensive entertainments that nobody enjoys, with formalities and fashions, with pretence and ostentation, and with oh, heaviest, maddest lumber of all! the dread of what will my neighbour think, with luxuries that only cloy, with pleasures that bore, with empty show that, like the criminals iron crown of yore, makes to bleed and swoon the aching head that wears it! The narrator advises men and women to keep their boat of life light with only the things that are needed. Then it will be easier to pull the boat and enjoy the voyage.

Answer 2

Jerome

Jerome was the central character of the novel, "Three Men in a Boat." He was a peace and leisure-loving character. He wanted to pass his life in a peaceful environment of the village. Because of this, he suggested his friends that they should pass their holidays in the natural surrounding of the village. At the same time, we also come to know that he had a great liking for nature also. To some extent, we can also say that Jerome was a lazy character. He tried to avoid work, and for that, he made every reason for his ailments. He openly declared that he had every disease except a housemaid's knee. However, we could find a high degree of friendship in his character. He always tried to avoid creating tension for his friends. He brilliantly read the demands of situations and finds a suitable way. It was the remarkable sign of his friendly character.