Samuel Bow Character Analysis in Playing Beatie Bow

Granny Tallisker’s son-in-law and the father of Judah, Gibbie, and Beatie, Samuel Bow is an ex-soldier who still bears the physical and psychological scars of his time in the Crimean War. A timid, melancholy man until he begins drinking, Samuel, after just a sip of alcohol, flies into terrible rages—“spells” that cause him to believe he is back in the war, fighting against the Russians. Samuel causes great havoc during these spells, much to his own personal embarrassment.

Samuel Bow Character Timeline in Playing Beatie Bow

The timeline below shows where the character Samuel Bow appears in Playing Beatie Bow. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...women agree that her wound is clean, and discuss checking up on someone called Uncle Samuel, to see if he is “himself again.” The two women muse aloud that Abigail must... (full context)

The Wisdom and Power of Children Theme Icon

...Bow family. Dovey chides Granny for looking down on the Bows, reminding her that Uncle Samuel had to go off and fight for his country—he had more important things to worry... (full context)

The Transformative Power of Love Theme Icon

...the two of them hear footsteps coming up the stairs. Dovey tells Abigail that Uncle Samuel Bow is coming up to apologize to her, and urges Abigail to try to forgive... (full context)

Uncle Samuel enters the room and apologizes to Abigail, insisting that sometimes he believes he is off... (full context)

...Abigail, and suggests she read her a nice passage before leaving the room with Uncle Samuel. Beatie tells Abigail she’d rather read her the gory, violent parts of the Bible that... (full context)

...father’s death, Granny and Dovey came to New South Wales to live with Granny’s daughter, Amelia—Samuel’s late wife—but when the two of them arrived, they found everyone deathly ill with typhoid... (full context)

On the third day, Abigail is allowed to get dressed and have Mr. Bow carry her downstairs. The clothing Abigail must wear is complicated and uncomfortable, but knowing she... (full context)

...the fireplace. On the other side is a small boy, who introduces himself as Gilbert Samuel Bow. He tells Abigail that he is “in decline,” and that if he lives to... (full context)

...but bustling street. She is distracted, though, by a commotion in the adjacent confectionery shop. Mr. Bow storms into the parlor and pulls a rusty sword down from the mantel, screaming about... (full context)

Granny tells Dovey she is going to go after Samuel, and asks Dovey to help clean up in the shop, as Mr. Bow has made... (full context)

Dovey and Granny bring Mr. Bow inside and help him to a bench. The shop is still a mess, and Abigail... (full context)

...ruined treats throughout the shop, and Dovey shows Abigail the many different kinds of candy Mr. Bow makes. Gibbie laments that no one will carry him upstairs, and that his own father... (full context)

...to school and Granny and Dovey leave Abigail alone in the shop with the absent-minded Mr. Bow , Abigail seizes her chance and leaves the shop. She heads down Argyle Street, planning... (full context)

Abigail often works in the shop, and finds that Mr. Bow , despite his spells, is a timid and mild companion. The two of them discuss... (full context)

Abigail asks Mr. Bow about his time in the Crimean War, but he tells her he does not remember... (full context)

...Abigail feels only anxiety. As the three head out through the shop door, Abigail bids Mr. Bow goodbye, but he does not respond. Judah confesses that he is worried about his father,... (full context)

...to shut up. As the girls hurry down the road, they encounter a great commotion— Mr. Bow is in the street, holding his sword above his head and screaming unintelligibly. A passing... (full context)

...brigade. Abigail and Beatie help Granny try to smother the flames, and Granny explains that Mr. Bow had been hiding a bottle of rum, which he drank most of this morning before... (full context)

...and acclaimed for her bravery in saving everyone from the fire. The constables bring back Mr. Bow , and tell Granny that though they won’t write him up this time, his spells... (full context)

...she first came. Abigail says her painful goodbyes to Dovey and Judah—Gibbie is asleep and Mr. Bow is in a kind of trance. Last of all, Abigail bids Granny farewell, and tells... (full context)

In her dreams, Abigail has horrible visions of Samuel Bow chained up in an asylum. She sees Beatie, older and studious, bent over a... (full context)

...between Mitchell and the Rocks, as if in a dream. She sees Beatie, Granny, and Samuel walking through the street in their best clothes, with Judah and Dovey close behind—they have... (full context)

...on it—Robert replies that Judah is only a family name, and his great-grandfather’s name was Samuel. Abigail insists that Samuel was Beatie and Gibbie and Judah’s father. Robert points out Gilbert... (full context)