The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by

Ann Shaffer

Eben Ramsey Character Analysis

Eben is an elderly farmer on Guernsey. His daughter, Jane, was the same age as Elizabeth, so Eben has a long history with Elizabeth. In the present Eben cares for Jane's son Eli, as Jane and her husband died during the war. Like many of the Society members, Eben was no lover of literature before agreeing to read Selections from Shakespeare. However, he soon found that Shakespeare was able to provide him words to describe his life that he never would've come up with himself. He shares with Juliet stories of the German occupation and makes it clear that though the Germans were mean and cruel, they were also hungry and desperate. During the occupation, he was forced to tell Eli of his parents' deaths via postcards. In the present, Eben leads the effort to plant trees on Guernsey and accompanies Juliet around the island. He acts as a voice of reason and sense, both during the occupation and in the present.

Eben Ramsey Quotes in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society quotes below are all either spoken by Eben Ramsey or refer to Eben Ramsey. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Literature and Connection Theme Icon
).
Part 1: 28 Feb, 1946 Quotes

One poor soldier was caught stealing a potato. He was chased by his own people and climbed up a tree to hide. But they found him and shot him down out of the tree. Still, that did not stop them from stealing food. I am not pointing a finger at those practices, because some of us were doing the same. I figure hunger makes you desperate when you wake to it every morning.

Related Characters: Eben Ramsey (speaker), Juliet Ashton
Page Number: 65
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1: 22 Apr, 1946 Quotes

There was an old canvas bathing shoe left lying right in the middle of the path. Eli walked around it, staring. Finally, he said, "That shoe is all alone, Grandpa." I answered that yes it was. He looked at it some more, and then we walked on by. After a bit, he said, "Grandpa, that's something I never am." I asked him, "What's that?" And he said, "Lonesome in my spirits."

Related Characters: Eben Ramsey (speaker), Eli (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Kit McKenna, Jane
Page Number: 124
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 12 Jun, 1946 Quotes

I also know that she cherished you as her family, and she felt gratitude and peace that her daughter, Kit, was in your care. Therefore, I write so you and the child will know of her and the strength she showed to us in the camp.

Related Characters: Remy Giraud (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Isola Pribby, Kit McKenna, Eben Ramsey
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis:
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Eben Ramsey Quotes in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society quotes below are all either spoken by Eben Ramsey or refer to Eben Ramsey. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Literature and Connection Theme Icon
).
Part 1: 28 Feb, 1946 Quotes

One poor soldier was caught stealing a potato. He was chased by his own people and climbed up a tree to hide. But they found him and shot him down out of the tree. Still, that did not stop them from stealing food. I am not pointing a finger at those practices, because some of us were doing the same. I figure hunger makes you desperate when you wake to it every morning.

Related Characters: Eben Ramsey (speaker), Juliet Ashton
Page Number: 65
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1: 22 Apr, 1946 Quotes

There was an old canvas bathing shoe left lying right in the middle of the path. Eli walked around it, staring. Finally, he said, "That shoe is all alone, Grandpa." I answered that yes it was. He looked at it some more, and then we walked on by. After a bit, he said, "Grandpa, that's something I never am." I asked him, "What's that?" And he said, "Lonesome in my spirits."

Related Characters: Eben Ramsey (speaker), Eli (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Kit McKenna, Jane
Page Number: 124
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2: 12 Jun, 1946 Quotes

I also know that she cherished you as her family, and she felt gratitude and peace that her daughter, Kit, was in your care. Therefore, I write so you and the child will know of her and the strength she showed to us in the camp.

Related Characters: Remy Giraud (speaker), Elizabeth McKenna, Isola Pribby, Kit McKenna, Eben Ramsey
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis: