EXPOSITION

The Little Man

The scene begins with the setting of an Austrian Railway Platform, having multiple little tables
and chairs placed where refreshments are being served to the travelers. Various characters are
seen interacting with one another, while waiting for the train to arrive.

A woman along with her baby, covered in black shawl, seemingly of a humble background is
waiting for the train to come. She has two huge bundles with her as well. Throughout the scene
she is calming the bawling baby.

The English couple, absolutely thrifty with words, is also waiting on the platform. They are not
only reluctant to talk to each other, but also with the people sitting nearby, yet even if they are
questioned about something. Like when the American traveler, waiting on the same platform, in
an attempt to engage in conversation with them asked about something, they didn’t bother to
respond. Instead just made faint motions with their faces.

However, the American traveler, in contrast to the English people, is portrayed as a chatty
individual. He’s seen engaged in too much of random conversations. No matter the people whom
he talks to are willing to speak to him or not, he cares about nothing and remains talkative
throughout. He is depicted taking pride in his country’s democratic values as well. Moreover
he’s also not in favor of giving respect to people doing menial stuff. As in he objected the little
man’s way of giving waiter respect.

The German traveler, is the only character on the railway platform adding support to erratic
conversations of the American traveler. He has a personality of a colonel, since he has taut
moustache, little grey hair and a pretty stiff voice. He even supports the point of American
traveler, that respect is for those having a certain class and to him disrespecting the lowly people
is a no big deal.

Another traveler who is a young Dutch man is also a part of this panorama of railway platform.
He is red cheeked and a buoyant youth, who just smiles in his response to stuff. Either he is
asked a question, or he comes across something to see by chance, he chuckles.
Another important character elucidated in scene one is of the little man. Who by name is
although little, but by actions he’s the greatest among all. His many actions revealed his modest
behavior. Firstly, he waited for the waiter silently, and didn’t give an order before he was
emancipated from serving the food to the angry American. Then the way he called the waiter
was also full of reverence.

An interesting point to ponder was that, the American and German traveler, both agreed with
each other on all points except the idea of “real philosopher”. To the American Tolstoy was the
real man of gallantry and indeed a lodestar. To the German, Tolstoy was nothing. He considered
Nietzsche was the one and only true role model and a philosopher.

One more important notch seen in the story is of patriarchy one way or the other. And this was
seen between the English couple. The way English man gave the advertisement half of
newspaper to his wife and kept the main part to himself was sort of cuing to male dominance and
female subjugation.

Wrapping up the characters in a precise hunch, the woman is a modest caring mother of an
infant. The English couple is plausible and frugal with their words. The American and German
travelers are pretty garrulous, and add support to each other’s notions. The Dutch young man
interacts with people just by smiling. And the Little man, he’s is the portrayal of a man of
beholden nature, more pontifically the man with gratitude and generosity.