Consider Eleanor Braverman, One of My Original Characters
So, who is Eleanor Braverman?
I came up with the storyline and the characters for Mettle so quickly that it was unreal. My husband and I were on vacation on Cape Cod and it just… fell together. It was so fast that I honestly fear that I will never have that kind of ‘taking dictation’ story creation again.
But I digress.
I created Eleanor because, after gold, the first element I thought of that would go haywire was titanium. And what’s made of titanium these days? Why, artificial hips, of course! That led me directly to an elderly patient. And, after having contributed to The Longest Night Watch, the idea of giving this person Alzheimer’s was a lead pipe cinch.
Where Did Eleanor Braverman Come From?
A good 30 or so years ago, I worked on a series which was an amateur detective in Boston. These stories are printed (yes, on actual paper) and live in my house.
Yet unless I give them some extremely serious and tough editing love, they won’t see the light of day. But one chapter was on a coma patient slowly coming out of it.
I recalled that scene and that’s one of the ways I saw and still see this character. As a fog lifts, something comes back.
The apocalypse taketh away, but the apocalypse also giveth.
The Past is Prologue — Backstory for Eleanor Braverman
Long before her diagnosis, Eleanor is a professor of English literature at Pine Manor Junior College. Now, in real life, Pine Manor doesn’t exist any more—it was taken over by Boston College. But then again, the Garfield Middle School in Brighton doesn’t exist any more, either.
But back to the character. She’s a classical teacher, bringing the English canon to her students. In particular, it’s her favorite book, Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is almost an Easter egg in what I write. It’s, to me, shorthand for a classical work that can still speak to us today.
Eventually, I reveal that it’s how her husband proposed to her—he copied out the proposal scene and changed the names.
Description
Eleanor is like any other older woman who was originally educated and perhaps a little elegant. So, she’s still sick with Alzheimer’s, and she still has trouble getting around. Like many people of her age group, she’s usually wearing polyester slacks and sneakers or the like. But for someone who had had a sense of style, those clothes might be paired with a cashmere twinset or the like.
For her, I mainly see Ellen Burstyn although I am open to convincing if there’s a better match out there.
As for the swearing (see below), Eleanor swears because everyone in Mettle has a potty mouth. In fact, one of the first things she says is that her ass itches. But it doesn’t itch—it hurts. She’s just forgotten the word hurts.
Purpose/Theme/Motivation
Unlike the other characters, Eleanor goes through her changes right in the middle of the story. And, she has a very specific purpose. After all, an apocalypse can often mean it’s everyone for themselves. At the start of the story, she’s the very definition of a drain on resources. But Noah, to his immense credit, will never, ever leave his mother behind.
And, she humanizes the rest of them. Beyond a story of survival, keeping her around also cements Mettle as a story about love.
Quotes
After a few minutes, Eleanor asked, “Who the hell are you?”
“I, I’m Nell.”
“Nell who?”
“Nell, ma’am, I’m Nell Murphy. Penelope Kelly Murphy. I live at fourteen Kerr Street, and I go to Garfield Middle School.”
“What are you doing here? Do I know you?”
“Uh, not really. I mean, I live around the corner now and Noah’s been really nice about everything.”
“Where is my son?”
“He’s, he’s out shopping. With, with Mei-Lin.”
“Who’s Mei-Lin?”
“Dr. Quan. She’s from St. B’s. She’s really nice.”
“Don’t lie to me about this so-called ‘shopping’. I can tell the power is out and nobody took a car. How long has the power been out, anyway, Nell?”
“Over two months, Mrs. Braverman.” Nell went back to tending to the fire.
“Holy shit. Er, sorry. I’ve been out of it for that long?”
“I don’t know what to tell you, ma’am. I’ve never known you any other way. Until, until today, that is. What the fuck happened?” Nell turned back to look at Eleanor.
“You shouldn’t swear.”
“You just did.”
“Yes, I suppose I did. And I suppose two months without electricity would coarsen anyone’s vocabulary.”
“I don’t understand, Mrs. Braverman. You were, um, how can I put this? You were really sick. You didn’t know anyone so well. You kept asking about some guy named Steven.”
Relationships
For someone who is barely with it for most of the book, she does have some relationships. But it all starts with Steven, who has been dead for years when the story begins.
Eleanor and Steven
To her credit (and sometimes to Noah’s annoyance and own personal pain), Eleanor remembers the love of her life all too well. But Alzheimer’s, as cruel a disease as it is, is a little bit kind here.
Because if you just think your great love is at work or out shopping, they can’t be dead.
Er, right?
Eleanor and Noah
Like with anyone who finds themself with a person with Alzheimer’s, the questions and the forgetting can sometimes seem to be too much. And the continual requests to see Steven are hurtful, although Eleanor doesn’t mean anything by them. Noah has to fight to maintain his composure and patience.
But he’s around. Like some folks, even though memory care would have possibly been better for her (definitely for him), he keeps her at home. Even though she can’t put it into words anymore, she can feel his devotion. He’s a good son.
Eleanor and Olga
What is anyone’s relationship with their caregiver? Olga has done everything for Eleanor, and Eleanor often doesn’t even know who she is. Yes, this is Olga’s job. But Olga doesn’t have to stay. Yet Olga does stay—and often makes it possible for the rest of the story to move along.
In addition, Olga’s reserves of patience make up for Noah getting short with Eleanor on occasion.
Eleanor and Nell
Beyond their somewhat rocky start, Nell actually misses not just her Gran but also school. Eleanor gives Nell something intellectual to do. Nell confides in Eleanor, even telling her that she sometimes wishes that Craig was her father.
Conflict and Turning Point
Eleanor’s turning point is when she seemingly recovers. The events of Mettle are often unkind. But that is most certainly a gift.
Continuity/Easter Eggs
Eleanor’s maiden name is Shapiro, so if you’ve been following this blog at all, then you know exactly where this is going….
Future Plans for Eleanor Braverman
She will show up in the Mettle prequel although I am not certain as to whether I will give her her own POV chapter. So much remains to be seen.
Eleanor Braverman: Takeaways
Intelligent and ultimately fearless, Eleanor Braverman loses a lot when she gets Alzheimer’s. And because of that, she’s a reminder of how awful that disease truly is.
I hope they cure it in our lifetimes. Don’t you?
Eleanor Braverman – because characters best show their humanity when they take care of someone who’s a drain on their resources.
Want More of Mettle?
If Mettle resonates with you, then check out my other articles about how changes in the periodic table nearly kill us all.