Character profile: Ella Lansbury

in Richard Flanagan’s novel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North the character of Ella Lansbury serves a number of purposes. She is a mirror through which the reader sees the protagonist’s many faults, she is demonstrative of a non-erotic love that ultimately blossoms more than the erotic love Dorrigo shares with Amy Mulvaney, she journeys with Dorrigo on the road of time and changes brought about by time. Ella, the unloved underdog of the novel, ultimately becomes the hero through loyalty and love - and how Australian is that!