Character Analysis Of Judy Fong-Bates 'Gold Mountain Coat'

Sam’s Personality

Every person has a different personality that they portray to the people around them. In the short story, “The Gold Mountain Coat” by Judy Fong-Bates, we learn a lot about Sam Sing’s true character after a conversation with his son’s. We learn that Sam follows a very strict routine, is very anti-social, and that he lives in content. Throughout the passage Sam portrays a very clear and consistent personality up until the point when his sons come and speak to him.

First of all Sam is routine person who has a routine that he sticks to. This is clearly illustrated when he opens the restaurant every single everyday, and the only time it was close was at the end of the day, and when John’s family was arriving to Canada from China. Another example of his routine nature is the way he counts the profits. “Every Friday, he sits in the back room, and counts the money, and if the earnings where good he would invite his sons for a drink, but if the earnings were poor Sam would drink alone, and stare at the wooden walls”. These two characteristics of Sam show hoe he lives a very routine lifestyle.

This strait is identified when the narrator says, “Sam smiled rarely, but when he did he showed a set of gold teeth that matched his gold-rimmed glasses. He rarely spoke, but when he did his voice had the raspy quality of sandpapers rubbing together.” This shows that Sam wasn’t a social individual, because he would rarely demonstrate social practices such as smiling to other people and talking to people.