Barbara Wright: Difference between revisions
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==Character Description== | ==Character Description== | ||
[[Image:Hillj05.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Barbara Wright stands holding a Text Book]]Barbara Wright was one of [[Susan Foreman]]'s teachers at [[Coal Hill School]], [[London]]. When Susan displays a keen interest in History, and Barbara loans her a book about the [[French Revolution]]. On returning the book Susan comments that it is full of inaccuracies. Finding this odd, Barbara asks Susan how many shillings are in the pound, she is astonished to find that the teenager doesn't know. This strange knowledge intrigues Barbara, and talking with a fellow teacher, [[Ian Chesterton]], she finds that she is not the only person who has noticed something odd about this pupil. One evening, as school is finishing, Ian and Barbara decide to follow Susan home. They are concerened about her, and curious. When they see Susan enter [[I.M. Foreman]]'s junkyard in [[76 Totter's Lane|Totter's Lane]], the two school teachers become more concerned for Susan's safety. Following her inside the yard, the two discover a Police Box sitting incongruously with the junk. Barging their way in, when they discover that Susan is inside, the two teachers find something even more strange ("[[An Unearthly Child]]"). | [[Image:Hillj05.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Barbara Wright stands holding a Text Book]]Barbara Wright was one of [[Susan Foreman]]'s teachers at [[Coal Hill School]], [[London]]. When Susan displays a keen interest in History, and Barbara loans her a book about the [[French Revolution]]. On returning the book Susan comments that it is full of inaccuracies. Finding this odd, Barbara asks Susan how many shillings are in the pound, she is astonished to find that the teenager doesn't know. This strange knowledge intrigues Barbara, and talking with a fellow teacher, [[Ian Chesterton]], she finds that she is not the only person who has noticed something odd about this pupil. One evening, as school is finishing, Ian and Barbara decide to follow Susan home. They are concerened about her, and curious. When they see Susan enter [[I.M. Foreman]]'s junkyard in [[76 Totter's Lane|Totter's Lane]], the two school teachers become more concerned for Susan's safety. Following her inside the yard, the two discover a Police Box sitting incongruously with the junk. Barging their way in, when they discover that Susan is inside, the two teachers find something even more strange ("[[An Unearthly Child]]"). | ||
Although Barbara accepts the impossibilities of time travel more easily than Ian, her first inclination is to try to rationalise things. She feels that there must be an explanation for the [[TARDIS]], and that it is an illusion Susan and her grandfather have created in their loneliness and isolation. However, Barbara is practical and realistic. Once she has realised that Susan, and the Doctor, have told the truth about the TARDIS she accepts it fully. | |||
Barbara is an instinctive person, and her combination of practicality and intuition make her the idal mediator, not only in the alien worlds and times, but also within the TARDIS. Many arguments between the Doctor and Ian are smoothed by Barbara's intervention. Her intuition doesn't fail her when the travellers arrive on [[Skaro]]. She feels uncomfortable, and wants to return to the safety of the TARDIS. When she is captured by the [[Daleks]], she know that her fears were reasonable. | |||
Barbara's strong beliefs, and acceptance of truth, make her a formidable character. When she believes in something, she stands up for it. This is most notable when the travellers arrive in the Aztec era. Her interest in history allows her to see the good and the evil in the aztec society, and her belief that they can be a truly good race leads her to become determined to change the course of history when the Conquistadors arrive. Barbara learns that history cannot be change, and is disappointed, but she has the strength of character to live with this. Her idealism is admirable, as she wished to preserve all that is good and honourable, whilst driving out the horrors and ignorance of human sacrifice.([[The Aztecs]]) | |||
The strength of character Barbara shows when accepting the fate of the Aztecs allows her to survive some of the discomforts she faces on her travels. While on [[Vortis]], Barbara survives working for the [[Zarbi]] ([[The Web Planet]]), and although she is captured and tortured by a Saracen band, led by [[El Akir]], she has the strength of mind to survive. ([[The Crusade]]) | |||
Passionate about history, Barbara can see both sides to a story. When the travellers arrive in revolutionary France she befriends [[Leon Colbert]]. When he dies, she is distraught, and defends his treachery. Barbara believes in the inate goodness of people, and sees that sometimes there is more to a situation than meets the eye. Her knowledge of history also prepares the travellers for the possible hardships they will encounter when they land in Rome. She warns the others, once they have been captured to be sold as slaves, just how badly Roman slaves were treated. | |||
==Quotes== | ==Quotes== | ||
Revision as of 13:02, 11 May 2005
Barbara Wright is one of the earliest companions to travel with the Doctor. Before meeting the Doctor, Barbara was a History Teacher at Coal Hill School, in 1960s London.
| Barbara Wright | |
|---|---|
| First Televised Story: | An Unearthly Child |
| Last Televised Story: | The Chase |
| Other Stories: | Time and Relative (cameo) The Sorcerer's Apprentice |
| Actress: | Jacqueline Hill |
Character Description
Barbara Wright was one of Susan Foreman's teachers at Coal Hill School, London. When Susan displays a keen interest in History, and Barbara loans her a book about the French Revolution. On returning the book Susan comments that it is full of inaccuracies. Finding this odd, Barbara asks Susan how many shillings are in the pound, she is astonished to find that the teenager doesn't know. This strange knowledge intrigues Barbara, and talking with a fellow teacher, Ian Chesterton, she finds that she is not the only person who has noticed something odd about this pupil. One evening, as school is finishing, Ian and Barbara decide to follow Susan home. They are concerened about her, and curious. When they see Susan enter I.M. Foreman's junkyard in Totter's Lane, the two school teachers become more concerned for Susan's safety. Following her inside the yard, the two discover a Police Box sitting incongruously with the junk. Barging their way in, when they discover that Susan is inside, the two teachers find something even more strange ("An Unearthly Child").
Although Barbara accepts the impossibilities of time travel more easily than Ian, her first inclination is to try to rationalise things. She feels that there must be an explanation for the TARDIS, and that it is an illusion Susan and her grandfather have created in their loneliness and isolation. However, Barbara is practical and realistic. Once she has realised that Susan, and the Doctor, have told the truth about the TARDIS she accepts it fully.
Barbara is an instinctive person, and her combination of practicality and intuition make her the idal mediator, not only in the alien worlds and times, but also within the TARDIS. Many arguments between the Doctor and Ian are smoothed by Barbara's intervention. Her intuition doesn't fail her when the travellers arrive on Skaro. She feels uncomfortable, and wants to return to the safety of the TARDIS. When she is captured by the Daleks, she know that her fears were reasonable.
Barbara's strong beliefs, and acceptance of truth, make her a formidable character. When she believes in something, she stands up for it. This is most notable when the travellers arrive in the Aztec era. Her interest in history allows her to see the good and the evil in the aztec society, and her belief that they can be a truly good race leads her to become determined to change the course of history when the Conquistadors arrive. Barbara learns that history cannot be change, and is disappointed, but she has the strength of character to live with this. Her idealism is admirable, as she wished to preserve all that is good and honourable, whilst driving out the horrors and ignorance of human sacrifice.(The Aztecs)
The strength of character Barbara shows when accepting the fate of the Aztecs allows her to survive some of the discomforts she faces on her travels. While on Vortis, Barbara survives working for the Zarbi (The Web Planet), and although she is captured and tortured by a Saracen band, led by El Akir, she has the strength of mind to survive. (The Crusade)
Passionate about history, Barbara can see both sides to a story. When the travellers arrive in revolutionary France she befriends Leon Colbert. When he dies, she is distraught, and defends his treachery. Barbara believes in the inate goodness of people, and sees that sometimes there is more to a situation than meets the eye. Her knowledge of history also prepares the travellers for the possible hardships they will encounter when they land in Rome. She warns the others, once they have been captured to be sold as slaves, just how badly Roman slaves were treated.
Quotes
"What's that awful noise?"
"I beg your pardon... 'Awful noise'? A good way to talk about my singing!"
"No, Doctor, not that awful noise -- the other one!"
-- Barbara and the Doctor, in "The Chase"
