Question

Explain the personality differences between the adjutant and Lean in paragraphs 8-12.

8. "I suppose," said the adjutant, slowly, "we'd better search his clothes for--things."

9. Lean nodded. Together in curious abstraction they looked at the body. Then Lean stirred his shoulders suddenly, arousing himself.

10. "Yes," he said, "we'd better see what he's got." He dropped to his knees, and his hands approached the body of the dead officer. But his hands wavered over the buttons of the tunic. The first button was brick-red with drying blood, and he did not seem to dare to touch it.

11. "Go on," said the adjutant, hoarsely.

12. Lean stretched his wooden hand, and his fingers fumbled the bloodstained buttons. At last he rose with ghastly face. He had gathered a watch, a whistle, a pipe, a tobacco-pouch, a handkerchief, a little case of cards and papers. He looked at the adjutant. There was a silence. The adjutant was feeling that he had been a coward to make Lean do all the grisly business.

Answer 1

According to the paragraphs 8-12 from The Upturned Face, it can be said that personality differences between Lean and the adjutant are the following:

On the one hand, Lean is practical and brave, since he was the one who plucked up the courage to touch, with his bare hands, the body of the dead officer to gather the items they needed.

On the other hand, the adjutant is speculative and wary, as he is the one giving the instructions to Lean for doing "all the grisly business".