Final answer:
The other characters in the poems 'On Leaving' and 'On Staying Behind,' such as the father and Mrs. C., provide contrast and context to the main narrators, enhancing our understanding of the emotional and societal pressures they face.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the provided excerpts and questions, it appears that the poems 'On Leaving' and 'On Staying Behind' deal with themes of separation, loss, and family dynamics. In these poems, characters such as the father and the woman who offers tea and biscuits serve as contrasts to the main narrators - the mother and daughter duo. These supporting characters help us understand the emotional context and societal expectations surrounding the main characters' situations.
For instance, the line "Our plane is leaving soon, your father says." suggests that the father character is focused on the practicality of leaving, which highlights the torn emotions of the mother, who is separated from her son. Such interactions deepen our understanding of the family's dynamic and the struggles they endure. Other characters like Mrs. C., albeit flat and static, provide a backdrop against which the more dynamic and round character of Dorothy Wordsworth’s experiences are highlighted.