New Hampshire · Character
Laban
A named local figure in the New Hampshire poems, one of the small-town men whose plain existence the narrator sets against the state's loftier claims.
supporting
Also known as this Laban
First appearance: the grindstone
As a supporting figure in New Hampshire, Laban is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Laban, Eliza's current husband, tries to honor her wish by seeking a separate grave or burial with her first love.
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Laban belongs to the cast of New Hampshire specimens — one each of everything, as the poem says, kept in the state's show-case and not for sale. He is the sort of neighbor whose name the narrator drops without…
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The fuller portrait of Laban sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Laban in the grindstoneCharacter Web
6 connectionsA slice of how Laban sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Social
- Other
Character groups
- Generic and elderly locals
- French-Canadian and local residents
- Maternal and eccentric locals
+1 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs when the speaker, overwhelmed by the "fated night" and the "hissing" snow, nearly su…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Eliza
family · positive
Eliza and Laban are likely married or closely related, sharing a household and daily… How this plays out →
- Son
family · positive
- John Smith
social · ambivalent
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Laban in the grindstoneIn the story
Laban appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Laban unlock in the free preview.
See Laban in the grindstone