The Portable Phonograph - Character Analysis Walter Van Tilburg Clark's short story, The Portable Phonograph, is a story about the world's last survivors after the total destruction of a war. The author provides clues and hints to this right from the start, writing in a narrative voice and describing the scene in dark, bellicose terms. The characters are then presented as a group of men huddled around a fire. The eldest of the men, Dr. Jenkins, is the leader and his character is full of personality that can be analyzed by the reader. He is the owner of the shelter where they meet. This article will highlight the different aspects of the old man in this story and present the conclusions that can be drawn from them. The men in this story are obviously amused by the smallest things. They occupy themselves with reading books from a collection that a man owns. Each of the men has their own contribution to the group and together they endure a moment of devastation while entertaining each other. The older man has a record player that he takes out once a week for the group's listening pleasure. He is very proud of this treasure. It has weathered these difficult times just as he has and limits its use to make it last. He only owns three steel needles and takes one to use because on this particular occasion there is a musician visiting with them. The other men act excitedly like children. They listen to the record and then leave the doctor's house. Dr. Jenkins is nervous and suspicious at the end of the story when the other men leave. "With nervous hands he lowered the piece of canvas that served as a door, and fastened it to the bottom. Then, quickly and silently, often looking at the piece of canvas, he slipped the records into the case..." (Clark, p. 241). He feels that "everything he has" is at risk with the greed that a moment like this might produce in other men. He is confident and comfortable with the things he has and does not trust others. He then hides his treasures in a safe place after they are gone. As he gets into bed, he feels the "convenient piece of lead pipe" with his hand"..