English Analysis - More Than Just a Disease
More than Just a Disease
A story of an outsider in a different world, Neil is a teenage boy with troubles in a society where he is excluded. Bothered by psoriasis, his red, flaky skin often prevented him from doing activities he would have otherwise loved to join in. In this story the author writes about the divided class systems, the inability to fit into society, overcoming fears, and allowing others to understand. In the story, the author describes Neil as self-conscious, easily influenced and an outsider. At the beginning of the story, his mother’s voice is often in his head. She tells him what to do, how to do it, and completely controls him. She is very ordered, and so is Neil. The fact that Neil’s pyjamas were ironed and neatly folded at the start of the story already tells us the kind of person Neil is. He isn’t comfortable living with the Middletons, in their extravagant holiday house. The fact that he is on a scholarship suggests that his family may be financially troubled, so he lives a simple, ordered, life. At one stage the author describes a beautiful beach scene, but fails to put Neil in the picture. It shows that there is a beautiful scene, and Neil is an outsider, so he isn’t a part of it. When Michael goes off to play cricket with his friends, Neil tells the reader how he also has a cricket bat but it hardly has a mark on it, because it isn’t a common interest that they share. Again, the writer is reminding us that Neil is an outsider, separated by the status level in society. He is also very self-conscious, unable to let go of his disease. Just to avoid water, Neil is willing to make up outrageous lies just to avoid swimming. One of the excuses he uses is “I’ve got my period.” This excuse also shows how heavy his mother influences him, because it is an excuse only his mother should use. Although Neil’s mother does not actually appear in the story, she plays a big role in shaping Neil’s character. She is very controlling, and is always
A story of an outsider in a different world, Neil is a teenage boy with troubles in a society where he is excluded. Bothered by psoriasis, his red, flaky skin often prevented him from doing activities he would have otherwise loved to join in. In this story the author writes about the divided class systems, the inability to fit into society, overcoming fears, and allowing others to understand. In the story, the author describes Neil as self-conscious, easily influenced and an outsider. At the beginning of the story, his mother’s voice is often in his head. She tells him what to do, how to do it, and completely controls him. She is very ordered, and so is Neil. The fact that Neil’s pyjamas were ironed and neatly folded at the start of the story already tells us the kind of person Neil is. He isn’t comfortable living with the Middletons, in their extravagant holiday house. The fact that he is on a scholarship suggests that his family may be financially troubled, so he lives a simple, ordered, life. At one stage the author describes a beautiful beach scene, but fails to put Neil in the picture. It shows that there is a beautiful scene, and Neil is an outsider, so he isn’t a part of it. When Michael goes off to play cricket with his friends, Neil tells the reader how he also has a cricket bat but it hardly has a mark on it, because it isn’t a common interest that they share. Again, the writer is reminding us that Neil is an outsider, separated by the status level in society. He is also very self-conscious, unable to let go of his disease. Just to avoid water, Neil is willing to make up outrageous lies just to avoid swimming. One of the excuses he uses is “I’ve got my period.” This excuse also shows how heavy his mother influences him, because it is an excuse only his mother should use. Although Neil’s mother does not actually appear in the story, she plays a big role in shaping Neil’s character. She is very controlling, and is always