Isolation In Maurice Gee's The Fat Man

Maurice Gee’s The Fat Man is a novel of fear and overpowerment, exemplified by the moment Herbert Muskie lays eyes on young Colin. The year is 1933 in Loomis, and Herbert Muskie, better known as the Fat Man, pursues a personal vendetta against the Potter family for the bullying that Mr Muskie received from Colin’s father at a younger age. Maurice Gee conveys the idea of hopelessness through Herbert Muskie’s dialogue and Body language affecting Colin, by his developing fear and self-isolation from his teaming with Herbert Muskie. Mr Muskie’s Wife and Daughter, Bette and Verna are wrongfully influenced and bullied yet are knowing of what the Fat Man is capable of whilst Laurie is opposed and seems beaten down from the affects that the Fat Man has had on him. Throughout the novel
Laurie begins to question Mr Muskie’s Motive’s when he offers oranges to the Potter family as a gift, Laurie and Colin worry just how much control Mr Muskie has over the Potter family. “It was as if he knew every secret, as if he had some power over them.” (p.90) Laurie is further implied as having a lesser impact and hope in his everyday life as Mr Muskie beats him in an arm wrestling contest which seemed to mean more than just nothing. “His father was defeated. The fat man had beaten him, more then just arm wrestling. He had made him smaller somehow.” (p.100) The growing effect of Mr Muskie on Laurie proves to have a lasting aftertaste on his reputation, the confrontations between the Potters and Muskies heats quickly through an escalating theme of hopelessness. “He took his glass of beer and drank a sip. He did not seem able to gulp anymore.” (p.97) The outcome of Mr Muskies over ruling on Laurie for the bullying he once put on Herbert Muskie has come back to haunt him in later