When The Wind Blows

When The Wind Blows
By Raymond Briggs

In what ways do the techniques used in When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs illuminate the themes of the text? Essay question

In the graphic novel, Wwhen the Wwind Bblows the author Raymond Briggs uses a variety of techniques to illuminate the themes of the themes of this novel. Briggs uses conflict and contrast to show how broad political issues afigures affect everyday lives. Briggs also uses images (Colour, Shape and Framing) to portray and highlight the devastation and destruction that is caused by Nuclear War and also exhibits the resilience and hope of the human race through his characters, James and Hilda Bloggs.

Briggs also uses conflict and some contrast to show that broad political issuesfigures can affect everyday life. Just like in real life whatever the politicians do will always affect normal people. In Wwhen the Wwind Bblows there is an international conflict /crisis that is raging on between the governments of Russia and England. Ultimately this conflict leads to Russia unleashing a pre-emptive nuclear attack on England which leads to the inevitable destruction of not only James and Hilda Bloggs but probably countless other lives in England. The contrast that is used by Briggs is used to compare the normal everyday citizens and the government, Briggs conveys to the reader that just like James, Hilda and the other normal citizens of the country, that they are powerless and inferior or have no say or voice in the decisions or actions that the governments takes; the contrast is also shown in the size of the images and characters, James and Hilda are relatively small compared to the bigger and more ‘important’ global political things. Since there are only 2 main characters, James and Hilda also represent the other people; Briggs uses them to say that normal people are powerless in events like these. ; the decisions that politicians and governments of a country make can either be positive or detrimental to a country just like it was in when the wind blows. Briggs use of these techniques has shown how broad political figures affect everyday lives.

Briggs delivers a message with his use of images to display just how devastating nuclear war is and the destruction it can cause. Moments after the nuclear weapon is detonated, the reader can conspicuously notice the devastating effects of the weapon. Briggs creates From page 18 to 21 there is a 4-page spread that is dedicated to showing the effects of the explosion; in these 4 pages the colours have completely changed from colourful and lively colours to the blinding white light of the nuclear explosion. The explosion completely distorts and disfigures the framing, from straight and sharp lines and edges to an uneven and messy frames. After the explosion Briggs takes the reader to the outside where the landscape has dramatically changed from a green, bright and luscious landscape to a dry and dead environment where all vegetation and animal life has been devoured by the explosion. Briggs also uses his characters to show the devastation of the weapon. After James and Hilda survive the initial attack they start following the ill-advised instruction from the government. They soon succumb to the nuclear radiation and slowly start to fade away from happy and blissful to gloomy and dark characters. They become pale faced with greenish and blackish facial features and finally meet their inevitable end. Briggs use of images has clearly shown the devastation and destruction of nuclear war.

Resilience and hope are 2 two of the most powerful things Humans humans have with them. .and Briggs uses his characters as vessels to express these traits/emotions. After the nuclear explosion, James and Hilda come out of their emergency shelter and remain calm like nothing has happened. They start to resume their everyday routines; Hilda remains concerned about working and cleaning around the house and James wishes he could go drink at the pub, even though there has just been a nuclear weapon dropped on them. They show signs of blissful ignorance and almost ignore what has just happened. When the radiation starts to affect them they start showing more signs of resilience and they do not let it affect them. They keep on hoping that someone will save them. The reader can recognise foreshadow that their doom is coming but James and Hilda keep on hoping and being resilient even until their deaths. Briggs has used James and Hilda to show the resilience and hope of Humans into times of great hardship.

Conclusion:Briggs use of these literary techniques has clearly illuminated the powerful themes of the graphic novel When the Wind Blows. Briggs use of conflict and contrast has shown that broad political issues can affect everyday lives. The conflict ultimately destroys England and Briggs uses contrast to compare size between James and Hilda with ith bigger political issues. Briggs use of images has also displayed how devastating and destructive Nuclear weapons are and how they drastically affect lives. Finally his use of his 2 main characters has displayed how strong humans can be in times of hardship and how they can show the strong feelings of resilience and hope in even the darkest days. He