Father and Son
Father and Son
Bernard MacLaverty
Analysis
Contents
Title
Setting 2 Belfast 2 The Home 3
Themes 3
Plot 4
Characters 4 The Father 4 The Son 4 Parallels between the two characters 5 Differences between the generations 5 The Mother 5
Style 6 Narration 6 Thought/Language 6 A sense of foreboding 6 Imagery 7 Symbolism 7
General Features 7
Title
The title of the story immediately establishes these two characters as archetypes: they are not merely individuals, but they represent every father and son. Because of this, the title brings with it immediate connotations of the father/son relationship.
There are many positive aspects to this relationship: the Bible is full of relationships between father and son, particularly the love between them, as can be seen at the Baptism of Christ (“This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased”) and the story of the prodigal son.
On the other hand, there are negative connotations, such as the power struggle between a young man seeking to assert his own personality and an older man reluctant to relinquish dominance.
It is not surprising that in this story, both these aspects of the father/son relationship exist uneasily alongside one another.
The title sets out the bond between these characters, but also the divisions and oppositions which exist between two generations of the same gender.
Often, the language and incidents of the story parody allusions which the author may expect you to make. Unlike the Father of the Bible, here is a man disappointed by his son: “Here lies my son who let me down.” Unlike the father of the parable, he cannot forgive his prodigal son, and instead expects constant atonement from him.
Setting
Belfast
The story is set in the recent past in Belfast. As a result, the reader brings
Bernard MacLaverty
Analysis
Contents
Title
Setting 2 Belfast 2 The Home 3
Themes 3
Plot 4
Characters 4 The Father 4 The Son 4 Parallels between the two characters 5 Differences between the generations 5 The Mother 5
Style 6 Narration 6 Thought/Language 6 A sense of foreboding 6 Imagery 7 Symbolism 7
General Features 7
Title
The title of the story immediately establishes these two characters as archetypes: they are not merely individuals, but they represent every father and son. Because of this, the title brings with it immediate connotations of the father/son relationship.
There are many positive aspects to this relationship: the Bible is full of relationships between father and son, particularly the love between them, as can be seen at the Baptism of Christ (“This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased”) and the story of the prodigal son.
On the other hand, there are negative connotations, such as the power struggle between a young man seeking to assert his own personality and an older man reluctant to relinquish dominance.
It is not surprising that in this story, both these aspects of the father/son relationship exist uneasily alongside one another.
The title sets out the bond between these characters, but also the divisions and oppositions which exist between two generations of the same gender.
Often, the language and incidents of the story parody allusions which the author may expect you to make. Unlike the Father of the Bible, here is a man disappointed by his son: “Here lies my son who let me down.” Unlike the father of the parable, he cannot forgive his prodigal son, and instead expects constant atonement from him.
Setting
Belfast
The story is set in the recent past in Belfast. As a result, the reader brings