Higher English Prose Essay: Cal, Bernard Maclaverty

A novel in which a character seeks to escape from the constraints of his environment is “Cal,” by Bernard Mac Laverty. The eponymous character seeks to escape from the constraints of the religious violence present in Northern Ireland, in order to free himself from his guilt and involvement with terrorist organisations. The central concern of the novel is the inescapable nature of evil conflict.

Bernard Mac Laverty portrays the central concern immediately with the setting. The opening image is rather gruesome and connects religion with blood: “The Preacher moved forward and held out his glass to catch the spout of blood.” This image is effective as it connects the violence in Northern Ireland to religion. The preacher’s importance is also stressed with the use of a capital “P.” Cal’s reaction contrasts with the setting of the “abattoir,”: “hadn’t a strong enough stomach.” This shows that Cal is nauseated at the sight of blood, metaphorically suggests that he dislikes violence. Cal and his father, Shamie, are from a Catholic background. However, they live in a country run by British Protestants. The author reveals that Cal and Shamie are “the only Catholic family left in the whole estate.” This is an effective addition to the hostile environment as it stresses their isolation and vulnerability. Furthermore, this links with the main concern of the novel as their isolation is a result of the conflicts between religious views. The setting of the house adds to the idea of insecurity: "Then he heard a noise downstairs and stiffened. There was someone outside. He unsnibbed the door and went quickly to his father's room at the front of the house.” The word choice of "stiffened" shows how fearful Cal is, even within his own home. The short sentence creates a tense and dramatic mood. It is also significant that this takes place in Cal’s house, the place where he should feel safe and secure. This shows that in the world of the novel, the ordinary, everyday location is...