Post by The Thought Police (admin) on Apr 7, 2015 2:43:02 GMT -5
Calum throughout the novel is portrayed as an innocent character whose gentle nature cannot understand why anyone would want to cause another harm. Yet, Duror and to an extent Lady Runcie-Campbell do cause Calum harm and for no better reason than he is physically deformed in their eyes. Jenkins uses the persecution of Calum as a direct comment on mankind's brutal nature and as an insight into World War Two where the entire world was involved in killing each other. Duror's persecution of Calum is a direct parallel to Hitler's persecution of the Jews and the disabled as he 'profoundly agreed' with Adolf Hitler sending in their millions 'idiots and cripples to the gas chamber'.
Therefore, Neil is shown to be Jenkin's mouthpiece when he asks Tulloch - 'why is it…that the innocent have always to be sacrificed?'. It is said that we learn from our mistakes. It seems as though mankind learns through the deaths of others. Jenkins uses Calum's death as a catalyst for change in the life of Lady Runcie-Campbell. When she sees Calum dangling from the tree, "she wept pity, and purified hope, and joy, welled up in my heart.” This is due to the fact that she has suddenly come to terms with her own failings as a Christian and recognises that she too has persecuted Calum in her own way. She immediately goes to help and kneels at his level (symbolic of the equality now between them). Calum's death is made similar to the crucifiction of Jesus on the cross. Jesus died for the sins of humanity. Will Calum's death bring salvation to Lady Runcie-Campbell and the others? This is again a comment on World War Two - will the deaths of millions of Calums on the battlefields and in the gas chambers bring salvation to the world and change our attitudes to death and and war. Will we become more like Calum in the way that harming another living creature would fill us with disgust. This is Jenkins' hope.
Therefore, Neil is shown to be Jenkin's mouthpiece when he asks Tulloch - 'why is it…that the innocent have always to be sacrificed?'. It is said that we learn from our mistakes. It seems as though mankind learns through the deaths of others. Jenkins uses Calum's death as a catalyst for change in the life of Lady Runcie-Campbell. When she sees Calum dangling from the tree, "she wept pity, and purified hope, and joy, welled up in my heart.” This is due to the fact that she has suddenly come to terms with her own failings as a Christian and recognises that she too has persecuted Calum in her own way. She immediately goes to help and kneels at his level (symbolic of the equality now between them). Calum's death is made similar to the crucifiction of Jesus on the cross. Jesus died for the sins of humanity. Will Calum's death bring salvation to Lady Runcie-Campbell and the others? This is again a comment on World War Two - will the deaths of millions of Calums on the battlefields and in the gas chambers bring salvation to the world and change our attitudes to death and and war. Will we become more like Calum in the way that harming another living creature would fill us with disgust. This is Jenkins' hope.