Post by The Thought Police (admin) on Apr 7, 2015 3:48:33 GMT -5
Jenkins uses the symbolism of trees to represent the nature of good and evil. Jenkins uses the world of nature to represent human nature. In nature, animals kill each other just as humans do. Jenkins reveals that this is something that Calum cannot understand. It is one of life's 'terrifying mysteries'. Therefore, it will always be a destructive part of man's nature to kill. Jenkins uses the symbolism of the tree to chart both the healing power of a life closer to nature, but also the growing unnatural evil within Duror.
At the outset of the novel, we are introduced to the natural lifestyle of the two cone gatherers as they are high up in the trees of the forest:
“It was a good tree by the sea loch, with many cones and much sunshine; it was homely too, with rests among its topmost branches as comfortable as chairs.”
The trees here are portrayed as a home to the two men, suggesting that they are at one with nature as if it was their own house. Living in such a way is entirely natural to them and their way of life is seen as good, through the use of pathetic fallacy. The tree here is similar to the first book of the Bible, where there is a tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Therefore, we know trees can represent both good and evil in Jenkins' novel and forests represent the idyllic setting of the Garden of Eden. Yet, even in this perfect place, mankind rebelled against god and had to be banished.
This positive use of tree symbolism is continued in the description of Duror's tree."A large elm tree stood outside his house. Many times...even by staring at it...his mind had been soothed... his ability to endure the end, sustained." Duror views this tree as a positive force in his life He admires that trees can bend to weather storms and survive through perseverance. He feels as though his life is one big struggle as his wife Peggy is ill and has become the one thing he cannot abide, imperfection in her 'wobbling masses of pallid fat'. We see that even in the early stage of the novel, his ability to endure this is fragile as he finds he can no longer tough this elm.
Later in the novel, Duror imagines the evil growing within him and his wish to shoot the Cone Gatherers is like a tree. "He could have named item by item, leaf, and fruit and branch, the overspreading tree of revulsion in him; but he could not tell the force which made it grow.” He is self-aware and understands that he is becoming evil. He understands that he is plotting to get rid of Calum and is going to involve Lady Runcie-Campbell in his scheme by telling her lies about Calum. Yet, he cannot understand why his feelings are continuing to darken. It is a troubling symbol as trees are fed by natural means such as water and sunlight. Yet, Duror's growing madness is fuelled by his his hate.
He seeks help at the Doctor's who attempts to help him 'endure' and show him that his feelings of sexual frustration may be at the root of his breakdown. Yet, Duror wonders if the Doctor really sees the real madness under his surface “Do you really, he thought, see this tree growing and spreading in my mind? And its fruit madness?”. It is clear that just as trees bear fruit if they are fed and watered, Duror's fate will be a descent into utter madness if he continues to feed his spite and hate. This foreshadows his incoerent mumbling about 'seed' when he insinuates Calum has desecrated Sheila's doll. At this point in the novel, Duror understands his mental state.
"It seemed to him that he must therefore be far more ill and decayed than he had thought. He was like a tree still straight, still showing green leaves; but underground death was creeping along the roots.” P.58
Just as the tree is strong on the outside, but can be rotten at its roots, so too Duror appears to others as though he is enduring and is still a stoically powerful man, but underneath his mental state is collapsing. Instead of taking the help from the Doctor, Duror considers he only has three options: 'he was in a mood for murder, rape or suicide.' In a way, Duror achieves all three.
Lady Runcie-Campbell after the doll incident sees his mental collapse:
“this sinister transformation in Duror, itself an episode from a macabre fairy tale, suddenly in the wood the straight stalwart immaculate ash tree turning into a squat warty bush swarming with worms."
She sees that her powerful and reliable gamekeeper is just as diseased and grotesque as a worm infested bush. It is interesting here that the strong tree is reduced to a mere bush just as Duror's strength is clearly reduced to a mumbling madman. She is worried about his actions and if only she acted on these anxiety's the novel's tragic ending would be averted.
Finally, Duror's madness is complete. When Duror finds out that Calum and Neil have refused to help Roderick he stalked off to Scour Point where they were working. “….it was as if the rotting tree itself had moved.” Duror kills Calum and leaves him dangling from the tree he had been climbing. This is similar to the tree Jesus was crucified with. Therefore, suggesting the death of Calum is similar to the death of Christ and that by Calum's sacrifice something good will come to those involved, some possible salvation and hope for their future. This is hinted at by Lady Runcie-Campbell's reaction to Calum's death as she collapses on the ground and weeps for him and for her own understanding of her failings as a good Christian. If she is saved, perhaps the world can be from the deaths of the innocents of World War Two.
At the outset of the novel, we are introduced to the natural lifestyle of the two cone gatherers as they are high up in the trees of the forest:
“It was a good tree by the sea loch, with many cones and much sunshine; it was homely too, with rests among its topmost branches as comfortable as chairs.”
The trees here are portrayed as a home to the two men, suggesting that they are at one with nature as if it was their own house. Living in such a way is entirely natural to them and their way of life is seen as good, through the use of pathetic fallacy. The tree here is similar to the first book of the Bible, where there is a tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Therefore, we know trees can represent both good and evil in Jenkins' novel and forests represent the idyllic setting of the Garden of Eden. Yet, even in this perfect place, mankind rebelled against god and had to be banished.
This positive use of tree symbolism is continued in the description of Duror's tree."A large elm tree stood outside his house. Many times...even by staring at it...his mind had been soothed... his ability to endure the end, sustained." Duror views this tree as a positive force in his life He admires that trees can bend to weather storms and survive through perseverance. He feels as though his life is one big struggle as his wife Peggy is ill and has become the one thing he cannot abide, imperfection in her 'wobbling masses of pallid fat'. We see that even in the early stage of the novel, his ability to endure this is fragile as he finds he can no longer tough this elm.
Later in the novel, Duror imagines the evil growing within him and his wish to shoot the Cone Gatherers is like a tree. "He could have named item by item, leaf, and fruit and branch, the overspreading tree of revulsion in him; but he could not tell the force which made it grow.” He is self-aware and understands that he is becoming evil. He understands that he is plotting to get rid of Calum and is going to involve Lady Runcie-Campbell in his scheme by telling her lies about Calum. Yet, he cannot understand why his feelings are continuing to darken. It is a troubling symbol as trees are fed by natural means such as water and sunlight. Yet, Duror's growing madness is fuelled by his his hate.
He seeks help at the Doctor's who attempts to help him 'endure' and show him that his feelings of sexual frustration may be at the root of his breakdown. Yet, Duror wonders if the Doctor really sees the real madness under his surface “Do you really, he thought, see this tree growing and spreading in my mind? And its fruit madness?”. It is clear that just as trees bear fruit if they are fed and watered, Duror's fate will be a descent into utter madness if he continues to feed his spite and hate. This foreshadows his incoerent mumbling about 'seed' when he insinuates Calum has desecrated Sheila's doll. At this point in the novel, Duror understands his mental state.
"It seemed to him that he must therefore be far more ill and decayed than he had thought. He was like a tree still straight, still showing green leaves; but underground death was creeping along the roots.” P.58
Just as the tree is strong on the outside, but can be rotten at its roots, so too Duror appears to others as though he is enduring and is still a stoically powerful man, but underneath his mental state is collapsing. Instead of taking the help from the Doctor, Duror considers he only has three options: 'he was in a mood for murder, rape or suicide.' In a way, Duror achieves all three.
Lady Runcie-Campbell after the doll incident sees his mental collapse:
“this sinister transformation in Duror, itself an episode from a macabre fairy tale, suddenly in the wood the straight stalwart immaculate ash tree turning into a squat warty bush swarming with worms."
She sees that her powerful and reliable gamekeeper is just as diseased and grotesque as a worm infested bush. It is interesting here that the strong tree is reduced to a mere bush just as Duror's strength is clearly reduced to a mumbling madman. She is worried about his actions and if only she acted on these anxiety's the novel's tragic ending would be averted.
Finally, Duror's madness is complete. When Duror finds out that Calum and Neil have refused to help Roderick he stalked off to Scour Point where they were working. “….it was as if the rotting tree itself had moved.” Duror kills Calum and leaves him dangling from the tree he had been climbing. This is similar to the tree Jesus was crucified with. Therefore, suggesting the death of Calum is similar to the death of Christ and that by Calum's sacrifice something good will come to those involved, some possible salvation and hope for their future. This is hinted at by Lady Runcie-Campbell's reaction to Calum's death as she collapses on the ground and weeps for him and for her own understanding of her failings as a good Christian. If she is saved, perhaps the world can be from the deaths of the innocents of World War Two.