Post by Mark Thomson on May 11, 2015 11:06:46 GMT -5
Cone Gatherers key quotes:
Calums gentle character – Beach Hut
Jenkins uses the beach hut scene in the novel to create a strong impression of Calums character. Calum and Neil enter the beach hut without permission to shelter from the dangerous storm outside. Calum finds Sheila's doll outside and describes it as:
“it was a small wooden doll naked, with a comical red cheeked face: it had one leg missing”
Calum is attracted to the broken doll as its almost a mirror image of himself, as he is viewed as broken due to his deformity. Calums caring nature is shown once again as he does not like to see anything suffering in pain so he tried to amend the doll. Calum trying to fix the doll may also be a sign of him trying to fix himself as he knows he's not perfect and sees himself within the doll. Durors vile sexual act upon the doll again shows Calums love and innocence as his opposite Duror is creating lies and performing sexual violence on the doll again brings out the pure loving caring side to Calum. Neil says to Calum in the beach hut
“Keep being yourself Calum, you're better than all of us”
Despite Calums appearance and deformity and that he is nothing but a simple man his values and beliefs are of those which would make the world a better place. If there was more people like Calum the world would be better off. Although Calum is below Lady Runcie Campbell in the hierarchy he is a better person due to his good morals and this fully shows his gentle character.
Deer Drive-
Another incident in the novel is the deer drive scene. Jenkins lets the reader observe just how innocent Calum really is. Calum is at one with nature and animals and when the deer is hurt:
“Calum flung himself upon the deer, clasped it around the neck and tried to comfort it”
During the heated moment when Duror is in his deluded state of mind and about to slaughter the deer Calum cares so much for the animal that he tries to save it. This shows Calums complete love for everything around him and his caring side that he wishes no pain or suffering upon anyone, or anything. He puts his own life at risk to save the deer. This also links onto the War as to Calum:
“it was a “terrifying mystery, why creates he loved should kill each other”
Calum does not understand the violence and pain being caused all around him, Calum is somewhat innocent to the fact but clearly affectionate and caring that he doesn't want the deer to die. He is naïve but has a peaceful nature, If everyone shared the views of Calum and his morals the world would be a better place, this shows Calums character to be gentle, caring and innocent.
Rabbit Snare
At the start of the novel, Duror in his sneaky actions leaves an injured rabbit as bait to lure Calum out and help the injured animal. When Calum goes to help the crippled rabbit he said:
“No creature on earth would help it, other rabbits would attack it, because it was crippled”
Calum can see himself in the broken animal. Just as Calum is victimised and attacked by others around him so to is the rabbit and he sees this similarity. Calum cant bare to watch anything be in pain or suffer so he makes his best effort to save the rabbit being his innocent character. Its also cruel how Lady Runcie Campbell and Duror view Calum as a:
“ feeble minded hunchback”
both LRC and Duror are in contrast with Calum, as they see him as deformed and beneath them, Calum is loving and caring and views everyone as the same, so much that he helps the animals that he is at one with all the time. Calum views animals as equally important to himself and he is a gentle caring character.
Innocence through War
Calum throughout the novel is portrayed as a gentle and innocent character who cannot understand why anyone would want to cause harm. Yet, Duror and to an extent Lady Runcie Campbell do cause 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 an insight to World War 2 where the entire world was involved in killing each other. Durors persecution of Calum is in direct parallel with Adolf Hitler's persecution of the Jews and the disabled as Duror “profoundly agreed” with Adolf Hitler sending millions of “idiots and cripples to the gas chamber”.
Jenkins uses Calums 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 her heart”.This is due to the fact that she has suddenly came to terms that she has been failing her own Christian value and that to an extent she is a part to blame in the death of Calum. She immediately goes to on her knees “near the blood and split cones” and this is showing her at the same level as Calum, the hierarchy and the social ladder doesn't matter. Calums death is made similar to the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of humanity. Will Calums death bring salvation to LRC. This again links to the World War two – will the deaths of the millions at war bring salvation and change our minds and attitudes. Jenkins true hope is that people will become like Calum to be innocent and gentle and not harm other living creatures.
Symbolism of Trees – Good v Evil
Jenkins uses the symbolism of trees to portray the sides to good and Evil. Jenkins uses the world of nature to represent human nature. In nature animals kill each other and so to do humans. But this is something Calum cannot understand, he views it as one of life's “terrifying mysteries”. Jenkins therefore uses trees to show the healing power of love and good, but also the horrid evil that is growing in Duror.
At the outset of the novel we are introduced to the natural loving lifestyle of the cone gatherers as they are high up in the tree 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 the topmost branches as comfortable as chairs”
The trees here are portrayed as a home to the two men. living in such a way is entirely natural and suggests that their way of life is good and they are at one with nature, through the use of pathetic fallacy. The tree here is similar to the first book of the bible, where there is a tree of knowledge Good v Evil. Therefore, we know trees can represent both good and evil in Jenkins novel and the 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.
Later in the novel, Duror imagines the evil growing inside him and his wish to shoot the cone men is like a tree:
“the overspreading tree of revulsion in him”
Duror is self aware and understands that he is becoming evil. He understand that he is plotting to get rid of Calum and he is going to use Lady Runcie Campbell in his scheme. By telling her lies about Calum. Yet he cannot understand why his feelings continue to darken. It is a troubling symbolism as trees are fed from natural sources like water and the sun. Yet Durors madness is fuelled by a deep rooted angry hatred of Calum. Just as Durors evil is growing and getting bigger so to is this evil tree spreading its way through Durors mind growing and goring making his madness unbearable.
Social class conflict
At the end of the novel, Calum is murdered by Duror and Lady Runcie Campbell:
“ then she went down on her knees near the blood and spit cones”
Not only is LRC physically getting down in the dirt to care for Calum but it also resembles the change in social class, throughout the full novel LRC has made sure the cone men now where they stand in the hierarchy, but now Calum has died she is realising she hasn't been true to her Christian values and is down at the same level with Calum in the puddle of blood with the social ladder being forgot in her head. LRC to an extent is partly to blame for the death of Calum.
During the storm in the beach hut scene in the novel, Calum is frustrates and said:
“ we could have perished in the storm, for all she cared, was that not murder”
Murder is the main conclusion of the novel as Duror kills Calum, although here we are shown that Social class and the hierarchy is so important to LRC that she would care if the cone men were to die outside, LRC is not following her Christian beliefs here and views the cone gatherers as such less that she would be more than happy to see them out in the dangerous storm, death isn't important here its here keeping her status above the two men.
Lady Runcie Campbell struggles to make her own decisions as she views the cone gatherers as less and not worthy of several things. Lady Runcie Campbell refuses to give the cone men a lift in her car and her son exclaimed:
“we carried the dogs in the car”
Animals are key in the novel and used throughout and here LRC views the two men as beneath the digs and puts the animals importance first over the mens showing how she really does view them as bottom of the scale when it comes to importance. Roderick then said: “ we didn't treat them fairly” this again is the boys young innocent kind attitude to wanting the men to be shown some respect, although LRC has no interest in the men, her full life is devoted to being high in the social ladder and being more than others around her. The cone gatherers are that lac of importance the dogs are prioritised to them.
Durors evil
Durors doctors appointment doesn't go too well, he leaves the doctors feeling:
“in a mood for murder, rape or suicide”
this all foreshadows the fatal outcome of the novel. “murder” will be the killing of Calum as he believes that getting rid of him will put himself out his suffering but once he is dead Duror is filled with “infinite desolation” and commits suicide. “infinite” means forever so Duror felt a forever loneliness filled Duror and he could not endure anymore.
“rape” is the violent sexual assault he will commit on a doll that he will bring to Lady Runcie Campbell to blame Calum for destroying the doll. This doll references to Calum “It was a small wooden doll naked, with a comical red cheeked face: one leg was missing” the doll has a beautiful face but a deformed body just like Calum, with Duror assaulting the foll its like he is assaulting Calum. He is trying to destroy Calum by creating lies about violent sexual actions when Duror is in fact the one doing thee crimes. In a way Duror is projecting his feelings onto Calum. When Duror arrives home he knows he cannot endure it anymore.
“he could not touch or even look at it” the tree in front of his house has been a symbol of his endurance and after the appointment he cannot even look at it suggesting that the evilness in Duror has finally weakened to his maximum and now he will have to do something about it.
“the overspreading tree of revulsion in him”
Duror is self aware and understands that he is becoming evil. He understand that he is plotting to get rid of Calum and he is going to use Lady Runcie Campbell in his scheme. By telling her lies about Calum. Yet he cannot understand why his feelings continue to darken. It is a troubling symbolism as trees are fed from natural sources like water and the sun. Yet Durors madness is fuelled by a deep rooted angry hatred of Calum. Just as Durors evil is growing and getting bigger so to is this evil tree spreading its way through Durors mind growing and goring making his madness unbearable.
Minor Character
Roderick is a minor character in the novel who still has great effect. He is true to the values and beliefs of his mother even though she is not. Roderick is just a young boy who is innocent and views the cone gatherers as people unlike his mother. Roderick is confused 'we carried the dogs in the car' but not the cone gatherers. Roderick tells his mother ''humans are more important than dogs'' Lady Runcie Campbell is partly to play for the death of Calum as she treats them so unfairly and doesn't stop Duror in his rage leading up to the execution, is obsessed with social class and makes sure she's above the cone men in the social ladder where as Roderick is fair to the men and wants them too be equal. Lady Runcie Campbell puts the dogs before the men and this shows how she doesn't view them as much at all and the dogs are off more importance.
Roderick again can almost see the outcome of the novel as he can see within Duror. Roderick says: ''you've got a spite against them Duror'' even though Duror is trying to set up lies about the cone gatherers to get them away, Roderick, who is only a young boy can see right through him and sees his true raw feelings where he has 'spite' and a deep hatred over the cone gatherers which eventually ends in the tragic ending where Duror murders Calum. Roderick again knows Duror treats the cone men unfairly and says this ''we didn't treat them fairly'' Roderick is innocent and knows for himself that they're aren't being treat right. Will people listen to Roderick? Lady Runcie Campbell didn't and the result was death for Calum, if people followed Roderick's way of life it would lead into a fairer less violent world instead of the mass murder conflict in the war.
Roderick decides to climb a tree near the end of the novel to join the cone gatherers “It is one of the very big trees at the end of the park; a silver fir” Roderick choosing to climb this tree is symbolic of the huge barrier between classes. He wishes to join the cone gatherers and pick cones – he aligns himself with the “green abundant future” of the new wood, not the barren past or the anguished present. Roderick is a fragile and weak character in his young age. Yet, underneath the surface he is a symbol of hope for the brighter future. He is physically weak and vulnerable but inside he has the innocence and correct attitude towards the world. This links to the war with everyone in conflict but if people were to follow Roderick the world would be a better place.
Calums gentle character – Beach Hut
Jenkins uses the beach hut scene in the novel to create a strong impression of Calums character. Calum and Neil enter the beach hut without permission to shelter from the dangerous storm outside. Calum finds Sheila's doll outside and describes it as:
“it was a small wooden doll naked, with a comical red cheeked face: it had one leg missing”
Calum is attracted to the broken doll as its almost a mirror image of himself, as he is viewed as broken due to his deformity. Calums caring nature is shown once again as he does not like to see anything suffering in pain so he tried to amend the doll. Calum trying to fix the doll may also be a sign of him trying to fix himself as he knows he's not perfect and sees himself within the doll. Durors vile sexual act upon the doll again shows Calums love and innocence as his opposite Duror is creating lies and performing sexual violence on the doll again brings out the pure loving caring side to Calum. Neil says to Calum in the beach hut
“Keep being yourself Calum, you're better than all of us”
Despite Calums appearance and deformity and that he is nothing but a simple man his values and beliefs are of those which would make the world a better place. If there was more people like Calum the world would be better off. Although Calum is below Lady Runcie Campbell in the hierarchy he is a better person due to his good morals and this fully shows his gentle character.
Deer Drive-
Another incident in the novel is the deer drive scene. Jenkins lets the reader observe just how innocent Calum really is. Calum is at one with nature and animals and when the deer is hurt:
“Calum flung himself upon the deer, clasped it around the neck and tried to comfort it”
During the heated moment when Duror is in his deluded state of mind and about to slaughter the deer Calum cares so much for the animal that he tries to save it. This shows Calums complete love for everything around him and his caring side that he wishes no pain or suffering upon anyone, or anything. He puts his own life at risk to save the deer. This also links onto the War as to Calum:
“it was a “terrifying mystery, why creates he loved should kill each other”
Calum does not understand the violence and pain being caused all around him, Calum is somewhat innocent to the fact but clearly affectionate and caring that he doesn't want the deer to die. He is naïve but has a peaceful nature, If everyone shared the views of Calum and his morals the world would be a better place, this shows Calums character to be gentle, caring and innocent.
Rabbit Snare
At the start of the novel, Duror in his sneaky actions leaves an injured rabbit as bait to lure Calum out and help the injured animal. When Calum goes to help the crippled rabbit he said:
“No creature on earth would help it, other rabbits would attack it, because it was crippled”
Calum can see himself in the broken animal. Just as Calum is victimised and attacked by others around him so to is the rabbit and he sees this similarity. Calum cant bare to watch anything be in pain or suffer so he makes his best effort to save the rabbit being his innocent character. Its also cruel how Lady Runcie Campbell and Duror view Calum as a:
“ feeble minded hunchback”
both LRC and Duror are in contrast with Calum, as they see him as deformed and beneath them, Calum is loving and caring and views everyone as the same, so much that he helps the animals that he is at one with all the time. Calum views animals as equally important to himself and he is a gentle caring character.
Innocence through War
Calum throughout the novel is portrayed as a gentle and innocent character who cannot understand why anyone would want to cause harm. Yet, Duror and to an extent Lady Runcie Campbell do cause 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 an insight to World War 2 where the entire world was involved in killing each other. Durors persecution of Calum is in direct parallel with Adolf Hitler's persecution of the Jews and the disabled as Duror “profoundly agreed” with Adolf Hitler sending millions of “idiots and cripples to the gas chamber”.
Jenkins uses Calums 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 her heart”.This is due to the fact that she has suddenly came to terms that she has been failing her own Christian value and that to an extent she is a part to blame in the death of Calum. She immediately goes to on her knees “near the blood and split cones” and this is showing her at the same level as Calum, the hierarchy and the social ladder doesn't matter. Calums death is made similar to the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of humanity. Will Calums death bring salvation to LRC. This again links to the World War two – will the deaths of the millions at war bring salvation and change our minds and attitudes. Jenkins true hope is that people will become like Calum to be innocent and gentle and not harm other living creatures.
Symbolism of Trees – Good v Evil
Jenkins uses the symbolism of trees to portray the sides to good and Evil. Jenkins uses the world of nature to represent human nature. In nature animals kill each other and so to do humans. But this is something Calum cannot understand, he views it as one of life's “terrifying mysteries”. Jenkins therefore uses trees to show the healing power of love and good, but also the horrid evil that is growing in Duror.
At the outset of the novel we are introduced to the natural loving lifestyle of the cone gatherers as they are high up in the tree 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 the topmost branches as comfortable as chairs”
The trees here are portrayed as a home to the two men. living in such a way is entirely natural and suggests that their way of life is good and they are at one with nature, through the use of pathetic fallacy. The tree here is similar to the first book of the bible, where there is a tree of knowledge Good v Evil. Therefore, we know trees can represent both good and evil in Jenkins novel and the 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.
Later in the novel, Duror imagines the evil growing inside him and his wish to shoot the cone men is like a tree:
“the overspreading tree of revulsion in him”
Duror is self aware and understands that he is becoming evil. He understand that he is plotting to get rid of Calum and he is going to use Lady Runcie Campbell in his scheme. By telling her lies about Calum. Yet he cannot understand why his feelings continue to darken. It is a troubling symbolism as trees are fed from natural sources like water and the sun. Yet Durors madness is fuelled by a deep rooted angry hatred of Calum. Just as Durors evil is growing and getting bigger so to is this evil tree spreading its way through Durors mind growing and goring making his madness unbearable.
Social class conflict
At the end of the novel, Calum is murdered by Duror and Lady Runcie Campbell:
“ then she went down on her knees near the blood and spit cones”
Not only is LRC physically getting down in the dirt to care for Calum but it also resembles the change in social class, throughout the full novel LRC has made sure the cone men now where they stand in the hierarchy, but now Calum has died she is realising she hasn't been true to her Christian values and is down at the same level with Calum in the puddle of blood with the social ladder being forgot in her head. LRC to an extent is partly to blame for the death of Calum.
During the storm in the beach hut scene in the novel, Calum is frustrates and said:
“ we could have perished in the storm, for all she cared, was that not murder”
Murder is the main conclusion of the novel as Duror kills Calum, although here we are shown that Social class and the hierarchy is so important to LRC that she would care if the cone men were to die outside, LRC is not following her Christian beliefs here and views the cone gatherers as such less that she would be more than happy to see them out in the dangerous storm, death isn't important here its here keeping her status above the two men.
Lady Runcie Campbell struggles to make her own decisions as she views the cone gatherers as less and not worthy of several things. Lady Runcie Campbell refuses to give the cone men a lift in her car and her son exclaimed:
“we carried the dogs in the car”
Animals are key in the novel and used throughout and here LRC views the two men as beneath the digs and puts the animals importance first over the mens showing how she really does view them as bottom of the scale when it comes to importance. Roderick then said: “ we didn't treat them fairly” this again is the boys young innocent kind attitude to wanting the men to be shown some respect, although LRC has no interest in the men, her full life is devoted to being high in the social ladder and being more than others around her. The cone gatherers are that lac of importance the dogs are prioritised to them.
Durors evil
Durors doctors appointment doesn't go too well, he leaves the doctors feeling:
“in a mood for murder, rape or suicide”
this all foreshadows the fatal outcome of the novel. “murder” will be the killing of Calum as he believes that getting rid of him will put himself out his suffering but once he is dead Duror is filled with “infinite desolation” and commits suicide. “infinite” means forever so Duror felt a forever loneliness filled Duror and he could not endure anymore.
“rape” is the violent sexual assault he will commit on a doll that he will bring to Lady Runcie Campbell to blame Calum for destroying the doll. This doll references to Calum “It was a small wooden doll naked, with a comical red cheeked face: one leg was missing” the doll has a beautiful face but a deformed body just like Calum, with Duror assaulting the foll its like he is assaulting Calum. He is trying to destroy Calum by creating lies about violent sexual actions when Duror is in fact the one doing thee crimes. In a way Duror is projecting his feelings onto Calum. When Duror arrives home he knows he cannot endure it anymore.
“he could not touch or even look at it” the tree in front of his house has been a symbol of his endurance and after the appointment he cannot even look at it suggesting that the evilness in Duror has finally weakened to his maximum and now he will have to do something about it.
“the overspreading tree of revulsion in him”
Duror is self aware and understands that he is becoming evil. He understand that he is plotting to get rid of Calum and he is going to use Lady Runcie Campbell in his scheme. By telling her lies about Calum. Yet he cannot understand why his feelings continue to darken. It is a troubling symbolism as trees are fed from natural sources like water and the sun. Yet Durors madness is fuelled by a deep rooted angry hatred of Calum. Just as Durors evil is growing and getting bigger so to is this evil tree spreading its way through Durors mind growing and goring making his madness unbearable.
Minor Character
Roderick is a minor character in the novel who still has great effect. He is true to the values and beliefs of his mother even though she is not. Roderick is just a young boy who is innocent and views the cone gatherers as people unlike his mother. Roderick is confused 'we carried the dogs in the car' but not the cone gatherers. Roderick tells his mother ''humans are more important than dogs'' Lady Runcie Campbell is partly to play for the death of Calum as she treats them so unfairly and doesn't stop Duror in his rage leading up to the execution, is obsessed with social class and makes sure she's above the cone men in the social ladder where as Roderick is fair to the men and wants them too be equal. Lady Runcie Campbell puts the dogs before the men and this shows how she doesn't view them as much at all and the dogs are off more importance.
Roderick again can almost see the outcome of the novel as he can see within Duror. Roderick says: ''you've got a spite against them Duror'' even though Duror is trying to set up lies about the cone gatherers to get them away, Roderick, who is only a young boy can see right through him and sees his true raw feelings where he has 'spite' and a deep hatred over the cone gatherers which eventually ends in the tragic ending where Duror murders Calum. Roderick again knows Duror treats the cone men unfairly and says this ''we didn't treat them fairly'' Roderick is innocent and knows for himself that they're aren't being treat right. Will people listen to Roderick? Lady Runcie Campbell didn't and the result was death for Calum, if people followed Roderick's way of life it would lead into a fairer less violent world instead of the mass murder conflict in the war.
Roderick decides to climb a tree near the end of the novel to join the cone gatherers “It is one of the very big trees at the end of the park; a silver fir” Roderick choosing to climb this tree is symbolic of the huge barrier between classes. He wishes to join the cone gatherers and pick cones – he aligns himself with the “green abundant future” of the new wood, not the barren past or the anguished present. Roderick is a fragile and weak character in his young age. Yet, underneath the surface he is a symbol of hope for the brighter future. He is physically weak and vulnerable but inside he has the innocence and correct attitude towards the world. This links to the war with everyone in conflict but if people were to follow Roderick the world would be a better place.