Genre
Biographical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Setting and Context
Set in early 20th century Ireland.
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: Roseanne McNulty and Dr. Grene;
Point of View: First-person
Tone and Mood
Ominous, Dark, Heartbreaking, Melodramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Roseanne McNulty; Antagonist: Father Gaunt
Major Conflict
The major conflict arises when Roseanne falls victim to the constraints of the patriarchy and religion facilitated by Father Gaunt. Decades later, Roseanne recalls her past that is more accurate compared to the perspective of others that landed her in the asylum. Dr. Grene on the other hand tries to make sense of all this and uncovers secrets and truths that tie everything about their past together.
Climax
The climax occurs during the storm when Roseanne gives birth on the beach and passes out.
Foreshadowing
“He himself was growing old, but not as old as myself.”
This statement by Roseanne about Dr. Grene foreshadows the ironic twist that reveals the doctor’s parentage.
Understatement
“Blameless? I hardly think that is given to any mortal being.”
In this statement, Roseanne understates her innocence after she is granted freedom following unfair institutionalization.
Allusions
The narrative takes place against the backdrop of Irish struggles hence alludes to the anti-treaty IRA movement and the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC).
Imagery
“The tower looked enormous from there, it seemed to stretch up to the filthy grey clouds of that day. To heaven. Not a breeze stirred. The neglected graves of that section of the yard, the graves of men and women of some century where the people could only afford rough stones, and not a name writ upon them, seemed different now on my own, as if their poor skeletons might rise up against me, to devour me in their eternal hunger.”
Paradox
Dr. Grene is out to seek the truth and discover the secret surrounding Roseanne’s situation and as it turns out he is the missing piece in the puzzle.
Parallelism
The narrative is told from both Roseanne and Dr. Grene’s perspectives which parallel each other. Their stories mirror each other as they are both on a quest to retrieve the same truth unbeknownst to the other. Furthermore, they both share similar conflicts in their lives such as broken marriages and the climactic twist about their connection.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“scratching it all out in blue biro ink”
Biro is a metonymy for a ballpoint pen.
Personification
“The sunlight had followed us both into the room and lay about us in dusty bushels.”
