How does Doyle represent family relations within the first 90 pages of "Paddy Clarke ha ha ha"?l?

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‘Paddy Clarke ha ha ha.’

How does Doyle represent family relations within the first 90 pages of the novel?

Chris Hadden

Doyle uses the parental figures within Paddy’s life as symbols of stages of growing up. The mother represents the “Peter Pan” effect of wanting to remain a child forever with her treatment of him; she is a secure base which provides stability for Paddy. Whereas the mature treatment of Paddy by his father symbolises how Paddy is becoming more independent and grown up. Sinbad as more of a brother and a closer relation in regard to age is an ever present figure that is in constant contact with Paddy, this is perhaps the most important relationship as Paddy has the most interaction with his brother.

Paddy idolises his father, which can be attributed to the fact that Paddy see’s less of his father than anyone else within the family. Paddy’s mother is always in the house and Sinbad is generally in the same place as Paddy all the time. As Paddy’s “Da” is a working man he see’s less of his children and leaves much of their upbringing to his wife. We first see Paddy’s idolisation of his father when his “Da” see’s him with the magnifying glass. “He pressed his thumb on the glass. I pressed my thumb on the glass.” “He” and “I” the subjects of the two respective sentences are pronouns that tell us the concentration of the sentences. The repetition of the dynamic verb pressed shows how Paddy wants to imitate the actions of his father. The only other differences within the two sentences are the pre modifiers used in front of thumb; this symmetry shows how Paddy wants to mirror his father’s actions. This idea of idolisations is shown again; “I followed him into the living room”. The pre modifier and personal pronoun “I” shows us that Paddy yearns to feel close to his father. He follows in order to obey and impress. The dynamic verb of followed is used to show us how the Father has authority over Paddy and that Paddy’s respect and arguably fear of his father spreads to unwittingly copying and mimicking his behaviour. As readers we suspect that Paddy holds fear for his father due to lines such as; “He put his hand on my shoulder.” We find Paddy describing events in a desensitised way using noun phrases because he is uncomfortable with physical contact from his father. Paddy dehumanises both his father’s hand and his own shoulder by categorising them separately to the person whom they belong to. The scene presented becomes more abstract, although Paddy obviously idolises his father he is always wary of crossing the line and feeling the consequences.

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Paddy lacks compassion for his little brother Sinbad. “Sinbad’s lips had disappeared because he was pressing them shut so hard; we couldn’t get his mouth to open.” The use of noun phrases such as “Sinbad’s lips” and “his mouth” dehumanises Sinbad to the point where Paddy just see’s him as an object. This shows the reader just how much Paddy lacks compassion or empathy. Also, although it seems it is mainly Paddy attempting to force the capsule into Sinbad’s mouth he uses “we”, as though to say because he is failing it is the responsibility of the whole group. ...

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