Lewis Grassic Gibbons

down across his face...she kicked him again"

During the night, she realises that she liked the kiss and her sexuality is awakened. Later on,

Ewan visits her home looking for her brother and Chris notices a scratch on his chest that she

inflicted and realises that he kissed her. Both of them are embarrassed by her realisation and

Ewan leaves. Chris's brother later says

"Tavendale down to see me? More likely he was down to take a bit keek at you, Chris lass"

Chris doesn't encounter Ewan until after her fathers death where he holds her hand, and doesn't

appear ashamed at doing this. On a later date, they meet and have dinner together and plan to

spend the day together. They plan to go to Dunnottar where Ewan asks Chris if she likes him.

Later on, there is a storm and Ewan helps Chris to move the horses. He then kisses her and it is

she described as feeling that

"she was his, he hers, for all things and everything, she never wanted better than that"

He proposes to her there and they are married on New Years Eve. She soon becomes pregnant

with their child.

Chris and Ewan then begin to argue and Chris hits Ewan and he retaliates by hitting her back.

Chris runs away to the Standing Stones. During the later stages of her pregnancy, Chris and

Ewan become closer and he becomes very protective of her. Chris soon gives birth to their soon

who is also named Ewan Tavendale. Chris, Ewan and their son continue their lives until the

effects of the First World War come to Kindraddie and Ewan has to enlist in the army. When

Ewan returns home on leave, he is a completely changed man. He acts in an insulting manner

towards her and rapes her. He returns to France after five days leave and Chris's life returns to

normal. She later learns that Ewan has been killed as he was a deserter.

The plot is effective in showing the deteriation of the relationship between Chris and Ewan as the

author clearly describes the life that Chris and Ewan had and what they experienced during the

deteriation.

Another technique which is used to show how the relationship between Chris and Ewan

deteriorates is characterisation. Chris and Ewan are shown to be very different characters. Chris

is someone who has been educated and therefore is more intelligent than Ewan. She is more able

to express her feelings about things and is able to adapt to situations. Ewan comes from the

Highlands and is a simple farmer. Yet, he can become violent. An event which shows the

difference in their characters is their visit to Edzell Castle, early in their marriage. They are

divided as Chris sees the deeper meanings behind the castle. She sees the change there that will

affect everyone. Her being able to see this comes from her education. Ewan, a man whose

feelings are firmly on the land, doesn't feel the same as Chris and feels alienated from her. Chris

sees "the remoteness that her books had made" Despite their differences, Chris and Ewan are

able to live together quite contentedly until Ewan returns from the war. Characterisation shows

how he has become a changed man in the way he treats Chris and the way he acts towards other

characters.

Characterisation is an important technique in portraying the deteriation of the relationship

between Chris and Ewan as it describes how their clashing personalities and the effect of the war

deteroriated their relationship.

Theme is a further technique that the writer employs to detail the deterioration of the

relationship between Chris and Ewan. The major theme of "Sunset Song" is change and this is a

major factor in the deteriation of Chris and Ewan's relationship. Chris and Ewan's relationship is

affected by external factors, the major one being the First World War which completely changes

Ewan's characteristics and actions. It causes Ewan to act in a completely different way towards

Chris as he is violent and insulting. Chris completely changes her feelings about him and it causes

her to replace the love she had for him with a feeling of hatred. When he returns to France, she

doesn't acknowledge him leaving. Theme is a major factor as it shows overall how change occurs

and how the relationship changed.

In conclusion, I feel more sympathy for Chris in the deteriation of her relationship with Ewan

as she was not to blame for it. The war was the major cause in it which she could not have done

anything about. Grassic Gibbons was very effective in portraying the deteriation of the relation of

Chris and Ewan through his use of techniques.