Examine the Portrayal of the Outsider in Three Short Stories - 'The Son's Veto' by Thomas Hardy (Sophy) 'The Basement Room' by Graham Greene (Philip).

David Humphries

Examine the Portrayal of the Outsider in Three Short Stories

‘The Son’s Veto’ by Thomas Hardy (Sophy)

‘The Basement Room’ by Graham Greene (Philip)

‘Uncle Ernest’ by Alan Sillitoe (Ernest)

In each of the three stories, ‘The Son’s Veto’ by Thomas Hardy, ‘The Basement Room’ by Graham Green and ‘Uncle Ernest’ by Alan Silitoe, the respective writer conveys a sense of isolation regarding the central character. There are numerous similarities between the characters based on their common plight, but each story differs in the portrayal of these characters. The writer’s effectively present the characters using a varying range of literary styles. In ‘The Son’s Veto’ the disabled Sophy is denied happiness from not fitting in to a higher social class. Graham Green in ‘The Basement Room’ employs a surreal situation to demonstrate the vulnerability and naiveity of youth. ‘Uncle Ernest’ is a story, which adopts a dreary approach to Ernest’s life.

The opening descriptions of the three characters are very effective and induce stereotypical views. This applies to Ernest especially in ‘Uncle Ernest’ as we first hear of him wearing a “dirty raincoat” and looking as though he “hadn’t washed for a month”. These observations imply that Ernest is homeless and the use of “dirty” further emphasize the fact that something is wrong in his life. Sophy also stands out from everyone else in ‘The Son’s Veto’ but for different reasons to Ernest. Hardy creates Sophy’s character to be misplaced in society, as she is a “young invalid lady” and wheel chair bound. In contrast to this her “nut brown hair was a wonder and a mystery”. Her hair is used to make reference to her history suggesting a mysterious and dark background yet its vibrancy allowed her to maintain a part of her character. The wheel chair depicts isolation especially when considering the time period of 1891 where there would have been little she could access. However in ‘The Basement Room’ by Graham Greene Philip’s opening description doesn’t bring attention to his appearance but to his current situation. Philip has been left alone with his keepers, yet his “seven nursery years” meant that he was master of the house due to his wealthy parents. Philips age is already a problem and the reader becomes aware of the starting point of the story.

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Sophy’s and Ernest’s isolation is a result of experiences in their lives. Ernest in ‘Uncle Ernest’ is scared mentally from the war, which still holds a negative grip over his life. Years on and he still cant break away from the “nightmare hours of gunfire”. The use of the word ‘nightmare’ has connotations of terror and fear, which are as vivid as ever leaving him wondering why he didn’t die “with the rest of them in France”. Perhaps Ernest has grown to resent not dying that day making he believe that it was his destiny and is now merely awaiting death. The reader in a modern society is provided with a larger understanding of loneliness through television and other mass media, which enables the reader to better sympathise with the plight of the character. Sophy in “The Son’s Veto” is in a similar situation to Ernest. Sophy’s lameness meant that she “must never walk much again” thus limiting her life significantly. Thomas Hardy quickly advances with the story at this point leading up to a rushed and perhaps unwanted wedding. This is in contrast to the rest of the story where Hardy takes time in describing and explaining showing the lack of control Sophy has over her life. Her existence at this point, like Ernest’s, seems pointless. Philip in “The Basement Room” has little experience with life due to his age of 7 and can’t be compared with Ernest and Sophy. However Philip’s high-class status shadows him from real life situations and therefore can only empathize with artificial experiences gained from books. An example of this is when he can’t identify with people that don’t bare similarity to the “Bastables” “nor the adventures of Emil”. Philips lack of company and companionship leaves him insecure and unprepared.

Surrounding characters have the most significant effect on causing the depression of each of the main characters. Baines heavily influences Philip in “The Basement Room”. Philip’s vulnerability is raised when he is asked by Baines to lie in front of the police as Baines begged “dumbly” like a dog. Philip has never seen the unstable and dumb side of Baines and therefore can’t relate to the situation of Baines being extremely reliant upon him to lie. The inflicted pressure will haunt Philip for the rest of his life. There is a reversal of roles from Philip to Ernest in “Uncle Ernest”. Ernest becomes reliant upon two young girls for his only source of companionship. Ernest entered a state of “oblivious contentment” whenever he is with Alma and Joan. Ernest temporarily forgets about his loneliness and gains a will to live. The perception of others may consist of looking upon him as a paedophile yet this situation is purely innocent and equally beneficial. Sophy is affected most severely by her son, Randolph. “O how Gladly” she would have gone back to the countryside as her current state of “depression” was inexhaustible but she needed to keep a home for her son. Her depression caused her to be resentful of her son like Ernest is of not dying in France. Perhaps Sophy has good reason to be resentful as Randolph effectively prevents her from the chance of a happy life.

The setting of each story also contributes to the depressed state of each character. Sophy’s Mood is reflected in her surroundings in “The Son’s Veto”. Hardy described the city to be polluted with “hazy air”, contain “drab” housing and to posses a “vista of sooty trees”. The words “hazy”, “sooty” and “drab” are typical of Hardy’s writing as he idealized the country and was horrified to see how industry polluted it. The use of pathetic fallacy allows the reader to identify with Sophy’s sadness and lack of control over her life. The house, which effectively imprisons Philip, is depicted by Graham Greene to be oppressive as shown by the “dark and heavy hall”. The adjective ‘heavy’ suggests the suppressive nature of the house. Moreover the word “dark” potentially reflects the blindness and naivety of Philip. Similar to Sophy, Ernest’s mood is reflected in his surroundings in “Uncle Ernest”. Alan Sillitoe comments on the “theatre patches of blue sky”. The writer suggests that Ernest’s life is reminiscent of a theatre production thus implying a meaning less existence.

The outcome is similar in all three stories leaving each character at the climax of their isolation. Sophy in “The Son’s Veto” attempts at moving back to the countryside with her former partner Sam are shattered by her son’s selfishness. Randolph made his mother swear to never marry Sam “without his consent”. This situation is reflective of the time period as Randolph strongly feels that his mother should stay a widow in remembrance of her late husband. Randolph fears that his reputation could be lowered and therefore resorts to emotional blackmail. Perhaps today the general outlook on remarrying is different; people may argue that there is nothing wrong in remarrying in order to attain happiness. Like Sophy, Ernest in “Uncle Ernest” is also left sad and alone after a life of rejection and never fitting in. Ernest is told never to speak to the girls again by the police effectively ending all motivation in his life. Ernest is subsequently filled with “unbearable” and “familiar emptiness”, as well as “hatred for everything”. Modern society is aware of the compromising situations that some young girls end up in, however the 1959 time period doesn’t present the chance for Ernest to defend himself. Questions of justice are raised which leaves Ernest with a negative attitude towards life baring much similarity to his status before he met the girls. The use of the words “familiar emptiness” suggests a format of eternal sadness therefore evoking much sympathy for the reader. It is ironic, as Ernest has done nothing to deserve this end especially after fighting in the war. The reader is overwhelmed with sympathy for Ernest, as nothing ever seems to result in happiness for him.

Our sympathies lie with all three characters as their isolation has been conveyed to the reader effectively by each author. Philips loneliness is a result of a troubled up bringing which leaves him mentally scared for life. Sophy and Ernest on the other hand are similar to each other and unlike Philip. They both induce a sense of helplessness in the reader after a life of persistent disappointment denies them from any chance of happiness. It becomes almost inevitable that Ernest and Sophy would end up completely isolated as events throughout the stories favor this outcome. On the other hand Philip’s situation is different, he is portrayed as a very vulnerable character and it’s as if he is prevented from ever having a chance to live a life.