The novel Cal by Bernard Mac Laverty is a touching portrayal of love being found where thought impossible, yet, is more than just a love story. Discuss.

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CAL

The novel Cal by Bernard Mac Laverty is a touching portrayal of love being found where thought impossible, yet, is more than just a love story. The novel is set in Northern Ireland during the time of the troubles, when religious bigotry and violent warfare were a part of everyday life. Throughout the novel there is a sense of impending tragedy. Cal is the central character in the novel, and we follow his life through his eyes. This allows the reader to feel close to him. The novel touches on many themes such as love, religion, bullying and guilt. The author has dealt with each one sensitively. The novel is based around Cal struggling with the fact he has found love in Marcella. We witness him struggling with his conscience and feel for him as the novel builds to his decision which leads to the powerful ending. The author creates a surprising attitude to Cal, the reader automatically feels pity, even although they are faced with someone who is an accessory to murder. This novel gives a fascinating insight to the life of a young man who is struggling to develop and cope with his feelings towards the one person he shouldn't feel for, whilst enveloped in the difficulties caused by religion and politics around him.

Cal is shown as a very sensitive person. This can be seen when he has to quit his job at the abattoir as it disgusts him to be around the carcasses of dead animals. This puzzles, and seems to embarrass his father "Shamie". Cal is quiet and easily led, we can see this when he recollects the effect Crilly had on him at school, also in the way he became wrapped up in the IRA. The author contrasts Cal's nature with his father's, in that Shamie refuses to move house although it is putting them in danger to be Catholics living in a mainly Protestant area. "No Loyalist bastard is going to force me out of my home". Cal has been put through a lot in his nineteen years. The loss of his mother affected him greatly, so must have his brother's death, even though it is only briefly mentioned. I think the author used this tactic to illustrate the depths of Cal's character. Cal is portrayed by the author as basically a "good" person, he can be easily related to as he has many flaws as well as his decent side, such as his lust for Marcella shown in the Chapel and in the library, also his weakness in willpower shown through his constant smoking. Although we find that Cal is mixed up in some terrible acts, we can identify with his situation, as the author has made Cal's predicament very "real" with the use of the everyday activities which make up his life, he does not live on a battlefield, but in his home. Also with the ongoing love situation throughout the novel Cal can be understood.
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Marcella is brought into the novel before the writer has revealed exactly what crime Cal had been involved in. Cal is instantly drawn to her, almost "love at first sight" these feelings towards Marcella are soon to be overpowered with Cal's guilt as he finds that she is the widow of a man who has been murdered, the murder which Cal was an accessory to. This is obviously a love story, which is doomed from the outset. Cal is torn between guilt and wanting to be with Marcella. Marcella is shown by the author to be beautiful, neat ...

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