The Unnumbered Commentary

Authors Avatar by peterealdoc (student)

‘The Unnumbered’ Commentary

The setting of ‘The Unnumbered’ and description of Nio coupled with the use of narrative hooks develop existing conflicts in the plot and also establish a new internal conflict and help characterise Sam North’s protagonist.

The relationship between the setting and North’s main character is significant because Nio is depicted as a lone bystander, creating the effect that he typically resides on the fringes of the life around him rather than partaking in it and thus is depicted as an unlikely protagonist. The impression of Nio as an observer of action rather than a part of it is created through descriptions of him ‘looking over the handrail’ at the action. Nio desires someone to ‘step through’ the figurative barrier between he and the action ‘into his life’, therefore this barrier can be seen to be a significant blockade around the ostracised Nio as it assumes a physical entity. It is clear he observes the busy traffic of the North Circular for some time because he notices the many brands of cars that pass and other features like the ‘odd pair of hands on a steering wheel’. This initial lack of action within ‘The Unnumbered’ indicates that Nio lives a boring life and renders him an unexciting as a central character. Indeed this lack of conflict between Nio and the setting of ‘The Unnumbered’ serves to reinforce the idea that Nio is accustomed to his life on the sidelines; this, coupled with the indifferent atmosphere expressed through the opening narrative of the passage consisting of few opinions and largely based upon Nio’s factual aids the overall effect of highlighting the lacklustre nature of North’s unlikely protagonist.

Join now!

The lack of action in the first half of the passage coupled with his romanticised description of his vicinity creates the impression of Nio as an introverted character, more of a thinker than a doer, as well as alluding to his dissatisfaction with life on the sidelines and expectancy from the idea created that he is waiting for something or someone. Nio is seen an introverted character; this can be ascertained from his introduction to the novel by himself, no relationships with other characters established. Further to this, no direct or indirect speech is recorded in the initial body ...

This is a preview of the whole essay