The lexis used in this passage as well as elsewhere in the book is a mixture of elevated and quite basic. “Esmerelda searched for flowers while I constructed the kite with an appropriate solemn slowness.” The sibilance used at the end of the sentence emphasises Franks concentrated mind state, whilst this is juxtaposed with Esmerelda who is oblivious as to what is about to happen. The use of the common noun ‘flowers’ also creates an almost funereal sense to the sentence, especially as the reader knows what is about to happen. Frank tells the story of his murders through the use of hindsight. I believe Banks did this to give him an air of superiority that is conveyed through his older age and the more extensive vocabulary he uses to articulate himself. The reader could almost forget that Frank was a child himself when he committed these acts. Frank usually uses basic lexis when describing the actions of others. Earlier in the novel, when Frank killed his younger brother Paul, Banks uses non-standard lexical items when describing how Paul spoke, “The noise jus affer Sumday brekast.” The simplicity of his language conveys how young he is and creates sympathy for him in the reader’s eyes as he is still learning to acquire the language. It also creates further disdain towards Frank, as he was the one who committed Paul’s murder. The flux in lexical level is representative of different forces inside Frank and the complexity of his character.
Banks’ use of verbs also helps to create a voice for Frank, “The wind blew her blonde hair in front of her face as she walked, squatted, crawled and talked, and I assembled.” Three basic verbs are used to describe Esmerelda and they are all in the past participle. This, coupled with Banks use of asyndetic listing shows how active she is at the time. This effect is juxtaposed with the one, complex verb ‘assembled’, used to describe Frank. It further emphasises his concentration and creates a quite disturbing effect, as we know he is observing every action of Esmerelda with great detail. Banks uses the present participle in the following case, when describing the actual murder taking place, “She was screaming and waggling her legs for all she was worth.” This again emphasises that Frank is enjoying what he sees and the present participle “waggling” shows how helpless Esmerelda is.
Frank describes Esmerelda in a rather sexist manner, “clutching the lines and winch to her flat little chest.” The two pre-modifiers used by Banks show that Frank thinks he has power over Esmerelda, maybe due to her lack of sexual development. Frank’s misogynistic feelings exist elsewhere in the novel also, “My greatest enemies are women and the sea…women because they are weak and stupid.” Banks use of the post-modifiers ‘weak’ and ‘stupid’ just give the reader the impression that Frank is immature. He does not give clear reasons as to why he hates women, though the events of later in the novel could explain this. I believe Banks also uses these themes because women being weak is a gothic motif and it fits in with the overall style that he would like the novel to portray.
As with all of his murders, Frank goes into great detail as to his reasons for committing the crimes and tries to justify them. “She had a fistful of tiny flowers.” ‘Fistful’ accentuates Esmerelda’s lack of development and her innocence. The use of the pre-modifying adjective adds to this effect, as it implies she has a whole handful of only very small flowers. I believe it is Banks’ clear intention to create sympathy towards Frank’s latest victim. Just before Frank murders Esmerelda she gives him a flower, “I accepted the daisy she gave me graciously.” The adverb ‘graciously’ creates an almost mocking and sarcastic tone in Frank’s voice, as we know what he is about to do and we know it is not in his character to do accept flowers.
Banks uses different sentence types in order to convey a range of emotions through his main character Frank. “I built a big kite.” Here Banks uses the simple sentence with great effect. The sentence builds anticipation, as the reader knows the kite was built to be used as a murder weapon, as this was revealed earlier in the passage. The sentence appears child-like, which is emphasised through the monosyllabic words that are used throughout. I believe Banks tries to create the effect that Frank is mocking the age of his victim as it is rare for him to use such basic lexis, and the sentence does sound like something a child would say – for example the pre-modifier ‘big’ seems rather child-like. An alternative interpretation is that Frank is getting pleasure about how well he has built the kite. This is generated through the alliteration of the plosives in the sentence.
The sentence itself is emphasised as it is a paragraph in itself and has no modification. Banks also uses the simple sentence further on in the extract to achieve the same effect – a build up of anticipation, “I called Esmerelda over.” The previous build up means that the reader knows what will happen, which is why the sentence is so effective. Earlier on in the novel Banks uses a mixture of compound and simple sentences when describing the murders he has committed, “My brother Paul was five when I killed him. I was eight. It was over two years after I had subtracted Blyth with an adder that I found an opportunity to get rid of Paul.” The simple sentence ‘I was eight’ emphasises Frank’s youth and lack of remorse at his actions. The use of the dynamic verb ‘subtracted’ rather than ‘killed’ for example, shows that Frank believes that he kills not for enjoyment, but to even things up.
The final line of the extract is a significant one, “I watched her get smaller and smaller, then turned and headed for shore.” The repetition of the comparative adjective ‘smaller’ shows the sense of enjoyment Frank gets out of his actions. The subordinate clause shows Frank’s lack of a conscience, as he shows no signs of remorse and nonchalantly returns back to the island.
Banks uses both symbolism and personification in this extract, “It sliced its tail and flexed its hollow bones.” Here Frank refers to the kite. The noun phrase ‘hollow bones’ symbolises a gothic motif, one of many present in the novel. The kite itself is personified here and it appears as if Banks wants to convey that Frank is shifting the blame for the murder to the kite, as if he has no control over its actions and to make himself feel better.
When describing the murder, Esmerelda’s actions are described in great detail, “She still clutched the flowers, and my tuggings on the line moved her arms like a marionette, guided by the loops.” Banks use of the past participle ‘clutched’ evokes quite emotive imagery in the reader as we imagine Esmerelda clutching on for her life. The noun ‘marionette’ is indicative of gender and further emphasises Frank’s discrimination and complex feelings concerning the opposite sex.
Banks also uses repetition in order to construct a voice for Frank. “I ran and ran, jumping off a dune and rolling down its seaward face, watching the tiny struggling figure being hoisted farther and farther into the sky as the kite swept her away.” The adverbial clauses and present participles used show that Frank is merely focusing on himself and his physical actions, rather than the plight of his victim. The two pre-modifiers used to describe the noun ‘figure’ express Frank’s disdain towards his victim. The verb phrase ‘swept her away’ could show that Frank believes her to be weak, again indicative of his gender discrimination.
Juxtaposition is used by Banks to express the complex mind state of Frank and the different sides to his character, “At first I thought she had pissed herself, then I saw flowers tumble out of the sky and hit the water ahead of me like some strange rain.” The main clause emphasises Frank’s masculine side and callous nature, and the expletives used to express himself also appear elsewhere in the novel. The noun ‘flowers’ again evokes funereal imagery as previously in the novel. The sibilance used by Banks helps to create a feeling of disharmony. Banks has clearly juxtaposed language of a callous nature with quite poetic language. Banks also uses the technique earlier in the novel; “I’d lain down inside them like some Christ or something, opened to the sky, dreaming of death.” The statement is blasphemous and Frank once again self-elevates himself, this time to God-like status. He is emphasising his power over smaller things. The alliteration used in the subordinate clause emphasises Frank’s disturbed mind-set. Again Banks juxtaposes the poetic with the quite disturbing. The anti-Christ point of view is a gothic motif, which is why Banks has included it in the novel. Non-Christian practices also appear elsewhere in the novel when Frank sacrifices animals.
I believe Banks intention is allow readers to form their own judgments on Frank as he is telling the story. This explains his use of the first person narrative voice. He also intends to create sympathy for Franks victims through a variety of literary techniques as I have explored. He uses these same techniques in order to create a voice for Frank to express himself and his complex feelings.
