The way in which Mrs Casper treats Billy is harsh. She lacks maternal qualities. She is a single parent who has financial problems and there is domestic unrest in the household. ‘Have you had your tea yet?’
‘No’
‘Well get some, you know where t’pantry is’
There is no father figure for Billy to look up to, so maybe that is where he has his rebellious naive attitude. To add to it all his mother is more interested in going out, than looking after her son, and also her other son Jud, he doesn’t look after Billy at all. An example of Billy’s rebellious side is on page 19. ‘Billy get up to that shop and do as you’re telled. He shook is head. His mother stepped forward, but he backed off, keeping the same distance between them.’ Billy was already late for school, yet his mother wanted him to go up to the shop and buy her cigarettes, this shows she is more concerned with herself than Billy, and his life and school. Another example of her not caring and showing affection was when Billy was reading his book and she asks about it, and when he is half way through explaining she realises she is late and runs out to go to the pub, leaving Billy to fend for himself. ‘A kestrel hawk, what do you think it is?
‘I say what time is it?’
She then runs out and leaves him to fend for himself.
Further more, when Billy needs his mum the most and actually goes to hug his mother when he is in tears, she rejects him, shaking him off her and telling him to grow, this shows a lack of maternal qualities once again, and even shows she is embarrassed to be a mother. ‘Billy rushed around the table to hug his mother, she held him off embarrassed’
The way in which his mother and Mr Sugden treat Billy is narrow minded and a lack of understanding. They are ignorant of his feelings and emotions.
Mr Sugden dislikes Billy. He is unsympathetic, he bullies Billy and is ignorant of his background. He is arrogant, brutal and competitive. He likes to ridicule and humiliate Billy. For example he makes Billy wear oversized shorts because Billy can’t afford a P.E kit. ‘I don’t know sir That is showing that he is ignorant of Billy’s back round and is humiliating him. It also shows brutality because he hits Billy on the head with the ball twice. ‘They watched Mr Sugden rush into the changing room and began to giggle, stopped immediately waving a giant pair of blue drawers.’
The way in which Mr Farthing treats Billy is completely different. He gets on well with Billy, he listens to him, he is kind, patient and very understanding. He teaches Billy English, he is trust worthy and loyal. He is sympathetic, caring and kind hearted. He is onerous with his time, he maybe Billy’s father figure and there is a bond between them. He takes time to visit Billy and to meet the hawk. However his motives maybe are deeper as he wants to check out Billy’s’ domestic background.
‘I’ve been to see Grice sir’
‘Yes I know, how many this time?’
‘Two’
‘Sting’
‘Not Bad’
This shows he cares about Billy and is understanding.
I conclude by saying that there are not many links in the way the characters treat Billy, although Mrs Casper and Mr Sugden treat Billy with some similarity. For example both are harsh and evil in their use of language and actions. However, in Mr Farthing, Billy sees a friendship and trust. This makes a strong contrast with the other two characters and their relationship with Billy.
Barry Hines creates many different characters in his novel and each character has a very different perception of Billy, the ways in which Mr Farthing, Mr Sugden and Mrs Casper treat Billy is just an example. ‘A Kestrel for a Knave’ is a novel that explores relationships in great detail, focusing especially on Billy as the central figure within the story.
