Born Free: A Postmodernist Context of Scottish Literature - Essay Example

Born Free: A Post-Modernist Context of Scottish Literature Born Free: A Post-Modernist Context of Scottish Literature Introduction Born free is an exciting novel written by Laura Hird. The relevance of this novel is completely dependable on the analytical structures employed to bring out the most emotive thematic concerns, which the author pertinently delivered. It brings out a context of postmodernism and the issues that people have to grapple with within the social constructs. It creates an emphasis on the versatility of narratives in relation to breaking it down for a complete analysis and characterization of every aspect of the novel (Hird, 2007). Postmodernism as a literary theory is stylistically crafted through an in-depth characterization and analysis of players and characters in this novel. It is in general terms used to infer a period that immediately follows modernity. It presents an era in which reality is the core issue arbitrated through objective or scientific efforts. As an analysis of the rate, structure and intensity with which the socio-cultural norms and values are changing, it is relevantly adduced in “Born Free”. The characters on their own version and attributes successfully contributes the relevance of the novel in addressing the most logical and pertinent discourses that the society has to struggle to live with or side by side without finding the most amicable and sound solutions. Postmodernism in the context of Born Free and the 21st century In literary appreciation of the novel born free, it goes without saying that the author employed effective literary tools and devices in making her intentions clear to the minds of the reader. First, the language used in the novel represents a certain amount of symbolism. The characters are not only symbols of the prevailing conditions and issues within the 21st century, but also a symbol of a family structure struck with moral adversity, that it seems almost unaware (Hird, 2007). Alternatively, it could be an ignorance, which is stimulated by mere preferences of accepting the moral decadence encapsulated within the social principles of a society living in a complete oblivion of reality (Williamson 2009; pg. 23). Postmodernism is an analysis that targets the effects of technological advancements within the society. Escapism vividly erupts from the actions and points of view of every member of Vic’s family. the narrative break down as brought out by Hird, utilizes each family member’s narration, which undoubtedly infer the most poignant concerns in the modern day. This family demonstrates total fear of facing the reality. Each member of the family tries to escape from the reality that is facing them; displacing their actions on activities that in the end negatively affects their well-being. What is the rationale of one yearning to break her virginity before 16? Is there any justification beyond the banal inferences of pleasure and recreation in undertaking such an act? Denaturing what is otherwise revered within the social construct as a mark of dignity and respect. Joni is a perfect symbol of such a society that disillusioned with unguided morals that they extract pleasure in thinking about. She does not demonstrate any element of reverence to her virginity and womanhood, but rather chooses to dare the most solemn existence. Can this be considered an act of trepidation? Jakes on the other hand is so much obsessed with masturbation; intensely carrying it out. He does little of academic work apart from engaging in acts of misdemeanor, trying to frustrate his teachers and spending more time in playing computer games. After befriending Sean their new neighbor, he begins to envy their family life, which stands in a sharp contrast with theirs. Escapism again infiltrates the minds of the reader. Postmodernism essentially deals with reality that people must face and challenge (Williamson, 2009; pg. 22). It demonstrates the phobia that accompanies the bitter realities that dawn on people every day. In “Born Free”, there is a pandemonium state of affairs. The family is presented as chaotic and disengaged from its former core values. The height of rot and laxity is most disheartening yet; people tend to opt for lesser options of countering the realities that face them. They do not want to face the real life situations that they find themselves (Williamson, 2009; pg. 23). From these two illustrations, it is fundamentally clear that the postmodernism has presented to the society a reality that is relative and infallible depending on the input of every character within the social contexts. The arbiter is however not escapism, which is demonstrated by characters in this novel. It contradicts the essence of reality that requires a pragmatic and a direct approach to it. In as far as deconstructivism is concerned one will land into further problems in choosing to bury the head under the sun to escape the harsh realities that accumulate social frustrations. Escapism is just but a different version of cowardice; failing to own up to personal challenges that one may succumb. Laura typically exemplifies the understanding of a family as a social structure; which is also meant to construct a solid foundation for the children (Hird, 2007). Vic’s family presented happens to exhibit none of such benevolence. It is a typical unit of confusion, moral decadence, frustrations, ignorance and all morsels social negativity with Angie presenting a figure of destruction of the bonds that ties the family. The children are disillusioned with each of them perfecting the arts of escaping from their social frustrations. She lacks the mentality and exhibits destructive options that do not favor her family (Walsh, 1999). Her alcoholism and desires of infidelity leads her family into more trouble. She demonstrates an act of escaping from the problems that her family faces. She is in mid-life crisis owing to the impotence of her husband; ready to commit to an act of adultery with her boss, whom she fancies and thinks desires her. Her husband Vic is a good man and a likeable character of the family members. He does everything to provide for his family, but his goodness rests at that. He indulges in drug use; administering antidepressant Prozac that at the end makes him impotent. The use of drugs to counter depression is another act of escapism that presents the crisis in the postmodern era. Vic represents the majority of people who use drugs to hide away from the frustrations of the daily life (Williamson, 2009; pg. 23). Family has all along been known to provide a safe haven for everyone. It should be a source of love, support, care and comfort. It should be where all sorts of impending social destructions and threat are amiably mitigated. It is the general responsibility of all the members of the family to put together one plus one to find a solution. This Scotts family appears to be completely void of this social element. It represents a troubled family, segmented and with almost everyone disillusioned (Hird, 2007). Reality in the postmodernism is a concern viewed through experience as opposed to abstract illusions. It however must be subjective to proper interpretations of the meaning of the world and situation on individual basis. What one cannot avoid is stimulating the mind to ponder over what the future hold for everyone. It is this fear of uncertainty that makes both Jakes and Joni to feel like they are not part of their own family (Metz, 2009; p. 15). They blame the other members of their family for their lack of aspirations and all sorts of banality that surrounds them. Who can blame them anyway? Their parents are the genesis of all these banalities. They are just victims of inappropriate parenting the newborn who are being raised with parents who do not want to face the real life situations. Has the family lost its place within the society or is gradually and steadily losing its meaning and purpose? The adversity in this family is that everyone lives in a different world (Hird, 2007). They have segmented the core values of the family by failing to stand as a unit. Jakes and Joni are rivals themselves. Jakes even hates the female half of this family and wishes they could just get lost (Adams, 2003). As a result, the author created a representation of the family issues that has been realized throughout Scotland. The cultural trends that have seen the amalgamation of relationships and chaos have put the family in a precarious situation in the 21st century. The family is no longer tied by the strong bonds of togetherness and unity but merely a playground for personal feelings and freedom to act the way they deem fit. Severe profanities are deeply entrenched in the acclamation for postmodernism (Williamson, 2009; p. 22). The family has been disintegrated; mauled by the unwavering advancements of technology. The role of the family has been demeaned locking out the most essential cornerstones that have since time immemorial constructed the basic social unit. Laura Hird offered an insight into the chaotic family in the postmodernism. Through characterization, he gave the four characters in the Scotts family attributes that best samples the prevailing situations in the post modernism era. Disillusionment and immaturity have been indirectly adduced as every character tries to escape from the bitter realities they have to deal with (Hird, 2007; p. 28). These characters represent the ills and gains at worth with clear distinctions in the way they spearhead the moral erosion that cultural norms and values immensely abhor. Why is Jakes so much displeasured by the existence of the women folk within the society that he wishes they could just get lost? This is an indubitable inference of a mindset that still undermines the women folk.it is a patriarchal conviction that women are not so important and men would rather exist without them. If such a perspective is embraced then it is backward, archaic, and pre-modernism (Metz, 2009; p. 15). The breakdown narrative used by the author is perfect and significant in explaining the frailties that the family is facing. It is used perfectly well with each of the four narrators who happen to be the members of the Vic’s family revealing how all of them exist in a state of shame. Their efforts of escaping from the realities that face them further land them into more problems and shame. Their characterization as illustrated in this work have also contributed positively in making the breakdown narrative powerful in achieving the themes of escapism and disillusionment as far as postmodernism is concerned (Hird, 2007). The father in this family; referred to as Vic is a typical figure of a failed family head. He represents the inability to own up to the current trends and responsibility most especially in handling his teenage children. He cannot also help his wife’s crisis as she struggled to put up with her mid-life challenges. Vic as described is very helpless and appears to show not much effort to restore or recreates sanity in his family. He is also thinking of her former girlfriend, despite the fact that he is married and has a family. Angie on the other hand is the major concern of narrative. She is in her late thirties and appears to be undergoing a lot of crisis. All she needs is family love and support, which ironically, is not available for her. She thinks that Raymond; her younger manager is probably flirting with her and gives in for a drinking invitation. Jakes spends so much time participating in issues so peripheral that cannot help is academics (Walsh, 1999; p. 44). The picture of Kate Moss in the Marie Claire of his mom’s old issues is his masturbation surface. He does this so repeatedly that he is almost accustomed to it yet no help is on the way. He is brought out through the breakdown narrative as an immature and indiscipline (Vianu, 2010; pg. 27). Through narration, he also negatively portrays the other family members. Joni 15 is another prolific subject of narration. The breakdown narrative helps the reader to learn that she is very spoilt and misguided. She is not prompt in attending her classes and she chose to miss the classes. She ‘is an ardent shoplifter taking the advantage of the British home store to escape with a lot of stuff. She has a strong negative opinion on those she envies as indicated by her falling out with her best mate simply because of envy (Walsh, 1999; p. 56). She finally succumbs to her own pressures of breaking her virginity, which she gives to a total stranger. The breakdown narrative has enabled the reader to complement fully the skills of the writer in expressing how each of her characters has a role to play in the contemporary world giving the theme of escapism a fore consideration (Metz, 2009; p. 17). The rot of this Vic’s family is the general analysis of what the rest of the Scotland families might be undergoing. It may also stretch beyond the borders to demonstrate the postmodernism; the bitter realities of change that one must live with. Postmodernism has therefore engaged the most typical examples of bitter realities that the society is undergoing currently. It is a complete defeat to logic, when a man and a woman cannot take control of their young teenage children, who have completely lost aspirations in life (Adams, 2003; p. 35). They engage in activities that are not only dangerous but also greatly contribute to the rot within the social construct. Postmodernism, through analysis demonstrates the realities that must be faced and challenged as opposed to seeking alternatively cheap and escapist avenues. These do not solve the problems but rather catalyzes the rate at which a society once traded by the virtue of cohesive norms and cultural values is descending consistently and rapidly into deep historical oblivion (Vianu, 2010; pg. 27). Born Free responds to the harshest realities that have struck the society since the dawn of modernism catalyzed by widespread industrialization and renaissance in education. The people have increasingly lost touch with the core values and norms, which lay the foundations of the family unit. Postmodernism is therefore the result; the realities that people experience and which must be analyzed and responded to amicably without seeking soft avenues for hiding frustrations. Though born free, living free must be the cause of all social ills justified through postmodernism. References Adams J., 2003. Interview with Laura Hird. The Barcelona Review Hird, L., 2007. Born Free. Edinburgh: Rebel I Metz, K., 2009. Shame as Narrative Strategy — Prose by Scottish Writers Laura Hird, Jackie Kay, A.L. Kennedy and Ali Smith. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 5 January 2013]. Vianu L., 2010. The AfterMode: present Day English Fiction. Editura Universităţii din Bucureşti. Walsh S., 1999. Born Free by Laura Hird: the new review. Canon gate Books Williamson, K., 2009. Language and culture in a rediscovered Scotland. [Online] Available at: http://www.lwbooks.co.uk/books/archive/Breaking_up_Britain_Williamson.pdf Read More