Border Crossing
'Danny is 'very, very good at getting people to step across that invisible border.' How true is this of the relationship between Danny and Tom?'As the title suggests, Pat Barker's 'Border Crossing' is largely concerned with the crossing of invisible borders or conventional boundaries. These borders have been created to establish personal, social and moral lines or limits in addition to legal rulings and social contract. It is Danny Miller's remarkable ability to influence and manipulate others into crossing these borders, mostly to benefit himself and this is largely demonstrated in Danny's attempts to manipulate Tom Seymour. Ultimately, Tom is found to have crossed several borders, such as the moral line in allowing Danny to remain free of hospitalisation, although it appears necessary. Danny has an ability to get inside another's head; above all, giving them a sense of importance by way of making them believe they have a unique connection with himself or his illness. From the very first session Tom and Danny have following Danny's conviction, Tom is found to be breaking rules for Danny. The degree to which Tom crosses the legal and moral borders increases throughout the narrative, beginning with simply allowing Danny to smok
Danny's smoking during the session works as a test for Danny to measure his power over Tom. However, over all Tom does in fact realise that "Danny has won," for Tom finds Danny has caused him to do things throughout the narrative he realises he would not usually permit, such as allowing Danny to stay the night at his house. Another method used by Danny in getting into Tom's head, is the use of guilt. Tom finds Danny to have successfully manipulated at least four teachers at Long Garthe, through his words with Elspeth Greene, the principles wife. ' Tom's response is that it is unlikely in reality, which Danny sees as a very "cynical" view. She says "he was very, very good at making people think they were helping. Danny trials Toms opinion on change, as it is crucial to Danny that Tom sees he has transformed. During Danny's stay at Tom's house, Danny builds a fire to a dangerous level, a burning log falls to the room floor and Tom places back in the fire. Danny's attempt to manipulate Tom is successful, however we find in the end it was not without reason, as Tom describes Danny to have moved in to a "new phase in his life. However, in Tom's final decision, he acts without regard for the welfare of society at large and makes a selfish and potentially dangerous decision. Danny uses these manipulative techniques gradually throughout the narrative in showing his increasing influential abilities over Tom. Tom eventually finds himself at a point where a final report on Danny may well jeopardise Danny's parol and send Danny back to an institute. From the very beginning Tom is taken in by Danny's capacity to persuade, for example, allowing Danny to smoke in a prohibited area. Once Danny got inside there heads, he was able persuade them of different actions, shown predominantly in Tom, however there were others, such as the teachers at Long Garthe institute.
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Acceptance Essays
