The Go Between
How does Hartley use the setting of the novel,The Go Between, in terms of time, as a fitting backdop for Leo's storyHartley chose to set his story in the year 1900. This is important as Hartley wants to convey the idea at the beginning of the novel that Leo believes himself to be living in a year of great promise, and to be witnessing the dawn 'of a Golden Age'. The novel is concerned with Leo's youthful idealism and ultimately his disillusionment. The choice of a new century and particularly the twentieth century, provides an ideal setting for Leo's story. To begin with, while Leo is still at boarding school, his fantasies about being on the brink of a golden age seem to bear no relation to his real experience as a schoolboy. He is content to keep his imaginary world and his real life separate. However, when Leo is invited to Brandham Hall it is as if he is to experience the coming of the golden age after all. When he is given a summer suit which enables him to enjoy hot, sunny weather, he perceives the expenditure on his new outfit as 'god-like' (p50). We are told that 'it belonged to another, ampler phase of being than the one I was accustomed to.' Earlier on (p19) we are told that Leo views the people at Brandham Hall as
Hysteria, suicide and trauma are the consequence. Hugh is destined to live only another ten years - his future is blighted too. His face, compared to Janus's, reminds us of evils which had occurred already before the start of the new century. His traumatized state could be equated with the shell shock suffered by many survivors of the First World War. The tragedy occurs partly because it is set in a time when women from monied classes did not work for their living. The twentieth century provides a very suitable setting for this story It too is shown not to live up to its promise While the new century was dawning all was not as rosy as it seemed. It might also be relevant to comment that the tragedy of 'The Go Between' depends on the book being set in a time when there was a more rigid class structure than there is today. Marian's god-like generosity begins to seem merely a form of bribery to secure Leo's messenger services Marian is also guilty of 'spooning' surreptitiously on the ground in shed rather than conducting herself in a more god-like manner. Bibliography Just completed English A level. The loss of innocence is an important theme of the novel. Obviously a 20th century settling was not specifically required for either of these situations but as previously stated it is very effective to choose a new century and to make it one which was to be gravely affected by conflict - the century which witnessed two world wars suits Hartley's purpose very well. He is no mere errand boy but a messenger of the gods. He tells us that 'A glory brighter than sunshine filled the transept. For the book to work, it is necessary for Leo to be old enough for there to be signs of his stirring sexuality as well as for him to be ignorant of actual facts.
Common topics in this essay:
Brandham Hall,
Hugh Ted's,
Golden Age',
Lord Trimingham's,
,
P279 Marion's,
Marian Ted's,
Denys Marcus,
Leo Mercury,
War Hartley's,
brandham hall,
20th century,
twentieth century,
golden age,
twentieth century provides,
lord trimingham's,
century provides,
boarding school,
celestial world,
book set,
world war,
|
Acceptance Essays
