Relationship between characters
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

Good day to you. I trust that you considered the question of whether the people of Waknuk could be considered happy, as I asked you to do. In doing so, you would have to examine the relationship between parents - mothers and fathers - between parents and children and among neighbours. As you go through this work, try to find out if there are friendships among the norms and whether worship is a happy, celebratory experience.

Last week, we were examining Mrs Strorm's attitude to her sister and, we will start there today. In describing Harriet's baby, Emily uses words such as 'monster' and 'that', along with a cold, condemnatory tone.

It puzzles me how she who had suffered from the harsh consequences of the law could behave in this fashion. Mark you, she is not as self-righteous as her husband, Joseph, but she does very little to soften his severe attitude on most matters. When David is beaten unmercifully by his father for any misdemeanour, it is his sister, Mary, who attends to him.

Emily cries

It is she who also tries to comfort him on these occasions. After Harriet's disastrous visit, however, Emily does cry. One wonders whether she does because she feels pain for her sister, or because she is in an emotional state (her baby was only one week old) or because her husband had reminded her that she, too, had lost two children when they failed to qualify for that all-important certificate.

This now brings us to the question of what happens to babies who do not get the certificate. Do you remember what happened to Daker's cat? It was killed by Joseph Strorm because he thought that it was a deviation and not normal.

He, as a magistrate, had the right to do so, but what is noticeable is just how intolerant he was in that matter. He was so certain that he was right that he disposed of the animal before he received conclusive information about it. It turned out, as you know, that the cat was normal, but not of a breed with which Mr Strorm was familiar.

So, what happens to the mutant babies? Are they killed outright or left to die in the Fringes? I believe that you remember that the inspector does tell David that blasphemies are not treated in the same way as offences. He does not, however, say how! It does not matter what method was used to rid their community of blasphemies. What is important is that we realise how cruel they are - in the name of religion.

And now this brings us back to contemplation of whether the norms of Waknuk are happy. We can say that as they are doing what they think pleases God, they must be happy. On the other hand, it seems unlikely that people who are constantly on the watch for something or anything a little different from what is considered acceptable in man, beast or plant can be happy. It must have created severe strain among neighbours and, as for the Inspector, it is quite likely that he was hated. We can get the answer from examining the relationship between Angus Morton and Joseph Strorm , the Inspector and Joseph Strorm, David's unhappiness at home, particularly with his father, and Alan's conduct.

Uncle Axel

There is one other character, mentioned earlier, to whom I would like you to pay special attention. He is Uncle Axel. Although he lives among the norms, his philosophy of life is different from theirs. He thinks and applies reason to situations and, therefore, is the voice of sanity in a place where fear and superstition are strong. I hope you have noticed that he has been broadened by experience, something that the others in Waknuk sorely lack.

David shares an extraordinary relationship with Uncle Axel. Please reflect on why this is so. Let me suggest that you make a list of the things Uncle Axel says and does in your notebook. Beside each, put the page or pages on which you find the supporting facts. You should do this, in fact, for all the characters as it will assist you when you come to revise.

Please persevere in your efforts to do well. Think of this borrowed extract:

If Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him.

No one would have remembered him either.

Walk good and God bless!

Kadeen Sybron (left) and Kerese Douglas are bronze-medal winners for their standard English speech at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Festival.

Beryl Clarke teaches at Glenmuir High School.