Literature has never been my forte but this semester I am taking an Irish literature class. I decided to take it here because I wanted to learn how the people of Ireland depicted their country.
I have gotten way more than I bargained for! The stories I’ve read so far depicted Ireland has a bad place with no opportunity and conflicts with the North. I recently read a story “Korea” by John McGahern which paints an interesting picture of familial relationships and war.
I’ve read many stories that have difficult familial relationships. There was one however that I enjoyed reading because of its complexity, The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen.
This story emphasizes children’s lives and expectations in 1935. I like this particular story because of the many connections between characters and plots being made. The main character was taken back through the history of his mother’s life, which made it all too real for him. He finds out:
- Who his father is
- Who his mother is
- Why his mother abandoned him
- What happened to his father
There are many twists and turns throughout the book, even some scandal that answers all the questions he has been asking his whole life.
Throughout the many stories I have read, I discovered family is not a main priority. There was much conflict in the household and women were depicted more as workers rather than family members, which was difficult for me to adjust to.
Overall, I’ve enjoyed this class and learned a lot about Irish culture in the early to mid 19th century. There have been many twists and turns but I am excited to read the rest to learn more about this country’s history.
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