Presentation
- 1. The significance of religion in The Cone Gatherers BY EUAN NICHOLSON
- 2. Good vs Evil Throughout the novel there is a constant struggle between good and evil personified in the characters of Duror and Calum. This is significant as in the bible there is similarly a struggle between good and evil. Quote on evil, why then did he hate the cone-gatherers and wish to drive them away? Was it because they represented goodness and himself evil? Page 145 Quote on evil, is to be always happy a crime? Is it daft never to be angry or jealous or full of spite? You're better and wiser than any of them. Page 5
- 3. Incidents symbolising biblical events The loss of paradise: Durors quest to vanquish Calum and Neil from the woods can be compared with the biblical story of Satan trying to expel Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. This is significant as it compares Duror with the devil representing evil whilst it compares Calum and Neil with Adam and Eve representing innocence and goodness. Quote, Duror has sworn that he would seize the first chance to hound them out of the wood. Page 7 Expelling of Mary and Joseph from the inn: Calum and Neil being sent away from the beach hut by Lady Runcie-Campbell can be compared with the expelling of Mary and Joseph from the inn in Bethlehem.
- 4. Incidents symbolising biblical events This is significant as it compares two innocent biblical characters with Calum and Neil thereby showing their innocence and the actions of LRC as unjustifiable. It also shows how two innocent individuals are turned away from shelter when it is required. Quote, She stood in the doorway and gazed out at them running away into the rain. Page 157 Christs crucifixion: the death of Calum can be compared with the crucifixion of Christ. This is significant as it compares Calum with Christ which highlights Calums innocence and goodness. Quote, his going must therefore be a destruction, an agony, a crucifixion. Page 95
- 5. Eden The woods can be compared on many levels with the Garden of Eden. First of all the woods are abundant with nature just like Eden. Secondly the character of Calum can be compared with Adam as he loves nature just like Adam. Finally the character of Duror can be compared with the Serpent as just as the Serpent tries to have Adam expelled from Eden, Duror tries to have Calum expelled from the woods.
- 6. God punishing Duror The fact that Duror's happy marriage has become a hateful experience for him can be seen as a punishment by God for the various sins he has committed. Also Duror's wifes deformity can be seen as a punishment by God. Quote, once she had retorted by saying that not Peggys sins were being punished, but his. Page 30
- 7. Struggle within Lady Runcie- Campbell Throughout the novel Lady Runcie-Campbell tries and often fails to reconcile her wish for Christian treatment of her employees with her duty to maintain the class system. Quote, he guessed that within her was a struggle between her Christian sympathy for the weak-minded hunch-back and her pride as a patrician. Page 59 This shows that religion is affecting Lady Runcie-Campbell's behaviour towards others and her morals.
- 8. Afterlife The idea of an afterlife is examined in the novel. Although Neil does not believe in an afterlife, Calum does and claims to have seen heaven and his dead mother. It also shows how strong Calums faith is when despite the fact that Neil is telling him there is no afterlife, Calum retains his faith, Maybe I did see her, Neil. Quote, wherever that light had shone from, it had not been from heaven. Page 150 Quote, I saw her, Neil. Page 150
- 9. Durors anger Duror's bitterness is compared with the crown of thorns Jesus wore during his crucifixion. Quote, for a moment he almost gave way and shouted, with fists outstretched towards those stars, that in his heart and brain were thorns bitterer than those that bled the brow of Christ. Page 32 This is significant as it shows how Duror's anger is damaging to Calum as throughout the novel Calum is compared to Christ, thereby foreshadowing Calums death at the hands of Duror. It also further develops our knowledge of Duror's anger and violent tendencies.
- 10. Mr Tullochs defense of Calum Mr Tulloch's defence of Calum after the deer drive is compared to Pontius Pilates defence of Christ during his trial. Quote, she gasped and looked sharply at him, wandering whether his words were a deliberate quotation aimed against her faith or whether their resemblance to Pilate's was fortuitous. Page 94 This is significant as it reinforces the writer using Calum as a personification of Christ. It also shows Mr Tullochs capability to defend the weak.