Another quote suggesting that there is a dark side to Brighton is: ‘The crowd as it uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire, two by two’ the simile of the crowd as a piece of twisted wire is an unusual one as it contrasts with the typical ideas surrounding the seaside resort of Brighton, twisted wire is associated with prisons, danger and pain which creates the sense that the people in this line are trapped or in captivity. The use of this imagery gives the opening an underlying chilling and sinister feel. This idea is further strengthened by the use of the biblical quote (two by two) which is referenced from the story of Noah’s ark found in the book of Genesis. This refers to the people in Brighton as animals that are being easily controlled just as all the animals were controlled by Noah and lead onto the ark, adding a dark twist to the introduction of Brighton Rock. This sense of captivity relates to the commitment that the gang members feel to the mob later on in the novel, some members feel out of their depth some try to leave but no matter how uncomfortable they feel, there is on real escape; not from Pinkie’s mob and not from the hustle and bustle of the long lines for the tourists on the sea front. - Jack Wright
Furthermore, the third person narrative perspective running throughout the opening of the novel could be deemed more significant than the presentation of the setting as it shows how Greene is trying to emphasise the lack of being 'personal' towards the reader in such a dark part of the book. Not only is this the case but the impersonal attitude at the beginning of the novel doesn't allow the reader to get 'close' to the main character of the first chapter, 'Hale,' who is promptly murdered, "Hale knew , before he had been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him." The first sentence of the story shows how the reader is not meant to sympathise with this character. The phrase 'three hours' highlights how little time he has left in the day and being an odd number shows how unsteady his life is. This impersonal feeling at the initial part of the story alludes to thinking that Greene is trying not to give anything away and remain in an air of mystery. Greene doesn't dwell in the circumstances of Hale's death to begin with, which again causes the reader to feel confusion and apprehension towards the character as anything could have happened. For example, "She mounted in to the bright Whitsun afternoon to find him gone." The short length of the sentence highlights Greene's feelings to make the reader forget about Hale and see him as not an important character. The lack of even a gloomy setting surrounding his death implies that Greene doesn't want the reader to have any 'personal feelings,' or sympathy for Hale. This relates to how setting is therefore, not the most significant part of the opening as the outsiders, third person perspective enables us to have an 'unknown' view of what the novel entails. However, the setting could in fact be seen as important due to the fact that when Ida finds Hale 'gone,' the setting opposes how the reader could feel and so provides us with the view that Hale's character is of low importance. The juxtaposing setting could then be linking to the running theme throughout the book of 'appearance versus reality' as the appearance of Hale's disappearance is far less serious than the actual events of what happened and how Greene is even promoting his disappearance as being less significant than the reality of his murder. The third person narrative implying this. This constant link back to the setting could be proving how setting is in fact most significant in the opening of the novel.
The characters' nature and the way they act is influenced by the setting of Brighton, and this is what propels the book forward and draws the reader in above all other things. Some characters mirror certain aspects of Brighton whilst the setting is also is also a contrast to others. Ida can be seen as the character that represents Brighton as she care's a lot about her looks, and is very made up, which at the time when Brighton Rock was written most women cared a lot about the materialistic things in life for example lipstick. However there is a lot more to Ida that meets the eye. 'She took care of herself, her lipstick told you that' The word lipstick mirrors the idea of Brighton as Brighton is described as 'glittering' as both of these words connate wealth, and the idea of covering something up. But then there's this contrast of Ida being very maternal, and caring which is quite uncomfortable to read as she is rather promiscuous, this again mirrors the idea of two separate Brighton's and the idea that Ida represents the setting of Brighton as being on one hand very perfect but then having that underlying darkness. Hale's character from the start of the book has a very negative view on brighton, it's almost too chaotic for him and he just wants to escape, he seems to reject the materialistic side of things and sees Brighton for what is truly is, he represents the darker side to Brighton as from the very beginning of the book he is almost ignored by everyone and even when he dies. people notice but choose to ignore it, just as they do with Brighton's dark underworld. 'Nobody paid any attention to Hale'. Eleanor
One feature of the opening of the novel that is seen as more significant than the presentation of the setting is the contrast in characters shown by Ida and Pinkie. Ida and Pinkie are the two opposing characters in the 'Good Vs Evil' struggle, ironically, Pinkie is the religious individual however he chooses hell over heaven in the quote "heaven was a word: hell was something he could trust" In the opening of the novel we see Pinkie being appalled at the sight of Ida due to him being repulsed by the idea of sexual contact with another person. However, on the other hand, Ida is not a church goer "life was so important. She wasn't religious. She didn't believe in heaven or hell, only ghosts, ouija boards, tables which rapped." As well as this, Ida is much more comfortable with intimate relations and, although she describes herself as a bit free and easy, believes sex is part of human nature and not something to be frowned upon. The reason this contrast is more significant than the setting is because it shows the reader that Pinkie is willing to use whatever means necessary to achieve his religious goal of 'Hell'. The fact that Greene has exhibited this contrast in the early stages of the book is to showcase how Idas' and Pinkies' personalities will clash continuously throughout the novel and giving the reader the impression that ultimately, only one of them can win this game of cat and mouse through the seaside resort that is Brighton. -Tom Brooks
Although the characterisation of Fred Hale and Ida Arnold is significant, with regard to the establishing of theme, and the development of character, the setting is of the upmost significance, as it is such that does achieve an atmosphere, developing, or supplementing a tone, and deriving, and provoking a response from the reader, ‘showed his face to the crowd as it uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire’. This quotation demonstrating that the glamour, and prestige is cynical, and that the common conception of Brighton; glamour, prestige, is falsified. A simile, ‘like a twisted piece of wire’, causes intrigue, and citing that exposure to danger, and menace is present. This quotation is referenced within Part 1, Chapter 1 and this compelling, intriguing though menacing tone through which this sentence encapsulates. - Ben Spicer
Whilst the presentation of the setting allows us, as readers, to connect with the plot of the novel, the presentation of characters and the contrasting personalities plays a key role in establishing key themes throughout the novel. In the opening of Brighton Rock, the setting is used to form an artificial, common atmosphere. Greene creates this atmosphere to mirror/symbolise the underlying darkness within the characters. The initial presentation we are given makes Brighton seem a glamorous holiday attraction. The way that this mirrors the plot is through the contrast of the appearance and reality, being a key theme throughout the novel. This has been achieved by Greene through the quote “…glittering air: the new silver paint sparkled on the piers”. The words ‘glittering’ and ‘sparkled’ have connotations of glamour and attraction, the use of these words romanticises the setting to the reader making it seem more sensational. This then illustrates the acquisitive feel given from Brighton which would attract to the holiday-goers. This romanticised setting is however contradicted within the opening. The hint being “new silver paint” whilst the silver still links to ideas of glamour, the manner of it being newly painted shows that it is covering something else up. Linking with the key theme of appearance vs. reality, Greene is directly contrasting the two sides through this quote. Greene does this to show that there is underlying darkness under everything, most specifically signifying the characters. Therefore the setting has a great significance within the opening of Brighton Rock, however other factors along with this create the connection with the reader, hence the setting alone is not the most significant part of the opening. Alfie Narborough
The setting of Brighton primarily sets the tone of the book. It straight away sets the key theme of the book “Appearance vs. Reality “The rich contrasts brought about through the use of subtle language such as “fresh and glittering”. Although on the surface “glittering is positive and represents brightness and positive images it can also represent tackiness and cheapness. “Sparkled” is another example of this and presents Brighton as cheap and superficial and superficial. “New silver paint” is a juxtaposition of a positive and negative aspect of Brighton. While “silver” represents wealth, prosperity and coupled with new suggests Brighton is beautiful and modern the word “paint” suggests this is all a facade and if you scratch past the surface you will find the true much less appealing Brighton underneath. This superficial representation of Brighton reflects the superficial nature of life in the 1930s. The fact it is so early on in the book also shows the importance of this key theme of appearance vs. Reality which Greene is clearly trying to stress. This can also be seen in places in the introduction such as “With immense labour and immense patience they extricated from the long day the grain of pleasure”. The idea that having fun for the tourists is an effort and they have to be “patient” for it shows the fake happiness to be found in Brighton, the repetition of intense shows how hard tourists must try in order to enjoy this holiday resort. The phrase “paper sailors’ caps” also reinforces this fake image of Brighton as the fake sailors’ hats show how the tourists are exploring a fake Brighton and underneath is the criminal nature of Brighton. This leaves the impression on the reader that Brighton is mysterious, fake and grimy.The depth of meaning in the setting of the book is clear evidence of the importance of the setting to Greene and how integral it is to effectively expressing key themes of the book.
Characters are entwisted into the plot of Brighton Rock in order to create understanding, morals and initial viewpoints of different types of people. This has core significance in the opening due to the reader creating preliminary impressions, swaying them to sympathise with specific characters later on in the novel. Greene manipulates the text, using metaphorical language, to help the reader distinguish between characters he wants the reader to sympathise with and those he does not. “The violins wailed in his guts”. Pinkie is perceived as soulless and disturbed throughout his presentation in the opening of the novel. The verb “wailed” connotes ideas of grief, sorrow and distress; although it is paired with “violins”, a device of music connoting towards the idea of emotion and sentiments. The juxtaposition strategy used in this quotation, insights the reader by allowing them to realise that the idea of sentimental value is revolted in Pinkie’s eyes, and that any sense of emotion is banished throughout Pinkie’s exclusive lifestyle. This notion of Pinkie may perhaps be a representation of the ulterior lifestyle of the Brighton way of life, an area where no real sense of emotion is present, where emotion is forced upon where necessary but emotion is lacked where it is not needed and nothing is to come out of it. This idea of forced emotion is alluded from the opening paragraph “They came in by train from Victoria every five minutes, rocked down Queen’s Road standing on the tops of the little local trams”. Primarily, rail travel was introduced in 1940s, meaning that to travel by this method would’ve been an expense. The fact that families of a variety of classes used their disposable income on travelling to Brighton is reflective of the desperation of people to visit this holiday resort. It is the ‘idealistic family location’ where fun is ‘guaranteed’. Secondly the imagery depicted from crowds standing in cramped trams for hours on end to visit this location is significant of the anxiety to reach the hotspot by whatever means necessary. It appears to be more of a chore that is an expectation rather than a typical relaxed holiday. Whereas Pinkie’s inadequate measure of affection and love was shown towards him in his upbringing, scarring his soul and creating him to be the lifeless man he is now, Brighton may also have originally been poisoned with this idea of rejection and feels the only way to seek justice is to show no empathy and to play with people in order to achieve what they wish. By incorporating these dark twisted characters into Brighton Rock, it allows the reader to unravel the plot of Brighton Rock, giving them further insight as to what is to come. Hence being a more significant attribute to the opening of Brighton Rock than the setting. Natasha Syed
Aswell as this the chacterisation is significant in the opening of Brighton Rock, this is shown when Greene presents the boy as an outsider who is a complete psychopath with no value of life or other individuals. This is shown when it says "Ill go I'm not scared… sometimes i think id be better alone" this fearlessness for a character of such a young age and value for solitude and longing for isolation helps Greene portray the boy as an isolated and fearless character.It is important in the development of Brighton Rock as it allows the reader to further develop there understanding of why the characters act this way. Aswell as this longing for isolation allows the reader to engage with the boy more, to see that he may have been longing for isolation from such an early age due to his upbringing or in Pinkies case the lack of an upbringing or childhood. This complete alienation of Pinkie from the other warm characters in the book like Ida is reflected when the Boy says "I take account of what i do myself". This not only shows his complete independence but his desire to control everything, he controls every aspect of his life aswell as the gang. This is further shown when Pinkie says "You're late i said a quarter to two sharp" this anger in something what the others to deem so petty helps to show how controlling he is and the difference between him and the other characters in the book. The reason he is presented as such an outsider is because he was forced to grow up to quickly this is shown when it says "slatey eyes touched with annihilating eternity." Although Pinkie is still young his mental age and maturity is far beyond his physical age and appearance. The word annihilating helps to show the struggle that he has been through in life from such a young age, this contrasts heavily with the word touched which is more soft and personal. This oxymoron helps to cement how pinkie has aged differently.Equally this links with the context as it was after ww1 and many people would have been changed by there experience, this is why Pinkie is unnoticed while being so hard and psychopathic, as there were many men like this due to the war. However as the characterisation links with the context and is supported by it it is of less importance and impact in the book.
Greene uses the character of Hale to support the argument that the setting is only significant in the way that characters are presented on it and are able to manipulate it. Almost immediately, we are presented with a character that is able to differentiate himself from the summer crowds but not for the better. Greene presents us a figure with “inky fingers” and “bitten nails” with a “cynical and nervous” manner about him. Instantly, these descriptions connote an image of an anxious, paranoid and pessimistic man, his “inky” and “bitten” fingers implies there is hidden and murky notion he is aware of (his death) and is unsettled by it. The narrator then explains “Anybody could tell he didn’t belong-belong to the early summer sun, the cool Whitsun wind off the sea, the holiday crowd” which illustrates his divergence from the crowd due to his realisation and perspective on the hidden truth behind the “holiday crowd”. However, it could also reflect the idea that the holiday-goers have come to Brighton to relax and see the attractions whereas Hale has come to do business and through his work he able to see the hidden side to Brighton which the naive crowd aren’t able to perceive. Hale furthermore links to the setting through his perception and removal from the crowd as shown in the quote “the crowd uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire, two by two”. The words “uncoiled endlessly” suggest the crowd is just a single collective group with no way of differentiating between each other passing Hale in one cycle which is further implied by the crowd being walking “two by two”. However, the crowd being described as a “twisted piece of wire” implies there is a hidden corruption and evil within the collective group of the crowd as shown through the words “twisted piece”, which is only seen by Hale as the crowds go “past him”. This again shows that he is able to exclude himself from the crowd and can only then realise the dark nature of Brighton and furthermore shows how Hale links to the setting by manipulating it therefore signifying the higher significance of the characters over the setting. Again this links to the theme of appearance versus reality as Hale is able to understand that Brighton may appear to be a thriving holiday resort but as he knows too well there is a hidden and dark side to Brighton which can only be understood and perceived when you aren’t part of the majority crowd. Greene intentions with linking the characters and setting within the first chapter was to give the characters a platform in which the plot could develop yet also represent and symbolise their ideologies in synchronisation. This is shown through Hale as he able to exclude himself from the crowds and realise the two contrasting crowds of Brighton which creates his ideology of having cautious approach to life due to his awareness of his surroundings. This further supports the argument that the setting is only a platform for the characters to manipulate as from his view of the setting, Hale manages to get into problems with the mob creating the foundation for the plot. - Will Morley
Greene also juxtaposes the idea of how Brighton is portrayed and the reality of it. This is seen in “to the crowd as it uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire, two by two, each with an air of determined and sober gaiety”. The idea of the large crowd seems to indicate that Brighton is a popular tourist destination due to the idea of the crowd continuing “endlessly” with everyone seeming to possess the same determination to experience all of the enjoyment that Brighton has to offer however this contrasts with the imagery of it being a “twisted piece of wire” which has violent connotations of barbed wire which is usually used to keep people such as prisoners behind bars in order to protect society from the danger that they pose. This contrast develops the idea of there being an underlying evil to Brighton that is powerful enough to make the crowd of tourists and their “determined gaiety” seem like a threat even though they are merely here to enjoy themselves. The idea of the crowd appearing as a “twisted piece of wire” also has religious connotations of a snake from the creation story which is associated with the Devil and evil for corrupting Adam and Eve, Greene may have done this in order to show how even the innocence of the crowd is corrupted by just being in Brighton, showing the enormity of the problem that Brighton is trying to hide beneath its glittering façade. As this is located at the beginning of the novel Greene may be hinting that this is a key theme that will be significant throughout the rest of the novel. This supports the idea that the setting is the most significant aspect of the novel as this could not be achieved as effectively if the presentations of Ida and Pinkie were the only way in which Greene presented the distinction between the two sides of Brighton as they would limit the concept of it to only the people who have been corrupted by this evil whereas the setting allows this point to be developed more to the point where it appears that all of Brighton has been infected by the disease of this dark hidden world that is hidden just beneath the extravagant veneer of glittering paint.
What I felt was most obviously missing from my essay was a well structured introduction.
Greene presented a number of factors that contributed to the strong opening on Brighton Rock, many of which were unquestionably significant, but not necessarily a high cut above each other. Moreover, there are more than 3 or 4 sections, and so possibilities are instantly narrowed due to the nature of such a broad question and such a short amount of time. Furthermore, the statement is biased by its initial preference of setting as the factor of most significance in the opening, this also narrows options as it is imperative to argue for or against the factor in the statement. The statement also gives little room for detailed or complex comparison, the idea that each factor may simultaneously impact each other, and so have the same significance in relevance to the opening of Brighton Rock. In light of the complexities of the statement, the characters seem more significant than the setting as the setting is only a slight influence on how they will act and react, the rest will be down to them alone. - Ed Hobson
The most significant thing in the opening to Brighton Rock is the setting. The setting helps to build an image of a glamorous seaside resort while hinting at the dark, criminal underworld that lies beneath the surface. The setting places the characters in a place where their personalities can evolve and their actions fit the surroundings. Pinkie is a character that shows this, “a boy of about seventeen… a shabby smart suit… a face starved of intensity, a kind of hideous and unnatural pride”. The quote emphasises the idea that Pinkie, like Brighton, is a character that focuses on his appearance and tries to ‘fit in’ with his surroundings. Like Brighton though he does have his flaws in his appearance with the “shabby smart suit” which illustrates his struggle to hide his criminal and hardened life from the public’s view while trying to achieve a grander appearance of himself. Without Brighton’s setting being described as one of false imagery Pinkies appearance and inner character would be one of pure randomness and would therefore not fit the story and stick out so the setting is vital as it links all the characters and gives them a deeper meaning and develops them further. - Matt G
In the opening of Brighton Rock, Greene uses the contrast between the appearance of Brighton and its reality to create juxtaposition. This is seen in the quote "The new silver paint sparkled on the piers, the cream houses ran away into the west like a pale Victorian watercolour" The word 'sparkled' shows the life and energy which insinuates Brighton possess' which contrasts to the description of the houses looking 'like a pale Victorian watercolour'. The juxtaposition of energy and life next to paleness sets the tone of the novel by showing the reader that everything is not what it may appear to be and there may be deeper, darker elements when you look deeper. The use of a-syndetic listing that is visible in the quote "They had stood all the way from Victoria in crowded carriages, they would have to wait in queues for lunch, at midnight half asleep they would rock back in trains to the cramped streets and the closed pubs and the weary walk home." emphasises the element of chaos that makes Hale feel uncomfortable. Greene does this to almost overwhelm the reader with information so they have an accurate sense of Brighton’s atmosphere at the time. - Dylan Peters
Another quote suggesting that there is a dark side to Brighton is: ‘The crowd as it uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire, two by two’ the simile of the crowd as a piece of twisted wire is an unusual one as it contrasts with the typical ideas surrounding the seaside resort of Brighton, twisted wire is associated with prisons, danger and pain which creates the sense that the people in this line are trapped or in captivity. The use of this imagery gives the opening an underlying chilling and sinister feel. This idea is further strengthened by the use of the biblical quote (two by two) which is referenced from the story of Noah’s ark found in the book of Genesis. This refers to the people in Brighton as animals that are being easily controlled just as all the animals were controlled by Noah and lead onto the ark, adding a dark twist to the introduction of Brighton Rock. This sense of captivity relates to the commitment that the gang members feel to the mob later on in the novel, some members feel out of their depth some try to leave but no matter how uncomfortable they feel, there is on real escape; not from Pinkie’s mob and not from the hustle and bustle of the long lines for the tourists on the sea front. - Jack Wright
ReplyDeleteJack, what is your argument in relation to the essay statement?
DeleteFurthermore, the third person narrative perspective running throughout the opening of the novel could be deemed more significant than the presentation of the setting as it shows how Greene is trying to emphasise the lack of being 'personal' towards the reader in such a dark part of the book. Not only is this the case but the impersonal attitude at the beginning of the novel doesn't allow the reader to get 'close' to the main character of the first chapter, 'Hale,' who is promptly murdered, "Hale knew , before he had been in Brighton three hours, that they meant to murder him." The first sentence of the story shows how the reader is not meant to sympathise with this character. The phrase 'three hours' highlights how little time he has left in the day and being an odd number shows how unsteady his life is. This impersonal feeling at the initial part of the story alludes to thinking that Greene is trying not to give anything away and remain in an air of mystery. Greene doesn't dwell in the circumstances of Hale's death to begin with, which again causes the reader to feel confusion and apprehension towards the character as anything could have happened. For example, "She mounted in to the bright Whitsun afternoon to find him gone." The short length of the sentence highlights Greene's feelings to make the reader forget about Hale and see him as not an important character. The lack of even a gloomy setting surrounding his death implies that Greene doesn't want the reader to have any 'personal feelings,' or sympathy for Hale. This relates to how setting is therefore, not the most significant part of the opening as the outsiders, third person perspective enables us to have an 'unknown' view of what the novel entails. However, the setting could in fact be seen as important due to the fact that when Ida finds Hale 'gone,' the setting opposes how the reader could feel and so provides us with the view that Hale's character is of low importance. The juxtaposing setting could then be linking to the running theme throughout the book of 'appearance versus reality' as the appearance of Hale's disappearance is far less serious than the actual events of what happened and how Greene is even promoting his disappearance as being less significant than the reality of his murder. The third person narrative implying this. This constant link back to the setting could be proving how setting is in fact most significant in the opening of the novel.
ReplyDeleteThe characters' nature and the way they act is influenced by the setting of Brighton, and this is what propels the book forward and draws the reader in above all other things. Some characters mirror certain aspects of Brighton whilst the setting is also is also a contrast to others. Ida can be seen as the character that represents Brighton as she care's a lot about her looks, and is very made up, which at the time when Brighton Rock was written most women cared a lot about the materialistic things in life for example lipstick. However there is a lot more to Ida that meets the eye. 'She took care of herself, her lipstick told you that' The word lipstick mirrors the idea of Brighton as Brighton is described as 'glittering' as both of these words connate wealth, and the idea of covering something up. But then there's this contrast of Ida being very maternal, and caring which is quite uncomfortable to read as she is rather promiscuous, this again mirrors the idea of two separate Brighton's and the idea that Ida represents the setting of Brighton as being on one hand very perfect but then having that underlying darkness. Hale's character from the start of the book has a very negative view on brighton, it's almost too chaotic for him and he just wants to escape, he seems to reject the materialistic side of things and sees Brighton for what is truly is, he represents the darker side to Brighton as from the very beginning of the book he is almost ignored by everyone and even when he dies. people notice but choose to ignore it, just as they do with Brighton's dark underworld. 'Nobody paid any attention to Hale'.
ReplyDeleteEleanor
One feature of the opening of the novel that is seen as more significant than the presentation of the setting is the contrast in characters shown by Ida and Pinkie. Ida and Pinkie are the two opposing characters in the 'Good Vs Evil' struggle, ironically, Pinkie is the religious individual however he chooses hell over heaven in the quote "heaven was a word: hell was something he could trust" In the opening of the novel we see Pinkie being appalled at the sight of Ida due to him being repulsed by the idea of sexual contact with another person. However, on the other hand, Ida is not a church goer "life was so important. She wasn't religious. She didn't believe in heaven or hell, only ghosts, ouija boards, tables which rapped." As well as this, Ida is much more comfortable with intimate relations and, although she describes herself as a bit free and easy, believes sex is part of human nature and not something to be frowned upon. The reason this contrast is more significant than the setting is because it shows the reader that Pinkie is willing to use whatever means necessary to achieve his religious goal of 'Hell'. The fact that Greene has exhibited this contrast in the early stages of the book is to showcase how Idas' and Pinkies' personalities will clash continuously throughout the novel and giving the reader the impression that ultimately, only one of them can win this game of cat and mouse through the seaside resort that is Brighton. -Tom Brooks
ReplyDeleteAlthough the characterisation of Fred Hale and Ida Arnold is significant, with regard to the establishing of theme, and the development of character, the setting is of the upmost significance, as it is such that does achieve an atmosphere, developing, or supplementing a tone, and deriving, and provoking a response from the reader, ‘showed his face to the crowd as it uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire’. This quotation demonstrating that the glamour, and prestige is cynical, and that the common conception of Brighton; glamour, prestige, is falsified. A simile, ‘like a twisted piece of wire’, causes intrigue, and citing that exposure to danger, and menace is present. This quotation is referenced within Part 1, Chapter 1 and this compelling, intriguing though menacing tone through which this sentence encapsulates. - Ben Spicer
ReplyDeleteWhilst the presentation of the setting allows us, as readers, to connect with the plot of the novel, the presentation of characters and the contrasting personalities plays a key role in establishing key themes throughout the novel. In the opening of Brighton Rock, the setting is used to form an artificial, common atmosphere. Greene creates this atmosphere to mirror/symbolise the underlying darkness within the characters. The initial presentation we are given makes Brighton seem a glamorous holiday attraction. The way that this mirrors the plot is through the contrast of the appearance and reality, being a key theme throughout the novel. This has been achieved by Greene through the quote “…glittering air: the new silver paint sparkled on the piers”. The words ‘glittering’ and ‘sparkled’ have connotations of glamour and attraction, the use of these words romanticises the setting to the reader making it seem more sensational. This then illustrates the acquisitive feel given from Brighton which would attract to the holiday-goers. This romanticised setting is however contradicted within the opening. The hint being “new silver paint” whilst the silver still links to ideas of glamour, the manner of it being newly painted shows that it is covering something else up. Linking with the key theme of appearance vs. reality, Greene is directly contrasting the two sides through this quote. Greene does this to show that there is underlying darkness under everything, most specifically signifying the characters. Therefore the setting has a great significance within the opening of Brighton Rock, however other factors along with this create the connection with the reader, hence the setting alone is not the most significant part of the opening. Alfie Narborough
ReplyDeleteThe setting of Brighton primarily sets the tone of the book. It straight away sets the key theme of the book “Appearance vs. Reality “The rich contrasts brought about through the use of subtle language such as “fresh and glittering”. Although on the surface “glittering is positive and represents brightness and positive images it can also represent tackiness and cheapness. “Sparkled” is another example of this and presents Brighton as cheap and superficial and superficial. “New silver paint” is a juxtaposition of a positive and negative aspect of Brighton. While “silver” represents wealth, prosperity and coupled with new suggests Brighton is beautiful and modern the word “paint” suggests this is all a facade and if you scratch past the surface you will find the true much less appealing Brighton underneath. This superficial representation of Brighton reflects the superficial nature of life in the 1930s. The fact it is so early on in the book also shows the importance of this key theme of appearance vs. Reality which Greene is clearly trying to stress. This can also be seen in places in the introduction such as “With immense labour and immense patience they extricated from the long day the grain of pleasure”. The idea that having fun for the tourists is an effort and they have to be “patient” for it shows the fake happiness to be found in Brighton, the repetition of intense shows how hard tourists must try in order to enjoy this holiday resort. The phrase “paper sailors’ caps” also reinforces this fake image of Brighton as the fake sailors’ hats show how the tourists are exploring a fake Brighton and underneath is the criminal nature of Brighton. This leaves the impression on the reader that Brighton is mysterious, fake and grimy.The depth of meaning in the setting of the book is clear evidence of the importance of the setting to Greene and how integral it is to effectively expressing key themes of the book.
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ReplyDeleteCharacters are entwisted into the plot of Brighton Rock in order to create understanding, morals and initial viewpoints of different types of people. This has core significance in the opening due to the reader creating preliminary impressions, swaying them to sympathise with specific characters later on in the novel. Greene manipulates the text, using metaphorical language, to help the reader distinguish between characters he wants the reader to sympathise with and those he does not. “The violins wailed in his guts”. Pinkie is perceived as soulless and disturbed throughout his presentation in the opening of the novel. The verb “wailed” connotes ideas of grief, sorrow and distress; although it is paired with “violins”, a device of music connoting towards the idea of emotion and sentiments. The juxtaposition strategy used in this quotation, insights the reader by allowing them to realise that the idea of sentimental value is revolted in Pinkie’s eyes, and that any sense of emotion is banished throughout Pinkie’s exclusive lifestyle. This notion of Pinkie may perhaps be a representation of the ulterior lifestyle of the Brighton way of life, an area where no real sense of emotion is present, where emotion is forced upon where necessary but emotion is lacked where it is not needed and nothing is to come out of it. This idea of forced emotion is alluded from the opening paragraph “They came in by train from Victoria every five minutes, rocked down Queen’s Road standing on the tops of the little local trams”. Primarily, rail travel was introduced in 1940s, meaning that to travel by this method would’ve been an expense. The fact that families of a variety of classes used their disposable income on travelling to Brighton is reflective of the desperation of people to visit this holiday resort. It is the ‘idealistic family location’ where fun is ‘guaranteed’. Secondly the imagery depicted from crowds standing in cramped trams for hours on end to visit this location is significant of the anxiety to reach the hotspot by whatever means necessary. It appears to be more of a chore that is an expectation rather than a typical relaxed holiday. Whereas Pinkie’s inadequate measure of affection and love was shown towards him in his upbringing, scarring his soul and creating him to be the lifeless man he is now, Brighton may also have originally been poisoned with this idea of rejection and feels the only way to seek justice is to show no empathy and to play with people in order to achieve what they wish. By incorporating these dark twisted characters into Brighton Rock, it allows the reader to unravel the plot of Brighton Rock, giving them further insight as to what is to come. Hence being a more significant attribute to the opening of Brighton Rock than the setting. Natasha Syed
ReplyDeleteAswell as this the chacterisation is significant in the opening of Brighton Rock, this is shown when Greene presents the boy as an outsider who is a complete psychopath with no value of life or other individuals. This is shown when it says "Ill go I'm not scared… sometimes i think id be better alone" this fearlessness for a character of such a young age and value for solitude and longing for isolation helps Greene portray the boy as an isolated and fearless character.It is important in the development of Brighton Rock as it allows the reader to further develop there understanding of why the characters act this way. Aswell as this longing for isolation allows the reader to engage with the boy more, to see that he may have been longing for isolation from such an early age due to his upbringing or in Pinkies case the lack of an upbringing or childhood. This complete alienation of Pinkie from the other warm characters in the book like Ida is reflected when the Boy says "I take account of what i do myself". This not only shows his complete independence but his desire to control everything, he controls every aspect of his life aswell as the gang. This is further shown when Pinkie says "You're late i said a quarter to two sharp" this anger in something what the others to deem so petty helps to show how controlling he is and the difference between him and the other characters in the book. The reason he is presented as such an outsider is because he was forced to grow up to quickly this is shown when it says "slatey eyes touched with annihilating eternity." Although Pinkie is still young his mental age and maturity is far beyond his physical age and appearance. The word annihilating helps to show the struggle that he has been through in life from such a young age, this contrasts heavily with the word touched which is more soft and personal. This oxymoron helps to cement how pinkie has aged differently.Equally this links with the context as it was after ww1 and many people would have been changed by there experience, this is why Pinkie is unnoticed while being so hard and psychopathic, as there were many men like this due to the war. However as the characterisation links with the context and is supported by it it is of less importance and impact in the book.
ReplyDeleteGreene uses the character of Hale to support the argument that the setting is only significant in the way that characters are presented on it and are able to manipulate it. Almost immediately, we are presented with a character that is able to differentiate himself from the summer crowds but not for the better. Greene presents us a figure with “inky fingers” and “bitten nails” with a “cynical and nervous” manner about him. Instantly, these descriptions connote an image of an anxious, paranoid and pessimistic man, his “inky” and “bitten” fingers implies there is hidden and murky notion he is aware of (his death) and is unsettled by it. The narrator then explains “Anybody could tell he didn’t belong-belong to the early summer sun, the cool Whitsun wind off the sea, the holiday crowd” which illustrates his divergence from the crowd due to his realisation and perspective on the hidden truth behind the “holiday crowd”. However, it could also reflect the idea that the holiday-goers have come to Brighton to relax and see the attractions whereas Hale has come to do business and through his work he able to see the hidden side to Brighton which the naive crowd aren’t able to perceive. Hale furthermore links to the setting through his perception and removal from the crowd as shown in the quote “the crowd uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire, two by two”. The words “uncoiled endlessly” suggest the crowd is just a single collective group with no way of differentiating between each other passing Hale in one cycle which is further implied by the crowd being walking “two by two”. However, the crowd being described as a “twisted piece of wire” implies there is a hidden corruption and evil within the collective group of the crowd as shown through the words “twisted piece”, which is only seen by Hale as the crowds go “past him”. This again shows that he is able to exclude himself from the crowd and can only then realise the dark nature of Brighton and furthermore shows how Hale links to the setting by manipulating it therefore signifying the higher significance of the characters over the setting. Again this links to the theme of appearance versus reality as Hale is able to understand that Brighton may appear to be a thriving holiday resort but as he knows too well there is a hidden and dark side to Brighton which can only be understood and perceived when you aren’t part of the majority crowd. Greene intentions with linking the characters and setting within the first chapter was to give the characters a platform in which the plot could develop yet also represent and symbolise their ideologies in synchronisation. This is shown through Hale as he able to exclude himself from the crowds and realise the two contrasting crowds of Brighton which creates his ideology of having cautious approach to life due to his awareness of his surroundings. This further supports the argument that the setting is only a platform for the characters to manipulate as from his view of the setting, Hale manages to get into problems with the mob creating the foundation for the plot. - Will Morley
ReplyDeleteGreene also juxtaposes the idea of how Brighton is portrayed and the reality of it. This is seen in “to the crowd as it uncoiled endlessly past him, like a twisted piece of wire, two by two, each with an air of determined and sober gaiety”. The idea of the large crowd seems to indicate that Brighton is a popular tourist destination due to the idea of the crowd continuing “endlessly” with everyone seeming to possess the same determination to experience all of the enjoyment that Brighton has to offer however this contrasts with the imagery of it being a “twisted piece of wire” which has violent connotations of barbed wire which is usually used to keep people such as prisoners behind bars in order to protect society from the danger that they pose. This contrast develops the idea of there being an underlying evil to Brighton that is powerful enough to make the crowd of tourists and their “determined gaiety” seem like a threat even though they are merely here to enjoy themselves. The idea of the crowd appearing as a “twisted piece of wire” also has religious connotations of a snake from the creation story which is associated with the Devil and evil for corrupting Adam and Eve, Greene may have done this in order to show how even the innocence of the crowd is corrupted by just being in Brighton, showing the enormity of the problem that Brighton is trying to hide beneath its glittering façade. As this is located at the beginning of the novel Greene may be hinting that this is a key theme that will be significant throughout the rest of the novel. This supports the idea that the setting is the most significant aspect of the novel as this could not be achieved as effectively if the presentations of Ida and Pinkie were the only way in which Greene presented the distinction between the two sides of Brighton as they would limit the concept of it to only the people who have been corrupted by this evil whereas the setting allows this point to be developed more to the point where it appears that all of Brighton has been infected by the disease of this dark hidden world that is hidden just beneath the extravagant veneer of glittering paint.
ReplyDeleteWhat I felt was most obviously missing from my essay was a well structured introduction.
ReplyDeleteGreene presented a number of factors that contributed to the strong opening on Brighton Rock, many of which were unquestionably significant, but not necessarily a high cut above each other. Moreover, there are more than 3 or 4 sections, and so possibilities are instantly narrowed due to the nature of such a broad question and such a short amount of time. Furthermore, the statement is biased by its initial preference of setting as the factor of most significance in the opening, this also narrows options as it is imperative to argue for or against the factor in the statement. The statement also gives little room for detailed or complex comparison, the idea that each factor may simultaneously impact each other, and so have the same significance in relevance to the opening of Brighton Rock. In light of the complexities of the statement, the characters seem more significant than the setting as the setting is only a slight influence on how they will act and react, the rest will be down to them alone. - Ed Hobson
The most significant thing in the opening to Brighton Rock is the setting. The setting helps to build an image of a glamorous seaside resort while hinting at the dark, criminal underworld that lies beneath the surface. The setting places the characters in a place where their personalities can evolve and their actions fit the surroundings. Pinkie is a character that shows this, “a boy of about seventeen… a shabby smart suit… a face starved of intensity, a kind of hideous and unnatural pride”. The quote emphasises the idea that Pinkie, like Brighton, is a character that focuses on his appearance and tries to ‘fit in’ with his surroundings. Like Brighton though he does have his flaws in his appearance with the “shabby smart suit” which illustrates his struggle to hide his criminal and hardened life from the public’s view while trying to achieve a grander appearance of himself. Without Brighton’s setting being described as one of false imagery Pinkies appearance and inner character would be one of pure randomness and would therefore not fit the story and stick out so the setting is vital as it links all the characters and gives them a deeper meaning and develops them further. - Matt G
DeleteIn the opening of Brighton Rock, Greene uses the contrast between the appearance of Brighton and its reality to create juxtaposition. This is seen in the quote "The new silver paint sparkled on the piers, the cream houses ran away into the west like a pale Victorian watercolour" The word 'sparkled' shows the life and energy which insinuates Brighton possess' which contrasts to the description of the houses looking 'like a pale Victorian watercolour'. The juxtaposition of energy and life next to paleness sets the tone of the novel by showing the reader that everything is not what it may appear to be and there may be deeper, darker elements when you look deeper. The use of a-syndetic listing that is visible in the quote "They had stood all the way from Victoria in crowded carriages, they would have to wait in queues for lunch, at midnight half asleep they would rock back in trains to the cramped streets and the closed pubs and the weary walk home." emphasises the element of chaos that makes Hale feel uncomfortable. Greene does this to almost overwhelm the reader with information so they have an accurate sense of Brighton’s atmosphere at the time. - Dylan Peters
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