To me, ‘Brighton Rock’ is a novel that ultimately portrays the bleak and hopeless reality of life through emphasising the inevitable fate of the characters within the novel. The endings of the main characters further illustrate this bleak pre-determined destiny and cyclical nature of the characters. Pinkie’s death conveys that all along he was still never able to achieve the authority, power and dignity that he aspired, with the references to him still being a “child” further illustrating that. Ida’s reference to “Tom” and her dissatisfaction with the results of the investigation again reiterate her inevitable fate due to her lack of achievement and purpose (now after the investigation) to her life. Lastly, Rose ends up where she started at the novel by returning to Frank’s and returning to innocence, ultimately showing that because of the harsh reality of her future, she is unable to fully achieve her dreams of experience and loss of innocence. Pinkie describing that “’Ideas change, the world moves on’...That face said as clearly as words that ideas never changed, the world never moved: it lay there always, the ravaged and disputed territory between two eternities” is a key quotation from the novel which is illustrates the gloomy reality of life. The words “it lay there always” suggests the lack of impact an individual has had and is able to have on the world, illustrating the hopelessness reality of life. “The ravaged and disputed territory between two eternities” also exemplifies the bleakness of life as through focalisation of Pinkie through the narrative perspective, it expresses that life is just a passage “between two eternities” with the words “ravaged” and military reference to “territory”, further implying the destructive and hopeless nature of the world. Overall, the quote emphasises the inevitable fate within the world in its harshest and bleakest form (that life is only a transition between “two eternities”).
Brighton Rock ensures that every reader leaves with a sense that they lack purpose, or faith in ambition, reiterating through and through the hopelessness surrounding us and life. As in Brighton Rock, despite apparent successes and supposedly travelled journeys, everything will eventually return to it's initial state, absent any mark or sign of a legacy left behind. In 7:3 Prewitt references a number of other texts with quotes from Dr Faustus, Hamlet, and Othello. These particular quotes are my favourites and hold the most meaning to me when used in this context: away from their original texts. They all originate from plays, formatted and arranged for the actors to carry out exactly what the playwright intended, ironically here not used in a play - the insinuation being that they are in a play, that life itself is a play and we are actors, the characters in BR specifically, travelling along their paths, with a strong sense of purpose and any grasp they can get on achievement, legacy, along the way, when essentially, these quotes suggest they never left the path they were set on from the beginning, or perhaps only for a brief moment. The most poignant quote for me is "Why, this is Hell, nor are we out of it." (from Dr Faustus but in this instance - Prewitt). Generally implying that the true and only Hell is that on Earth, however also furthering Greene's point on the inevitability of life, and the certainties that are laid out for every individual, "nor are we out of it", it is inescapable. Prewitt references these plays that are focused on heroes as victims, a feeble attempt at granting his life some meaning as he assumes it is approaching its end, where in reality he is merely going to travel along the same path as Pinkie, Ida, and Rose, returning to his origin and an essentially menial existence.
I believe that Brighton Rock is ultimately a novel to demonstrate the secular and insignificant nature that life has and how everything in life is repeated out of our control. The way the characters are killed or removed from the storyline of the novel help to illustrate the idea that no matter what their life was meaningless and insignificant and how life without them will furthermore go onwards. “stop him’ Dallow cried: it wasn’t any good: he was at the edge, he was over: they couldn’t even hear a splash. It was as if he’d been withdrawn suddenly by a hand out of any existence – past or present, whipped away into zero - nothing.” This quote helps to emphasise the idea of life being a pointless and insignificant thing in the words “zero – nothing”. The way in which Pinkie is withdrawn from life and the storyline of the novel enlarges Pinkie’s own insignificance within his own life and the entire world that surrounds him, even Rose and Ida he only played a small part in their lives as both characters move on after his death. The quote is broken into short sentences that also arise the idea that life is systematic and evolves onwards through time in small sharp pieces, moving on and leaving characters behind as if they never existed, in this case Pinkie and how he dies with only recognition from the characters Ida and Rose. As well as Pinkie, Ida too demonstrates the way in which life is of insignificant nature and how even after what seems like large events are actually insignificant in themselves. “it’s a strange world, there’s more things in heaven than earth”. This quote emphasises Ida’s outlook towards the insignificance of life and how things keep moving on even once they are over, as many religious people believe heaven to be a place where you live on after death showing that life was just a transition and overall was insignificant and unneeded. - Matt G
For me, Brighton Rock makes the statement that the religious and atheist views of people who believe in both good and evil and those that comfort themselves with their own notions of wrong and right, are simply fictions of the imagination of the individual possessing the ideology present. However, not only this, but the way in which Greene decides to portray the two opposing entities is in one which insinuates to the reader that both pairs cannot exist. It must be one or the other, Good and Evil, or, Right and Wrong. For example the character of Ida; a strong, independent, atheist woman, believes in crusading for what she believes to be the 'right' thing to do. However the character of Pinkie, as well as Rose, believe in the religious forces of good and evil, with many religious references to religion throughout the novel. The idea that both pairs being unable to exist together is also shown in the conflicting imagery of the real, physical world which is present before the characters of the novel, with the religious world, that is constantly referenced to by Pinkie and Rose. The quote that I have chosen to represent what I think Brighton Rock represents is from the narrative perspective, focalised through Ida; "its a strange world, there's more things in heaven and earth" the reason I chose this quote is because it is the 3rd to last line in the book from Ida's perspective, leaving the reader with a final feeling of doubt from Ida, in the sense that throughout the novel she is adamant that her non religious beliefs will triumph, however now, the use of both 'earth' and 'heaven' in the same sentence suggests that she is not as certain as she once was. One reason for this could be the anti-climatic end to her journey through the novel with the death of Pinkie, no recognition for her efforts, not even a thank-you from Rose could lead Ida to believe that what she did was meaningless and irrelevant, thus undermining the whole story line to this novel.- Tom Brooks
In my opinion Brighton Rock is a novel about hopelessness and of the restraints of class. This can be seen throughout with Pinkie’s wanting to be like Colleoni but more explicitly, and profoundly, in a quote on the last page of the novel “The worst horror she thought was over – the horror of the complete circle— ”. The phrases “horror” and “worst” are strong emotive words, and accentuate the fear and loathing displayed by Rose, whom the quote is focalised through. This displays Rose’s true fear is not escaping from the fallen World of Brighton. The use of “—” before and after “the horror of the complete circle”; separates this quote from the rest of the text. The effect of this is that it showcases a key theme of the novel (which is a rare occurrence in a novel fraught with subtle references and inferences and implications). This key theme in question is the idea that Brighton Rock is a hopeless novel, in which the characters never triumph, they never better themselves and are forever stuck in the position they began. This could be a reference to the classism and capitalism in 1930s society. At a time when the battling of the ideologies of Capitalism and Communism, as well as Fascism and democracy was most heightened, classes were seen by the left as solely oppressing the Proletariat. This can be seen in Brighton Rock as Pinkie never reaches his goal of mimicking Colleoni. This can also be seen clearly through Rose, whose attempts to escape her low class by up taking with a man rebelling against his. Greene’s membership in the communist party in the UK and his travel to places such as Indochina and Cuba supports the idea that classism is a force suppressing the working class (displayed by Rose and Pinkie as well as his mob) and that the hopeless circle is the entrapment of people in classes. Even though Greene declared his works to be apolitical, this failure of Rose to escape and her apparent return to her normal life can be seen to support the key ideas of Marxism of the oppression of the Proletariat by the Bourgeoisie, represented by Colleoni, who gained their wealth by corruption. This can also be seen as Colleoni never gains his comeuppance for his evil ways. Another interpretation of the hopelessness of the novel displayed by this quote is that Greene is displaying Brighton as a fallen world akin to hell, of which there is no escape. This would imply that all the characters are trapped and cannot escape their fates, which have been predestined for them. Brighton Rock is therefore to me at least, a hopeless novel in which the characters are encumbered and enslaved by their position in the world they were born into.
For me, Brighton Rock is a novel which portrays the tragic and pessimistic reality of life through the unsatisfying ending to the book itself. The very last sentence of Brighton Rock states ‘She walked rapidly in the thin June sunlight towards the worst horror of all.’ This last line of the book completes the story by bringing Rose in a full circle back to where she started, but even worse off than before. This is Greene’s way of showing the eternal cycle of society that we are all stuck inside that no matter how hard you try and escape or strive for something better, you will always end up back where you started. Despite the seemingly pleasant pathetic fallacy of a sunny June day being used, under closer inspection it can be seen that Greene has even taken away from the weather by describing the sunlight as ‘thin’ creating a sense of falseness at the very end of the book. This further strengthens the idea that Brighton Rock is a truly depressing and pessimistic novel. Jack Wright
My personal insight towards Brighton Rock is that society is the un-denying controller of the world surrounding us. Despite the efforts to escape the place society has placed you in, it is inevitable that you will revisit the original place you were out in a lesser circumstance than when you started. Despite efforts to fight back, societies perception will overrule, leaving you with your own personal damnation when you return to your original position. “The worst horror she thought was over - the horror of the complete circle” The narrative perspective gives an insight towards Rose’s thought process at the end of the novel. It is a perfect reflection of how each character was always aware of the risk they were taking in order to achieve their desirability’s, each knew that reaching back to where they started was certain, butt their overwhelming sense of desperation for a new life clouded their judgment and making them naïve to think they could change the definite. All the characters reveal a ruthless side of themselves at some point in the novel, but this act is shaped upon the foundation of them trying to scare of their own fears. But the famous quote “you can run, but you can’t hide” is a clear perspective of the mask each character puts on throughout the novel doesn’t change the fact that each one faced their personal damnations by the end of the novel, being either death or carrying on with the problem they were originally running from. Natasha Syed
The novel Brighton Rock, is for me, a novel which emphasises the cyclic nature of everyday life. For example, throughout the book the characters are all portrayed as being set out towards different goals, these goals all linking from the beginning due to Fred Hale's death. As the novel progresses and draws to a close, the characters are pushed back to the beginning of the story again which emphasises the hopeless reality of life itself and the struggle of everyday life which consumes people. This can be seen through the character of Ida and her mission to save Rose from Pinkie, "The world was a good place if you didn't weaken; she was like the chariot in triumph- behind her were all the big battalions - right's right an eye for an eye, when you want to do a thing well do it yourself." This highlights the importance of the goals set about by Ida, which parallels to the struggles and tasks of daily life. The outcome of these struggles being a cycle back to another struggle. The use of the phrase, 'an eye for an eye,' alludes to revenge and is an example of religious imagery used. Potentially Greene here could be using this to insinuate that death is the 'ultimatum' of the cyclic nature of the world and that the novel is highlighting this by Greene providing the outcome of Pinkie to be his death. Therefore, for me, Brighton Rock is a novel which captures the harsh and mundane side of life and that goals can only lead to other goals.The use of the third person perspective within the quote suggesting that the omniscient narrator knows the outcome on Ida's intent on gaining revenge. The word 'world' proving this to be the case as Greene's suggested intentions being to contrast the outside world with Brighton and to exemplify its harsh reality's of the mundane and cyclic nature of life.
Within the novel, Brighton Rock, Graham Greene presents a number of everlasting contrasts, and dichotomies. A significant theme within the novel, is the dichotomy of nature against nurture, which explores whether behaviour is determined through an individuals innate qualities, against personal experiences, which is explored through the characters of Pinkie and Rose. The exposure, and vulnerability, which is emblematic of the character of Rose, whereby innocence, and naivety prevail, upon a futile attempt as to gain affection, is with contrast to Pinkie, who is vastly experienced, despite being referenced as ‘The Boy’. The faithfulness of which Rose does present toward Pinkie, a character of which does represent the definition of evil, demonstrates this need for understanding, and naivety toward the hidden truths of Brighton. “Vitriol? What’s vitriol?”, this quotation emphasising the innocence, and does demonstrate Rose’s inability to understand the criminal underworld of Brighton. The theme of vulnerability is, too, presented through the character of Pinkie. And, regardless of the external, and visual appearance of Pinkie, which does connote of authority, and a character which is unsympathetic, it is significant that Pinkie is not entirely enduring, and it is the introduction of Colleoni which does demonstrate this, whereby Colleoni is the superior, and authoritative figure. “He wasn’t old enough for pity”. A quotation which does present an explanation, that the disorderly, and undisciplined childhood has influenced Pinkie as to suppress this vulnerability. Though, he is able to manipulate the behaviours of Rose, who is suppressed by the limitations of Catholicism, Pinkie is, too, influenced by these limitations, though to a lesser extent; Rose is influenced by a greater being, therefore, which does justify as to why she does enable Pinkie to manipulate. Pinkie does present a complete understanding, and realisation that damnation is inevitable, and is of self-acceptance, which does emphasise the hopeless nature of the novel.
For me the novel Brighton Rock, ultimately is a novel which displays the characters trying to escape their own pre-determined fate. The novels ends with no character in a better position than they were to start, showing this attempt at 'coming of age' in Rose's case, Pinkies lust for power and experience and Ida's forceful need to do what't right, either was completely useless or didn't give them they outcome they longed for. This is evident from the quote 'it was as if the flames had literally got him and he shrank...' Throughout the novel Pinkie suggests that his fate is predetermined therefore his actions were excused as he always was going to hell. This quote emphasis's this idea as 'flames' are associated with hell, showing the religious world over powering the physical, as it does countless times all through the novel. Also the use of the word 'shrank' shows Pinkies relevance to the rest of society as being minuscule, this further shows the theme individual vs society, where in this case society is overpowering. Due to there being no escape for these three characters (all in different ways) it leads to the conclusion that Brighton Rock is a hopeless novel, as all the characters are trapped due to their tragic pre-determined fate.
Brighton Rock for me is a novel which shows the grim bleak reality of life. The cycle of poverty and despair which is both never-ending and unbreakable as we see with the character of Pinkie and his downfall. While Pinkie attempts to seek a brighter future for him and Rose attempts to aim for greater things in life, fate soon catches up with them whether it be Pinkies death and decent into nothingness or Roses realisation at the end of the novel that she is left alone and in a worse position from where she started out, her loss of faith and a baby on the way who she is incapable to support properly. The only character that seems to escape this "doom" is that of Ida yet she still has to return to her husband which for her is the same. The book ends with ‘She walked rapidly in the thin June sunlight towards the worst horror of all.' this shows her doom and the complete full circle of the book, as she is left to raise a fatherless child in poverty, the same conditions that Pinkie was raised in and more importantly shaped in, leading to his evil corrupt nature.
For me, 'Brighton Rock' depicts the inevitability of the physical world’s bleak, resolute reality and a person’s incapability of escaping from it, presented through the characters of Pinkie, Ida and Rose. The novel in fact is opposite to a coming of age story, due to the characters being worse off than to begin with. Through this, Greene crystallizes ideas of an eternal cycle within the characters, being illustrated in the last chapter as the reader is hinted towards Rose's possible pregnancy, as well as her approaching 'the worst horror of all'. Leaving Rose in a situation unfavourable to her previous one. In Ida's case, the reader does not have a satisfying ending, as we get the impression that Ida's relentless quest for justice was just a distraction from her mundane, prosaic life, leaving her questioning what to do with herself. ‘Brighton Rock’ portrays the corruption within society and a single person’s battle against the rest of society, in search for a brighter future. Embodied within this novel though the characters of Ida, Pinkie and Rose and they’re enduring conflict with the hidden underworld of Brighton. Linking to a key them contained by ‘Brighton Rock’ of innocence versus experience. Pinkie has an ongoing conflict with the ‘dreadful’ underworld in ‘Brighton Rock’ to prove his innocence. Greene’s description of innocence as “the ugly cry of birth”, clarifies Greene’s belief that innocence is something that is lost at birth and cannot be earned afterwards. Opposing the common perception of birth as a vital moment in life, this juxtaposition reveals that Greene believes you have a loss of control after birth. Alfie Narborough
To me, ‘Brighton Rock’ is a novel that ultimately portrays the bleak and hopeless reality of life through emphasising the inevitable fate of the characters within the novel. The endings of the main characters further illustrate this bleak pre-determined destiny and cyclical nature of the characters. Pinkie’s death conveys that all along he was still never able to achieve the authority, power and dignity that he aspired, with the references to him still being a “child” further illustrating that. Ida’s reference to “Tom” and her dissatisfaction with the results of the investigation again reiterate her inevitable fate due to her lack of achievement and purpose (now after the investigation) to her life. Lastly, Rose ends up where she started at the novel by returning to Frank’s and returning to innocence, ultimately showing that because of the harsh reality of her future, she is unable to fully achieve her dreams of experience and loss of innocence.
ReplyDeletePinkie describing that “’Ideas change, the world moves on’...That face said as clearly as words that ideas never changed, the world never moved: it lay there always, the ravaged and disputed territory between two eternities” is a key quotation from the novel which is illustrates the gloomy reality of life. The words “it lay there always” suggests the lack of impact an individual has had and is able to have on the world, illustrating the hopelessness reality of life. “The ravaged and disputed territory between two eternities” also exemplifies the bleakness of life as through focalisation of Pinkie through the narrative perspective, it expresses that life is just a passage “between two eternities” with the words “ravaged” and military reference to “territory”, further implying the destructive and hopeless nature of the world. Overall, the quote emphasises the inevitable fate within the world in its harshest and bleakest form (that life is only a transition between “two eternities”).
Ed Hobson -
ReplyDeleteBrighton Rock ensures that every reader leaves with a sense that they lack purpose, or faith in ambition, reiterating through and through the hopelessness surrounding us and life. As in Brighton Rock, despite apparent successes and supposedly travelled journeys, everything will eventually return to it's initial state, absent any mark or sign of a legacy left behind.
In 7:3 Prewitt references a number of other texts with quotes from Dr Faustus, Hamlet, and Othello. These particular quotes are my favourites and hold the most meaning to me when used in this context: away from their original texts. They all originate from plays, formatted and arranged for the actors to carry out exactly what the playwright intended, ironically here not used in a play - the insinuation being that they are in a play, that life itself is a play and we are actors, the characters in BR specifically, travelling along their paths, with a strong sense of purpose and any grasp they can get on achievement, legacy, along the way, when essentially, these quotes suggest they never left the path they were set on from the beginning, or perhaps only for a brief moment.
The most poignant quote for me is "Why, this is Hell, nor are we out of it." (from Dr Faustus but in this instance - Prewitt). Generally implying that the true and only Hell is that on Earth, however also furthering Greene's point on the inevitability of life, and the certainties that are laid out for every individual, "nor are we out of it", it is inescapable.
Prewitt references these plays that are focused on heroes as victims, a feeble attempt at granting his life some meaning as he assumes it is approaching its end, where in reality he is merely going to travel along the same path as Pinkie, Ida, and Rose, returning to his origin and an essentially menial existence.
I believe that Brighton Rock is ultimately a novel to demonstrate the secular and insignificant nature that life has and how everything in life is repeated out of our control. The way the characters are killed or removed from the storyline of the novel help to illustrate the idea that no matter what their life was meaningless and insignificant and how life without them will furthermore go onwards. “stop him’ Dallow cried: it wasn’t any good: he was at the edge, he was over: they couldn’t even hear a splash. It was as if he’d been withdrawn suddenly by a hand out of any existence – past or present, whipped away into zero - nothing.” This quote helps to emphasise the idea of life being a pointless and insignificant thing in the words “zero – nothing”. The way in which Pinkie is withdrawn from life and the storyline of the novel enlarges Pinkie’s own insignificance within his own life and the entire world that surrounds him, even Rose and Ida he only played a small part in their lives as both characters move on after his death. The quote is broken into short sentences that also arise the idea that life is systematic and evolves onwards through time in small sharp pieces, moving on and leaving characters behind as if they never existed, in this case Pinkie and how he dies with only recognition from the characters Ida and Rose. As well as Pinkie, Ida too demonstrates the way in which life is of insignificant nature and how even after what seems like large events are actually insignificant in themselves. “it’s a strange world, there’s more things in heaven than earth”. This quote emphasises Ida’s outlook towards the insignificance of life and how things keep moving on even once they are over, as many religious people believe heaven to be a place where you live on after death showing that life was just a transition and overall was insignificant and unneeded. - Matt G
ReplyDeleteFor me, Brighton Rock makes the statement that the religious and atheist views of people who believe in both good and evil and those that comfort themselves with their own notions of wrong and right, are simply fictions of the imagination of the individual possessing the ideology present. However, not only this, but the way in which Greene decides to portray the two opposing entities is in one which insinuates to the reader that both pairs cannot exist. It must be one or the other, Good and Evil, or, Right and Wrong. For example the character of Ida; a strong, independent, atheist woman, believes in crusading for what she believes to be the 'right' thing to do. However the character of Pinkie, as well as Rose, believe in the religious forces of good and evil, with many religious references to religion throughout the novel.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that both pairs being unable to exist together is also shown in the conflicting imagery of the real, physical world which is present before the characters of the novel, with the religious world, that is constantly referenced to by Pinkie and Rose. The quote that I have chosen to represent what I think Brighton Rock represents is from the narrative perspective, focalised through Ida; "its a strange world, there's more things in heaven and earth" the reason I chose this quote is because it is the 3rd to last line in the book from Ida's perspective, leaving the reader with a final feeling of doubt from Ida, in the sense that throughout the novel she is adamant that her non religious beliefs will triumph, however now, the use of both 'earth' and 'heaven' in the same sentence suggests that she is not as certain as she once was. One reason for this could be the anti-climatic end to her journey through the novel with the death of Pinkie, no recognition for her efforts, not even a thank-you from Rose could lead Ida to believe that what she did was meaningless and irrelevant, thus undermining the whole story line to this novel.- Tom Brooks
In my opinion Brighton Rock is a novel about hopelessness and of the restraints of class. This can be seen throughout with Pinkie’s wanting to be like Colleoni but more explicitly, and profoundly, in a quote on the last page of the novel “The worst horror she thought was over – the horror of the complete circle— ”. The phrases “horror” and “worst” are strong emotive words, and accentuate the fear and loathing displayed by Rose, whom the quote is focalised through. This displays Rose’s true fear is not escaping from the fallen World of Brighton. The use of “—” before and after “the horror of the complete circle”; separates this quote from the rest of the text. The effect of this is that it showcases a key theme of the novel (which is a rare occurrence in a novel fraught with subtle references and inferences and implications). This key theme in question is the idea that Brighton Rock is a hopeless novel, in which the characters never triumph, they never better themselves and are forever stuck in the position they began. This could be a reference to the classism and capitalism in 1930s society. At a time when the battling of the ideologies of Capitalism and Communism, as well as Fascism and democracy was most heightened, classes were seen by the left as solely oppressing the Proletariat. This can be seen in Brighton Rock as Pinkie never reaches his goal of mimicking Colleoni. This can also be seen clearly through Rose, whose attempts to escape her low class by up taking with a man rebelling against his. Greene’s membership in the communist party in the UK and his travel to places such as Indochina and Cuba supports the idea that classism is a force suppressing the working class (displayed by Rose and Pinkie as well as his mob) and that the hopeless circle is the entrapment of people in classes. Even though Greene declared his works to be apolitical, this failure of Rose to escape and her apparent return to her normal life can be seen to support the key ideas of Marxism of the oppression of the Proletariat by the Bourgeoisie, represented by Colleoni, who gained their wealth by corruption. This can also be seen as Colleoni never gains his comeuppance for his evil ways. Another interpretation of the hopelessness of the novel displayed by this quote is that Greene is displaying Brighton as a fallen world akin to hell, of which there is no escape. This would imply that all the characters are trapped and cannot escape their fates, which have been predestined for them. Brighton Rock is therefore to me at least, a hopeless novel in which the characters are encumbered and enslaved by their position in the world they were born into.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Brighton Rock is a novel which portrays the tragic and pessimistic reality of life through the unsatisfying ending to the book itself. The very last sentence of Brighton Rock states ‘She walked rapidly in the thin June sunlight towards the worst horror of all.’ This last line of the book completes the story by bringing Rose in a full circle back to where she started, but even worse off than before. This is Greene’s way of showing the eternal cycle of society that we are all stuck inside that no matter how hard you try and escape or strive for something better, you will always end up back where you started. Despite the seemingly pleasant pathetic fallacy of a sunny June day being used, under closer inspection it can be seen that Greene has even taken away from the weather by describing the sunlight as ‘thin’ creating a sense of falseness at the very end of the book. This further strengthens the idea that Brighton Rock is a truly depressing and pessimistic novel.
ReplyDeleteJack Wright
My personal insight towards Brighton Rock is that society is the un-denying controller of the world surrounding us. Despite the efforts to escape the place society has placed you in, it is inevitable that you will revisit the original place you were out in a lesser circumstance than when you started. Despite efforts to fight back, societies perception will overrule, leaving you with your own personal damnation when you return to your original position.
ReplyDelete“The worst horror she thought was over - the horror of the complete circle” The narrative perspective gives an insight towards Rose’s thought process at the end of the novel. It is a perfect reflection of how each character was always aware of the risk they were taking in order to achieve their desirability’s, each knew that reaching back to where they started was certain, butt their overwhelming sense of desperation for a new life clouded their judgment and making them naïve to think they could change the definite.
All the characters reveal a ruthless side of themselves at some point in the novel, but this act is shaped upon the foundation of them trying to scare of their own fears. But the famous quote “you can run, but you can’t hide” is a clear perspective of the mask each character puts on throughout the novel doesn’t change the fact that each one faced their personal damnations by the end of the novel, being either death or carrying on with the problem they were originally running from. Natasha Syed
The novel Brighton Rock, is for me, a novel which emphasises the cyclic nature of everyday life. For example, throughout the book the characters are all portrayed as being set out towards different goals, these goals all linking from the beginning due to Fred Hale's death. As the novel progresses and draws to a close, the characters are pushed back to the beginning of the story again which emphasises the hopeless reality of life itself and the struggle of everyday life which consumes people. This can be seen through the character of Ida and her mission to save Rose from Pinkie, "The world was a good place if you didn't weaken; she was like the chariot in triumph- behind her were all the big battalions - right's right an eye for an eye, when you want to do a thing well do it yourself." This highlights the importance of the goals set about by Ida, which parallels to the struggles and tasks of daily life. The outcome of these struggles being a cycle back to another struggle. The use of the phrase, 'an eye for an eye,' alludes to revenge and is an example of religious imagery used. Potentially Greene here could be using this to insinuate that death is the 'ultimatum' of the cyclic nature of the world and that the novel is highlighting this by Greene providing the outcome of Pinkie to be his death. Therefore, for me, Brighton Rock is a novel which captures the harsh and mundane side of life and that goals can only lead to other goals.The use of the third person perspective within the quote suggesting that the omniscient narrator knows the outcome on Ida's intent on gaining revenge. The word 'world' proving this to be the case as Greene's suggested intentions being to contrast the outside world with Brighton and to exemplify its harsh reality's of the mundane and cyclic nature of life.
ReplyDeleteWithin the novel, Brighton Rock, Graham Greene presents a number of everlasting contrasts, and dichotomies. A significant theme within the novel, is the dichotomy of nature against nurture, which explores whether behaviour is determined through an individuals innate qualities, against personal experiences, which is explored through the characters of Pinkie and Rose. The exposure, and vulnerability, which is emblematic of the character of Rose, whereby innocence, and naivety prevail, upon a futile attempt as to gain affection, is with contrast to Pinkie, who is vastly experienced, despite being referenced as ‘The Boy’. The faithfulness of which Rose does present toward Pinkie, a character of which does represent the definition of evil, demonstrates this need for understanding, and naivety toward the hidden truths of Brighton. “Vitriol? What’s vitriol?”, this quotation emphasising the innocence, and does demonstrate Rose’s inability to understand the criminal underworld of Brighton. The theme of vulnerability is, too, presented through the character of Pinkie. And, regardless of the external, and visual appearance of Pinkie, which does connote of authority, and a character which is unsympathetic, it is significant that Pinkie is not entirely enduring, and it is the introduction of Colleoni which does demonstrate this, whereby Colleoni is the superior, and authoritative figure. “He wasn’t old enough for pity”. A quotation which does present an explanation, that the disorderly, and undisciplined childhood has influenced Pinkie as to suppress this vulnerability. Though, he is able to manipulate the behaviours of Rose, who is suppressed by the limitations of Catholicism, Pinkie is, too, influenced by these limitations, though to a lesser extent; Rose is influenced by a greater being, therefore, which does justify as to why she does enable Pinkie to manipulate. Pinkie does present a complete understanding, and realisation that damnation is inevitable, and is of self-acceptance, which does emphasise the hopeless nature of the novel.
ReplyDelete- Ben Spicer
For me the novel Brighton Rock, ultimately is a novel which displays the characters trying to escape their own pre-determined fate. The novels ends with no character in a better position than they were to start, showing this attempt at 'coming of age' in Rose's case, Pinkies lust for power and experience and Ida's forceful need to do what't right, either was completely useless or didn't give them they outcome they longed for. This is evident from the quote 'it was as if the flames had literally got him and he shrank...' Throughout the novel Pinkie suggests that his fate is predetermined therefore his actions were excused as he always was going to hell. This quote emphasis's this idea as 'flames' are associated with hell, showing the religious world over powering the physical, as it does countless times all through the novel. Also the use of the word 'shrank' shows Pinkies relevance to the rest of society as being minuscule, this further shows the theme individual vs society, where in this case society is overpowering. Due to there being no escape for these three characters (all in different ways) it leads to the conclusion that Brighton Rock is a hopeless novel, as all the characters are trapped due to their tragic pre-determined fate.
ReplyDeleteEleanor Lambert
Brighton Rock for me is a novel which shows the grim bleak reality of life. The cycle of poverty and despair which is both never-ending and unbreakable as we see with the character of Pinkie and his downfall. While Pinkie attempts to seek a brighter future for him and Rose attempts to aim for greater things in life, fate soon catches up with them whether it be Pinkies death and decent into nothingness or Roses realisation at the end of the novel that she is left alone and in a worse position from where she started out, her loss of faith and a baby on the way who she is incapable to support properly. The only character that seems to escape this "doom" is that of Ida yet she still has to return to her husband which for her is the same. The book ends with ‘She walked rapidly in the thin June sunlight towards the worst horror of all.' this shows her doom and the complete full circle of the book, as she is left to raise a fatherless child in poverty, the same conditions that Pinkie was raised in and more importantly shaped in, leading to his evil corrupt nature.
ReplyDeleteFor me, 'Brighton Rock' depicts the inevitability of the physical world’s bleak, resolute reality and a person’s incapability of escaping from it, presented through the characters of Pinkie, Ida and Rose. The novel in fact is opposite to a coming of age story, due to the characters being worse off than to begin with. Through this, Greene crystallizes ideas of an eternal cycle within the characters, being illustrated in the last chapter as the reader is hinted towards Rose's possible pregnancy, as well as her approaching 'the worst horror of all'. Leaving Rose in a situation unfavourable to her previous one. In Ida's case, the reader does not have a satisfying ending, as we get the impression that Ida's relentless quest for justice was just a distraction from her mundane, prosaic life, leaving her questioning what to do with herself. ‘Brighton Rock’ portrays the corruption within society and a single person’s battle against the rest of society, in search for a brighter future. Embodied within this novel though the characters of Ida, Pinkie and Rose and they’re enduring conflict with the hidden underworld of Brighton. Linking to a key them contained by ‘Brighton Rock’ of innocence versus experience. Pinkie has an ongoing conflict with the ‘dreadful’ underworld in ‘Brighton Rock’ to prove his innocence. Greene’s description of innocence as “the ugly cry of birth”, clarifies Greene’s belief that innocence is something that is lost at birth and cannot be earned afterwards. Opposing the common perception of birth as a vital moment in life, this juxtaposition reveals that Greene believes you have a loss of control after birth.
ReplyDeleteAlfie Narborough