Indledning
Social heritage, not being able to shift through social classes and having trouble getting an education because of being in the lower class. These are the issues illustrated in Arhondia’s short story “Tom Corridan”.
A young boy, Tom Corridan who is the main character and first-person narrator, tells the story about how hard it is for him to break the social heritage and get an education while also putting up with an alcoholic and unsupportive father.
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Uddrag
The story is taking place in Ireland, which can be identified from the beginning of the story where Irish names, phrases, and slang words are used.
The names “Thin Lizzy” and “Mr. Walsh” sound Irish, which is used to indicate, that the story takes place in Ireland. The title of the story, “Tom Corridan” is also a name that sounds Irish.
Throughout the story, Tom Corridan uses words like “Ma” and “Da”, which is an Irish slang. This is his dialect, which illustrates that he most definitely is from Ireland or has lived there for a good amount of time with his parents who also have the same dialect.
Another element of the physical setting that is typical for Irish culture is the Catholic school that Tom attends. His teacher is Father Flanagan, a Catholic priest.
The social setting of the story touches upon many aspects of society, focusing especially on life among the lower classes. Tom Corridan is a part of a lower-class family.
His father is working as a plumber which is considered a job for lower-class individuals. After work, Tom’s father spends his time at a sluggish local pub. “Boyle’s pub is dark and dingy.
The soles of my shoes stick to the floor and announce my arrival to the patrons and the publican.”. (p.1, ll.16-17). This is a place with a lot of individuals from a lower social class, which is also one of the things that indicate that Tom’s dad is from the lower-class.
The family lives in a poor neighborhood, and it is clear that their income is quite low. “I’m wearing long trousers for the first time this year so no more freezing legs, looking like a turkey’s plucked arse.
Mrs Walsh made them for me.”. (p.1, ll.6-7). The family cannot even afford to buy trousers, which is a necessary thing everyone should be able to buy.
The social setting also deals with stereotypical ideas about masculinity and homophobia, as Frank insults Tom for speaking in a way that he associates with homosexuals: “Listen to you! ‘Actually’!
You sound like a fucking fairy” (l. 56). Mrs. Walsh also refuses to make Tom a pair of fashionable trousers (l. 8), which could perhaps also be considered a sign of subtle homophobia or of stereotypical ideas about masculinity.
The main character and his father encounter many difficulties and disagreements but mainly when it is about education. The father is often aggressive and hits Tom for defending himself verbally by standing up to him.
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