More Than Just the Disease by Bernard MacLaverty

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More than just the disease by Bernard MacLaverty

‘More than just the disease’ by Bernard MacLaverty, focuses on a young

boy, Neil who has a skin condition called psoriasis. This disease

makes Neil feel insecure and his mother’s attitude towards him also

does not help, she is almost ashamed of her sons condition and this

makes Neil feel that he has hide the fact that he has psoriasis. Neil

feels the pressure when he goes to stay with his friend Michael, and

his family, and faces situations where people may find out about his

condition. These experiences help mature and develop Neil as a

character and help him face up to his psoriasis.

At the beginning of the story, MacLaverty establishes how dependent

Neil is of his mother. When Neil is unpacking his case he hears his

mothers voice.

“Be tidy at all times, the no one can surprise you”

We see here, that Neil’s mother has a huge influence on him and the

writer uses italics to show the reoccurring voice inside Neil’s head.

MacLaverti also tries to put the point across that Neil sees the world

through his mother’s eyes and he has to seek his mum’s advice on

everything he does. As Neil is from a working lower-class family, he

feels self-conscience around his friend’s upper middle-class family as

he feels he cannot talk to them about his condition. Neil’s mother’s

attitude towards his psoriasis has also had an effect on Neil and has

made him feel he has to be secretive about his disease. Once his

psoriasis has crept passed his collar line that his mum kept him off

school. That perhaps suggests that not only is Neil ashamed of his

psoriasis, but his mother is also and she too would prefer it if no

one knew about his condition. In a way, she has transferred...

... middle of paper ...

...ymbolism of Neil’s life and the sea

come into place as Neil stays in the shallows of the water, so too are

the shallow steps he has taken into life. But MacLaverty makes us

establish that this is the first time Neil has ever showed any of his

body and therefore we should take an understanding point of view that

at least it is a start for him. Again, a contrast with Michael is

developed, as he is swimming into the deep end, and MacLaverty also

makes this represent his life as he is fully stepped into it, is

independent of him.

Therefore, MacLaverty starts with a totally nieve, easily influenced

character of Neil and transforms him into a more matured, at ease with

himself character. The story left me feeling hope for the character of

Neil that hopefully he will one day fully step into life and not care

about how people will judge him, upon his psoriasis.

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