Time is a major theme in Ian McEwan's The Child In Time.
"Time is always susceptible to human interpretation. And though time
is partly a human fabrication, it is also that from which no parent or
child is immune."
Time is a major theme in Ian McEwan's 'The Child In Time'. He treats
the subject irreverently, 'debunking chronology by the nonlinearity of
his narrative.' - Michael Byrne. McEwan uses the setting of Stephen's
dull committee as the backdrop for his daydreaming. Even Stephen's
thoughts are not choronological, and his daydreams constantly flit
between different times, although this could be to emphasise the
overall flexibility of time.
At first sight, it seems that the loss of Kate will be the central
event, but McEwan strays through a wide spectrum of events, including
the central one, Stephen's encounter at 'The Bell', to try and explain
his feelings. The scene at The Bell also refers to a vivid dream
McEwan had, where he walked towards a pub knowing he would find the
meaning of his life, knowing he would be terrified, but also needing
to go on. This is the most important event in the book, and the most
difficult to interpret in terms of the behaviour of time.
The book does not even begin with the loss of Kate, as you would
expect, but Stephen on a normal morning. He relates everything he sees
to time, the passing of which is even more important to him than
anything else. After all, 'the heartless accumulation of days, after
the loss of Kate, has driven Stephen to deep depression, and endless
thought. In his depression, he lives for Kate, the only purpose of his
existence. This is how he knows he is alive, how he counts the days.
'Kate's growing up had become the essence of time itsel...
... middle of paper ...
... views on
time and he contrasts them to show how differently each character
interprets that time. It holds utmost control, even though it is not
independent. Nobody can ever escape it. Stephen, Julie and Kate
couldn't escape time, and Stephen 'was to make efforts to re - enter
this moment, to burrow his way back through the folds between events,
crawl beneath the covers, and reverse his decision' but, as Thelma
said, 'Time - not necessarily as it is, for who knows that, but as
thought has constituted it - monomaniacally forbids second chances.'
Acknowledgements
Time and the Child - Michael Byrne - The Antigonish Review
www.antigonishreview.com/bi-123/123-mbyrne.html
He Turned Around and She Was Gone - Rebecca Goldstein - The New York
Times
Back to the Future - Author Unavailable - Publisher Unavailable
Emma Warburton - The Guardian newspaper
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