The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley
Settings create shortcuts - a novel or a film set, for example, in
Paris in 1944 comes with expectations that enrich the writing and give
it instant depth. Similarly, L.P. Hartley's The Go-Between, being set
in both in 1900 and 1952, immediately alerts its readers to the
significance of those years.
The main part of the novel paints a detailed picture of rural England
at the beginning of the twentieth century, when Hartley himself was
only five years old. It is, however, viewed in retrospect from 1952.
The choice of a new century and particularly the twentieth century
provides an ideal setting for Leo's story of youthful idealism and
ultimately his disillusionment.
The tragedy of the novel arises more acutely because of the modern
readers' knowledge of the epoch it refers to. While the new century
was dawning, all was not as tranquil and promising as it seemed to
young Leo. The Boer War was in progress and had left its brutal mark
on Lord Trimingham's face. His face, compared to Janus', reminds us of
the evils which had occurred already before the start of the century.
Janus, the god of thresholds stands as a warning of the wars to come.
The Boer war is in the background of the story throughout, even in the
images used in everyday situations: "…Trying to sneak past in dead
ground!" - calls Hugh accusingly when he sports the lurking Leo, and
for a moment Leo seems like one of the elusive Boer soldiers. All
these allusions to war, topical in 1900, develop a further meaning
when connected with the theme of the twentieth century as the opposite
of the 'Golden Age' for which Leo hoped.
"The pa...
... middle of paper ...
...c for the knowledge that they have of contextual
background makes the story of The Go-Between poignant.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
============
· York Notes - The Go-Between
· The Go-Between, Introduction by Colm TóibÃn, The New York Review of
Books, 2002
· The Go-Between study guide - Addison Wesley Longman Limited, 1980
· The Go-Between, Introduction by Douglas Brooks-Davies, the Penguin
Group, 1977
· The Novelist's Responsibility, L. P. Hartley, 1967
· www.learpremium.co.uk
· www.teachit.co.uk
· www.nyrb.com
· www.learnhistory.org.uk/
· www.thezodiac.com
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[1] 'Introduction', Colm TóibÃn
[2] The Novelist's Responsibility, L.P. Hartley
[3] Ibid
[4] Critical Essays on the Go-between
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