The world of the novel is closely monitored and there is an expectation that all men should be patriarchal within their own environment. Barker portrays a patriarchal society through her three main protagonists being Rivers, Sassoon and Prior. At first Barker leads the reader to believe that patriarchs are men from a higher class, as depicted by Rivers and Sassoon. Both these men came from the middle class and worked in an occupation with great authority. Although a character from the ‘working class’ like Prior challenges this idea within such a society, seeing as he is employed in a middle class occupation. This involves him being the leading authority of his unit within the war. This idea of a controlled society stems from the government, whom is faceless. By representing the power holder as an unidentified figure, the protagonists are unable to single out the government to rebel against it. Therefore the characters are able to direct their frustrations and insubordination to individuals within society and themselves, rather than a leading authority.
Barker presents the concepts of a patriarchy through characters and uses the characters to defy the typical ideas enforced. Yet she makes them have an element of submissiveness and conformity to society. This society is represented as a whole but is being challenged by individuals. A prime example is Billy Priors family. His father is a patriarch within the confines of his family but he is not within society because he was born into the ‘working class’. It is evident that Mr. Prior follows the stereotypes inside society that have been formed by the government, to control society. On the other hand Prior has attained an occupation that involves him being a patriarch, yet he has an inner desire to rebel against the institution. As portrayed through the protagonist’s, patriarchy is depicted on both an individual level and as a whole society.
Posted By Lauren Carr
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