Themes

Themes

1. Good vs. Evil

   • Duror represents evil
     • spies on Roderick
     • tells lies about Calum
     • gets the CG involved in the deer drive to drive them out of the estate
   • Calum represents good
     • innocent
     • childlike
     • releases the rabbit from the trap
   • Roderick represents good
     • wants to befriend the CG
     • tries to bring the CG cake
     • tries to climb a tree to be like the CG
     • wants the CG to ride in the car with the family
   • Lady Runcie-Campbell can represent evil at times
     • doesnt want the CG in the car with the family
     • cares more about social class than morals
     • cares more for her dogs than the CG

2. war/conflict

   • destroyer ship and gunshots present in beginning of book
     • Lady Runcie-Campbells husband is away at war
     • Lady Runcie-Capbells brother is leaving for war
   • Durors inner conflict
     • loveless marriage
     • challenging mother in law
   • Neil's anger
     • lower social class
     • tiny hut to live in
   • the deer drive
     • Calum tries to save the deer
     • Duror kills the deer

3. Religion

   • deer drive
     • Duror can be compared to the devil when he kills the deer maniacally
   • beach hut
     • Lady Runcie-Campbell throws the CG out because her social class is interrupting her religious views
   • Lady Runcie-Campbell
     • strong christian
     • lets social class get in the way of her religious morals

4. Nature

   • deer drive
   • Duror finds safety in the woods
   • Calum is at one with nature
   • Calum is compared to a monkey in the trees

5. social class

   • Lady Runcie-Campbell thinks more highly of her dogs than the CG
   • the CG are told to leave the beach hut
   • Lady Runcie-Campbell refuses to let the CG ride in the car with them
   • Roderick challenges his mothers social views
   • Roderick wants the CG to ride in the car with them

6. insanity

   • Duror kills Calum and himself
   • Lady Runcie-Campbell thinks that Duror may be losing his mind
   • Duror spies on Roderick
   • Duror makes up lies about Calum and Sheilas doll

7. imprisonment

   • Duror feels trapped in his marriage
   • Roderick feels trapped in a family that is completely different to him
   • Neil gave up his dream as a sailor to look after his brother out of moral obligation
     • he feels like he could have had a much better life