This essay discusses Pat Barkers book "Union Street" and Shane Meadows’ movie "This is England" from a political point of view in the period after the end of World War 2, when England was declining, in the process of de-industrialization, which had a profound impact on people accustomed and trained to that way of life.
Despite the fact that even after two world wars England was still the strongest European military and economical force, there were major changes that affected its status as a super power. After the end of WW2, England was declining, in the process of deindustrialization, which had a profound impact on people accustomed and trained to that way of life. In addition to unemployment and strikes, the rise of inflation was a major factor to people feeling poorly compensated for their hard work.
Table of Contents
1. Thatcher’s England: Dereliction and the need for change as depicted in Pat Barker’s Union Street and Shane Meadows’ “This is England”
Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the socio-economic decline of England in the post-WWII era and the subsequent rise of Margaret Thatcher, analyzing how these turbulent historical conditions are represented through the lens of literature and film, specifically in Pat Barker’s novel "Union Street" and Shane Meadows’ film "This is England".
- The impact of deindustrialization and economic instability on the working class.
- The role of gender, loss of identity, and the struggle for survival in impoverished households.
- The influence of political change and Thatcherism on social structures and collective solidarity.
- The psychological effects of environmental dereliction and the loss of "home" as a sanctuary.
- The emergence and evolution of subcultures, such as the Skinheads, in response to social malaise.
Excerpt from the Book
Wrecked homes appear everywhere in the novel, inhabited or not.
Instead of being a place of relief, that provided warmth, support and a sense of belonging, home became a derelict construction waiting to be demolished. The abandoned homes of Wharfe Street remain standing, a recurring image (Barker 1982: 53,152,169) haunting people with the certainty of demolition that awaits them. Damaged homes are the first thing mentioned since the book opens with an image of a smashed window, temporarily fixed with a square cardboard (Barker 1982: 7), due to the lack of a permanent solution, something that can also be paralleled with the State’s inability to reinstate progress and prosperity.
The house, supposed to be sheltering two young girls, suffers from damage that exposes them to cold and danger, just like a society unable to provide strong and valuable solutions to its citizens. The girls feel the frailty of their situation, and as the novel focuses on the younger one, we see her reacting in ways that lead her to devastating events. Kelly wanders from home feeling disappointed by it. In the street and in the absence of a father figure or a competent mother Kelly looses the innocence of her age trusting a man that rapes her, in search for some contact and sense of significance.
Kelly’s need for someone to see her (Barker 1982: 26) holds her captive to this man that violated her, in a desperate need for someone that would care for her even in a perverted way.
Summary of Chapters
1. Thatcher’s England: Dereliction and the need for change as depicted in Pat Barker’s Union Street and Shane Meadows’ “This is England”: This chapter provides a critical analysis of how industrial decay, unemployment, and political shifts in Thatcherite England are mirrored in the lives of characters within Pat Barker’s "Union Street" and Shane Meadows’ "This is England," focusing on themes of struggle, identity, and the desperate search for hope.
Keywords
Thatcherism, England, Union Street, This is England, deindustrialization, working class, social struggle, identity, gender, Skinheads, poverty, survival, home, Margaret Thatcher, literature and film.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the representation of social decay and the necessity for political change in 1970s and 1980s England through the narratives found in "Union Street" and "This is England".
What are the central themes explored in the work?
The central themes include the decline of the working class, economic instability, the psychological impact of broken homes, loss of male identity, and the rise of youth subcultures.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to analyze how these specific literary and cinematic works reflect the historical trauma and social unrest of the Thatcher era.
Which methodology is employed in the analysis?
The author uses a comparative and analytical approach, synthesizing historical context with textual and cinematic evidence to explore societal struggles.
What does the main body of the paper discuss?
It details the failure of traditional social structures, the significance of the "home" as a metaphor for societal stability, and the violent responses of individuals to systemic apathy.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
The core concepts revolve around Thatcherism, industrial decline, social class, subcultural delinquency, and individual survival in the face of systemic collapse.
How does the author characterize the role of the "home" in Barker's work?
The home is characterized not as a sanctuary, but as a decaying structure that reflects the instability and lack of progress experienced by the protagonists.
What role does the Skinhead subculture play in the analysis?
It is analyzed as a byproduct of a society in decline, where political influence turned a multiracial, music-focused group into a violent, racist entity.
How does the paper link the "loss of manhood" to societal decay?
The author argues that unemployment and the inability to provide led to broken homes and a loss of identity, which fueled male rage and social fragmentation.
Is there a message of hope within the analysis?
Yes, the author identifies moments of hope and resilience in the characters' endurance and their anticipation of positive change despite their harsh realities.
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- Elena Agathokleous (Autor:in), 2018, The England of the 70s and 80s. An Analysis of Pat Barker's Book "Union Street" and Shane Meadows' Movie "This Is England", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1007702
