Nicholas Monsarrat may be one of the most well-known and most influential Anglophone writers of Malta, especially when it comes to historical novels. Books such as “A Cruel Sea” are known far over the borders of Malta. As history is crucial to most of his novels, and as “The Kappilan of Malta” makes use of it rather frequently, my interest in this essay is laid on the role that history adopts in this novel. To analyse the enormous amount of historical happenings that are dealt with in this book would be far too much work for one essay so the work had to be reduced to some important points.
The essay will deal with several points of the use of history within the book. Means of influencing the reader will be observed and analysed and examples for adjustments to real events will be discussed. I will try to outline in this paper, that the use of history is crucial to the story of the book as well as to the message to the Maltese to never give up hope and to take measures into the ir own hands.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Story
- Use of History
- World War ??
- The story of Joseph Saadi
- Biblical history of St. Paul
- Personal History
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the role of history in Nicholas Monsarrat's novel "The Kappilan of Malta," exploring how historical events shape the narrative and influence the reader's understanding of the story.
- The use of historical events to create a sense of hope and resilience in the Maltese people.
- The influence of historical figures and events on the characters and their actions.
- The interplay between personal history and the broader historical context of World War ??.
- The impact of historical narratives on the reader's emotional engagement with the story.
- The relationship between the historical accuracy of the novel and its literary merit.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The novel opens with the arrival of war in Malta, focusing on Father Salvatore, a humble priest who takes refuge in catacombs with the island's homeless population. The story unfolds through a series of chapters interspersed with "Hexamerons," where Father Salvatore recounts Maltese history to his companions in a manner that evokes both hope and a sense of shared identity. The novel also explores the story of Marija, Salvatore's niece, and her love for a fighter pilot stationed in Malta. The book utilizes a constant rise and fall of tension, as the characters face the hardships of war, and ultimately emphasizes the themes of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay explores key topics such as the role of history in fiction, the impact of World War ?? on Malta, the portrayal of religious figures and institutions during wartime, and the themes of hope, resilience, and identity in a historical context.
- Citation du texte
- Christian Schlütter (Auteur), 2004, The Role of History in Nicholas Monsarrat's "The Kappillan of Malta", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/30867
