Analysis of Abduction by Shelagh Delaney Essay Example

the other characters. Ann's characterization especially underscores this point.

Undeniably, the narrator's perspective on Ann is predominantly negative. She is depicted as a woman who uses her wealth and unshakeable self-assurance as weapons. Being extremely "proud"(13) and hardworking, Ann has high expectations for herself and her surroundings, possessing an acute awareness of the “life she has always craved”(31). Anything that does not match her life's vision is simply "not up to scratch"(25), and she doesn't shy away from criticizing others over their choices or ways of living: “Her sole regret is that most people don't follow the path she's paved (...) to purify themselves.”(20-23)

Ann tries to convince her younger brother that she can offer him all he could possibly desire, assuring a "brighter future than"(47) their parents might imagine. Initially, she adeptly portrays it as an "idyllic life" (59), accentuated by her ample "allowance" (59) that seems entirely harmless and supportive. However, her control over his finances grants her total dominance over every part of his life like his education, job, and even what he wears. To summarize, Ann puts in all the effort to prevent him from becoming independent - specifically by denying him the duty of handling his own finance.

In her eyes, he will forever be "the family baby"(60). As time progresses, the brother develops a resistance to this dominance. Initially, when he consents to accompany her to London, he's an innocent young adolescent uncertain about his aspirations, thus leaning on his elder sister instead of his parents, "Like most teenagers he lacked faith in his mother and father while Ann, his sister, appeared to have all the

solutions"(37-39). As he matures, he fights for personal freedom, yet continues to strive to fulfill his sister's expectations particularly with regards to his media studies: "He thought he loathed it [media studies].

He realized that his sister had expectations from him"(50-51). He quietly mocked his studies"(63), yet, he held on to this quest to seek his sister's approval. There were moments he managed to loosen some of her control over him, like when she started buying clothes for him. Wearing the garments made him feel "like a nitwit"(71), he even discarded his new briefcase as if it were "trash"(71). This signifies that he remains uninterested in all the possessions she procures for him; they felt like garbage to him. Gradually, he starts distancing himself from her and begins constructing his life with his girlfriend Marianne. However, Ann continues her attempts to maintain dominance over him, she even tries to intervene in their decision regarding having a baby.

Ann's difficulty in accepting her brother living with a woman who isn't herself, and her inability to let him go is apparent. This significant possessiveness she has towards her brother leads Marianne to examine the profound nature of this bond, comparing it to a motherly instinct: "Her actions seem more akin to maternal ownership than fraternal affection"(81). Despite his refusal, Ann's behavior reflects that of a mother towards her child. This creates an interesting backdrop against Ann's decision for sterilization, which sparks questions considering she is known to "adore children"(19) and works in the field of paediatrics.

The text indicates that Ann decided, while still a "young woman"(21), not to have children. Her affectionate and

protective behaviour towards her younger brother and her niece, Marianne's daughter, may suggest that she harbours some remorse about this decision. This is accentuated by her denial when it's pointed out that she is only the girl's aunt and not her mother. Rather than accepting this fact, Ann dismisses it: "Faced with the reality that she was neither mother nor father and was only the child’s aunt, Ann merely scoffed. She had an insightful understanding of what children needed and was more conscious than they were about this specific child's necessities"(89-91).

Despite the concerted efforts of the brother to adjust to his new family setting, he succumbs to his sister's dominant control, pushing him towards alcoholism. His path leads him to Ann's home where she is completely oblivious of her sibling's battle with alcohol dependency. She convinces herself that it would be inconceivable not to detect if her dear younger brother had fallen into such a trap. Astonishingly, she even aids in promoting his harmful addiction by procuring alcohol for him. Ann opts to overlook her brother’s desperate fight for survival and neglects his plight. In her delusion of perfection, no problem exists that she believes is beyond her power to resolve as long as she controls everything - "So long as she was in charge, everything would be fine"(62).

Ultimately, the brother finds himself yearning for his family and desiring a chance to “start all over again” (120). In the face of losing the ones he held dear, he finally comprehends their significance in his existence: “Could he retain the precious facets of his life, his daughter and wife, and eliminate the

others?” (120-121). In his impending death, he fantasizes about an alternative life he could have led with his parents, daughter, and wife. He allowed his sister to shape his self-perception, neglecting his own desires of self-definition. His yearned-for life morphs into a forgotten dream, resulting in him being unable to bear his own existence.