Lies of Silence
Written Assignment
PAIR WORK

Marc & Mikael 2.a.

Historical Context

The conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland is a long on going conflict about religion and most importantly whether or not Ireland should be a part of the United Kingdom. The background for the conflict can be dated all the way back to 1169 when the English king Henry the second invaded the country. The conflict in Ireland or the so-called “ The troubles” was a conflict from 1968-1998. On April 10. They made an agreement to a cease-fire. The agreement was called the Belfast agreement and it was a principal agreement of a peace process between the British and Irish governments. The two largest apposing paramilitary groups was the IRA who where fighting for the republic of Ireland and the Ulster defence association (UDA/UFF) who were the largest paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. They both conducted terror actions such as bombings etc. against each other and civilians.

Sinn Féin is an Irish republican party in Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland. They are often linked with the IRA, but they refuse any connections between them. Another party is the “New Ulster Political Research Group” which is the political wing of the UDA who has ben active since 1971. Another of the big parties in the Northern Ireland is the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The Democratic Unionist Party has since 2007 formed government with Sinn Féin.

Repetition of “Lies of Silence”

In the start of the book we get to know Michael Dillon to know. Michael is married with Moira and he is manager of a hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Hotel is called the Clarence Hotel. Hotel security is major, because of bombings the previous year. We learn that Michael is having an affaire with the girl Andrea Baxter. Michael wants to live in London with Andrea. About Four men enter their house and announce themselves as member of the IRA. After spending the night in the house the members of the IRA tells Michael to put on his normal clothing and go to the car. They tell him to drive his car to the hotel and park it in the basement. He is also told that if he refuses to, Moira will be killed. On the way to the hotel he drives past his old school, and reflects on his life. When he gets to the hotel he parks in his usual parking spot, right next to the banqueting hall where Alun Pottinger is having a lecture. In real life Mr. Pottinger is the target. After parking the car at the hotel Michael decides to call the police and tell them about the IRA’s plans. The police arrive and successfully evacuate the hotel. Michael borrows a car and rushes home to check on Moira. The front yard is full of police officers and Michael is getting nervous. He walks into the house and discovers that Moira is okay and that the IRA left the house just after him. Later Michael is asking for a transfer to a hotel in London where he is supposed to live with Andrea. Moira does not want to leave Belfast. Michael is starting to get paranoid and afraid. Michael is spending the night at the hotel, and is having breakfast with Andrea. They are talking about moving to London, and Michael is telling that the transfer is possible, but that he still need to have a chat with Moira. While talking Moira walks in, and she is telling that she under no circumstances wants to move to London, and she tells that she is going to live with his friend. The day after Michael returns to Peg Wilsons house to talk to Moira, but Peg informs Michael that she is not there because she is going to be in “The Morning show” to talk about her experience with the IRA. Michael arrives to the BBC studio, and finds Moira in the makeup where they are having an argument about her being in the show, and about Andrea. Moira tells Michael to leave. Later Michael returns to the hotel, where his father is waiting for him. They talk about him and Moira ´, and about them going to London. Later Michael talks to Moira at the hotel, and he reveals that he plans to go to London with Andrea. Moira gets mad and then says that she hopes The IRA will shoot him and Andrea.
Michael is talking to the investigator, and Michael decides to testify against Kev even though Michaels has received a lot of threats. Later he finds out that Moira has told the media that
Michael had seen Kevs face, and he gets worried about the increased danger of the IRA wanting him dead. Andrea is telling him that they can leave on Friday and that she already has an apartment ready. Michael calls Moira and she tells that she is starting to organise their divorce. After getting to London Andrea tells Michael that she will kill Moira if anything happens to him. Michael is asked to go back to Belfast to identify the man that they have arrested. Michael and Andrea agree that he already did enough and that he shall not go back.
Andrea is going out to by dinner and while she is gone a “gasman” come by. After asking if Michael is who he is, two men enter the room and raise their revolvers against Michaels face.

Essay. Write an analysis and interpretation of Brian Moore’s novel Lies of Silence (900-1000 words). Include your answers to the following questions in your essay:

One of main themes in the novelle is the conflict in the Northern Ireland. Another theme in the novelle is love. A third theme is the increasing violence terror organisations are likely to use in their struggle for changes.
The genre of the novelle is mainly crime-thriller.
The Novelle is mostly built up chronological but there are some flashbacks.
Unlikely normal crime thrillers we already from the beginning know who the bad guys are, and what happened. The novelle start in the known in-media-res. Even though there isn’t a real introduction we still get introduced to main characters of the novelle. Not far into the book we are reaching some sort of a climax. The point of no return is when he decides to contact the police and help stopping the bombings. The conflict is constantly increasing until the moment where Michael is getting shot. The plot is ending very spontaneously with the shooting. Our first quote is from chapter two where Michael discovers that the IRA men are in his house. As he picked it up, footsteps sounded behind him. ´Put that down,´ a voice said. ´Stay where you are.´ A blinding light shone in his face. Where’s the switch? A second voice said. They were young voices, flat, male, and Ulster accents. This is important because this is when we first realise that the IRA is in Dillon’s house, and what sort of men they are. They are described as young men with Ulster accents, which is central in getting to know about the conflict there is in the country. Our second quote is one of the IRA men talking to Michael and Moira. We are not looking to kill innocent people. This is important because it tells us that they don't think what they are doing is wrong, and they don't want to kill innocent people. At least according to their own minds. Our third quote is. No, you listen. You stood up to them this morning. You were willing to lose me to do it. Well I’m going to stay here now and stand up to them, even if it means losing you. She turned away. What am I talking about? I can’t lose you. I never had you. This is a good example of Michael and Moira’s unstable relationship. It’s also very clear that Moira is very upset about the situation. The next quote is from when Michael decides to call the police and tell them about the bomb. I’m in a shop called Murrays across the road from the Clarence Hotel. The bomb is in my car in the hotel car park. I left it there about eight minutes ago. This is important because Michael does the wright think, and saves all the innocent people in the Hotel. This shows us that he is a good person. Our next quote is in the very ending were Michael Dillon is shot. … You’re Mr Dillon? ‘Yes’. The little meter man whistled, as though calling a dog. ‘Right, then,’ he said.
Two young men came in at the door. They wore jeans, T-shirts, sneakers. They raised their revolvers. They were not wearing masks. This time, there would be no witness. This quote is important because it is a great example of how brutal the IRA is in their actions, just like we mentioned as one of the main themes of the novelle.
Our last quote tells us about Michael’s thoughts about the situation and the conflict in the Northern Ireland. It also shows us how he thinks of the government and helps us understand the title. Sick with a terminal illness of bigotry and injustice, lies told over the years to poor protestant working people about the Catholics, lies told to poor catholic working people about the protestants, lies from parliaments and pulpits, lies at rallies and funeral orations, and above all, the lies of silence from those in Westminster who did not want to face the injustices of Ulster’s status quo.” Our thoughts about the title, and what me think it mean is that the government actually are lying by being quiet about the conflict.

Michael is a victim of where he live, meaning that he lives and makes decisions under though circumstances. The good sides of Michael are without doubt that he even though risking his own and his wife’s life he does what he can to safe the people in the hotel. Another good thing is that he towards the end says that he still cares for Moira even though he is about to leave her. Some of the negative things about Michael are that he is risking his wife’s life to safe the people at the hotel. Another bad thing about him is that he says that the main reason he is married to Moira is her good looks. The adjectives we would use about him is, considerate, indecisive, weak, tense, cautious, brave, vague and secretive.

Some of the positive things about Moira are that she is determinate and resolute, know what she wants and not afraid to stand against The IRA. Some of the negative things about her are actually the same as the positive ones, for an example it can be very stupid that she without fear are standing up against the IRA, and it was most likely one of the reasons that Michael was liquidated. In the start Moira is very insecure and wants Michael to stay with her. Later in the story Moira is developing to be more resolute and independent, and says that she wants a divorce.

Michael is without doubt a positive character in the book. Not only because he saves the innocent people but also because he stand up against the IRA even though he receives a lot of threats. The shooting in the end makes him a hero. IRA is without doubt a negative part of the story. They act with violence against innocent people and do not hesitate in taking brutal actions against those who stand against them.

Michael is standing with two big dilemmas in the book. The first is whether he should stay with Moira or leave her and go to London and live with Andrea. The other big dilemma is if he shall or shall not stand against the IRA. Another dilemma in the novelle is when he is driving towards the hotel with the bomb. The dilemma and what he is thinking about is if I shall park it and leave, or again stand up against the IRA. Moira’s dilemma is if she should have spoken about the satiation and the IRA on public television. Another of her dilemmas is if she should have asked for a divorce with Michael because of Andrea.

We think that Michael’s dilemmas are the most interesting ones because of the consequences his choices have. And because of the pressure and stress he is under making his decisions.

Marc & Mikael.