The Chisellers is a realist novel as it dwells on objective motives or themes. Themes such as drug abuse, homosexuality, persistence, poverty, religious tolerance, single motherhood et cetera all are applicable in the contemporary English society. The reality further manifests itself in how characters each approach different situations. Frankie Browne, who gets involved with skinheads, drugs and gangsters, end up dead respectively as wages of their misbehavior.
Frankie Browne’s motivation to steal the Dublin papers was founded in his interest to ensure that his brother, Mark Brown, got his rightful share of the Wise inheritance. The theft of the Dublin papers can be said to have occurred, as it was the only evidence that Manny had to show that the read will was erroneous. Manny believed that the Dublin Papers would ensure that he got was rightfully his. Though the book does directly narrate or offer insight on how the Dublin Papers were stolen, it indirectly links them to Frank Browne. He is established as the thief in the final epilogue. “A dirty crumpled envelope upon which was written Dublin Papers “was found in Frank’s pockets as he lay dead in Chelsea”(O'Carroll 190). The link is further drawn from the author’s assertion that Agnes Browne’s children stood for each other despite their differences. “If you take on one of the Agnes Browne’s children, you take on them all, wherever they are” ” (O’Carroll 190). This serves to show that the Browne family always stood by each other against all odds. Each family member or each of the Chisellers willed for the other to advance in life. Frank thus used his rather unconventional means to ensure that his brother had the greatest chance of inheriting the Wise business against the backdrop of Manny’s insistence of his rightful place in the will.
Although Frankie, who was depicted in book as a skinhead, stood for his brother and we see he had some goodness remaining in him, he still ended up dead. In contrast of good deeds pay off, this is observable in the realistic context of misbehavior would still be punished. And what more crucial is that even though Frankie redeemed himself, yet he did not earn a forgiveness.