Analysis_of_the_Wasp_Factory

Commentary for “The Wasp Factory” by Iain Banks Iain Banks key concerns in “The Wasp Factory” are gender identification, Bank’s sceptical attitude to organised religions, violence, misuse of power and mock violent epic fantasy. He uses stylistic features such as temporal shifts and the technique of postmodernism gothic. In order to experience how Bank’s creates his characters and effects, I have replicated some of these concerns, features and techniques in my own piece, intended to flow in from the extract in chapter five, following on from the kite incident. Bank’s uses the technique of post modernism, in order for the reader to be manipulated into experiencing challenging ideas such as sadistic violence. In reality, the brutality Frank inflicts upon innocent animals is shocking to the reader. However, in Bank’s literature, reading about rabbits being killed by fanciful weaponry such as a “flame thrower”, and the narrators despair at “the damn thing wouldn’t die! “Is considered to be humorous. This is precisely the reason I chose the kite incident for my recreative writing, as an innocent girl being bought to her death by a innocent child’s toy represents Bank’s black humour. The author’s use of a cool indifferent narrative tone juxtaposes with the violent imagery. I replicated this, by using positive connotations such as ‘excitement” and “playful”, to recreate the shock factor Bank’s uses. I also used a detached tone when describing Esmeralda floating into the air to make the imagery seem traumatising, and to reflect Frank’s joyfulness in violence. Bank’s uses the technique of post modernism, in order to provoke a response from the reader. This uncanny method is mostly used in the gothic genre. This term was invented by Freud as ‘class of frightening things that lead us back to what is known as familiar”. The only style of writing that the reader recognises and finds normality in is in the domestic environment. There is a contrast in the language Bank’s uses when Frank is inside. Here, Banks creates factual sentences. “I spent the rest of the day in the house, reading books and magazines, watching television, and thinking all the time.” The domestic setting however, is unrelatable to Frank as it is out of his comfort zone of killing and violence. This language contrast with the language used when Frank is depicted outside the. Here, Bank’s uses neurologisms such as “sacrifice poles”. This highlights that Frank is able to unleash his true creativity personality in the outside environment. Bank’s uses a mass of verbs when Frank is outside. As the ouside appears to Frank’s uncontrollable and violent nature. I replicated this by using verbs ‘stampled, kicked and squished.” The gothic elements within the novel are the name of Banks protagonist “Frank”. Many critics feel there is a strong link between the names “Frank” and “Frankenstein” from Mary Shelly’s novel, which is from the genre of gothic fiction. Moreover, Frank lives on an isolated island, which is away from other human activities as is Frankenstein’s laboratory. I have emulated the gothic theme in my own piece to create an unsettling atmosphere. I have used the negative imagery of birds ‘cawing’, as this adjective reflects the gothic nature of the novels, as birds usually flock to places where a death has occurred. Furthermore, my piece is based on Esmeralda’s’ death, death in itself it part of the gothic theme. The structure of the novel is over a twelve day time period. Time is a dominant theme in the novel. The clock face in “The Wasp Factory” has formidable power of control over how the animals will die. “Our destination is the same in the end, but our journey-part chosen, part determined is different for all of us, and changes even as we live and grow.” Bank’s also uses time to create tension throughout the novel. By using the pattern of telephone calls made by Eric to Frank. The telephone calls are used to set up a climax for the novel, as menace creeps in when Eric gets closer and closer to the house. I have created tension in my piece by using a short simple sentence to add drama. “Eric was back.” Moreover, Bank's uses temporal shifts, changing from the present tense of the storyline to the past tense to engage the reader. Bank’s uses the past tense when Frank is reminiscing about the murders of his kin he committed, which is why piece is in the past tense as Frank is recalling his past actions. Bank’s also uses simple sentences. “Then I let the lines go.” After complex ones, to create a dramatic effect as the short sharp lines add shock value. I also used this device in mine. “Then she was gone forever.” Bank’s uses the device of lists to create an eerie atmosphere in his novel. “The itching, unwashed scalp, I could smell as myself.” I used lists alongside Bank’s indifferent tone to capture Bank’s sense of unease in my piece. “ I used, boing water, concentrated acid, flame thrower…” The device worked effectively as the use of violent imagery juxtaposed against the factualness of using lists. Banks also explores the technique of science fiction. He parallels Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde within the character of Frank’s father. As Franks father, could be a worthy scientist, however he has abused the powers of science by violating his son’s true nature, by giving Frank hormones to change his true identity. This also highlights the novel as bildungsroman genre as when Frank learns about his true gender he comes of age. This scientific theme also illustrates Frank’s father as having a god complex. This is also true within Frank’s nature. Frank gets a thrill of seeing something he created; destroyed at hi will. “The strong make their own patterns and influence other people’s, the weak have their courses mapped out for them. The weak and the unlucky and the stupid.” In my piece, I included the kicking of the ant’s nest, to show the dominant trait that Frank has to his personality. It also shows how Frank regards the natural world to be in a hierarchy. In conclusion Banks uses a variety of techniques and stylistic devices to create a postmodernism gothic novel. Conveying horror with humour, making the reader feel challenged and uncertain as to how to view the novel. Y.B