Barometer Rising Book Report

The Novel The main subject of Hugh MacLennans novel is the return of Neil Macrae from France to Halifax in order to clear his name. His uncle, Col il Geoffrey bufflehead, had ordered an ill-planned advance on the Germans; Wain tried to blame the resulting debacle on Neil, ordering his checker and court-martial for cowardice. When a shell hit the dugout in which he was being held prisoner, Neil was reported missing, believed killed. It is revealed, however, that he was picked up, badly wound and amnesiac, and sent to the hospital. His rescuers believed him to be a private in the British North Country regiment that had relieved the Canadians. He bit by bit recovered his memory but retained his British individualism until he returned to Canada. This is the situation when the novel opens, and MacLennan leads gradually into his theme by not naming the shabby man wandering through and through the streets of Halifax in search of the man who can clear him. The proofreader learns only later who the wanderer is and how he got there, through flash keisters, one of the main narrative techniques of the novel.

Probably influenced by the classical ideals of amity of time, place, and action, MacLennan has limited the action of his novel to eight days, between declination 2, 1917, and December 10, 1917, to one place, Halifax, and to the action of Neil returning to claim his goodness name. The classical aspect is reinforced by the name of the heroine, genus Penelope (usually called Penny). Neil is the Odysseus figure returning from his travels to unite with Penelope, with whom he has long been in love and who has borne his daughter. Neil does not know about the child, however, since he embarked for France shortly after spending a night with Penny at a hotel. Neil is searching for Alex Mackenzie, the corporal whom he had sent back to headquarters with a message that would have cleared him of the thrill of cowardice. Penny catches a glimpse of Neil on a trolley car and, although she fails to catch up with this man whom she... If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com

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