MacLaverty, Bernard: * 1942

Cal, 1983 - Thematic Parallels: Political Violence

MacLaverty, Bernard: Cal, 1983
The novel is a character study of a conflicted young man set within the broader political and social conflict of Northern Ireland in the 1980s.
The following books are thematically simliar. Having read "Cal," the following texts lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Cleave, Chris: The Other Hand (Little Bee), 2008, æpp;370pp
  This novel examines the treatment of refugees, British colonialism, globalization, and political violence, making it directly relevant to discussions of political conflict and its personal consequences.
  - Both novels interrogate the effects of political violence on individuals. MacLaverty’s "Cal" delves more into internal psychological conflict and guilt tied to localized sectarian violence. Cleave’s "The Other Hand" expands to global issues of displacement and postcolonial trauma, emphasizing cross-cultural encounters and moral complexity.
- Iweala, Uzodinma: Beasts of No Nation, 2005, ~170pp
  This novel offers a harrowing portrayal of a child soldier’s descent into violence in an unnamed African country, providing deep insight into the human cost of war and the phenomenon of child soldiers.
  - Both works align in their exploration of how violent conflict warps identity, morality, and innocence, focusing on internal struggles rather than external political narratives. Their protagonists inhabit morally grey spaces shaped by war, grappling with guilt, survival, and a lost innocence..
- Greene, Graham: The Quiet American, 1955, ~190pp
  This novel is historically recognized for its depiction of political intrigue and violence during the French colonial war in Vietnam.
  - Both novels deal with the intersection of innocence and political violence. They explore moral ambiguity, emphasizing how political conflicts complicate personal ethics, and use character-driven narratives to personalize larger political themes.
- Orwell, George: Nineteen Eighty-Four, 1949, ~320pp
  The novel depicts a totalitarian regime where political violence, surveillance, and state oppression are central to the narrative.
  - Both novels explore oppression, identity crises, and the human cost of political conflict. Orwell’s novel provides a stark, overarching warning against totalitarianism, while MacLaverty offers a nuanced, humanized look at the complexity of violence and reconciliation.
List of general discussion questions on Political Violence (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Political Violence (pdf)