Themes - CCEAGrowing up

The novel takes us into the inner world of children. As a Bildungsroman it traces some of the events in Paddy’s life which see him growing into maturity.

Although the novel does not cover a long period of time, it traces the breakdown of his parents’ marriage and his fall out with his friendship group.

Both of these events teach Paddy something and he ends the novel a more mature individual, despite being still only a child in years.

Because of the fast paced stream of consciousness and short rapid sentences, the vernacular narrative voice that Doyle uses in Paddy Clarke demands to be heard. In writing the book Doyle gives a voice to children, who are sometimes ignored.

Part of the growth process in this novel is Paddy’s realisation that both children and adults can be difficult. Paddy is often let down or left disappointed by them.

This is represented for example in the behaviour of his teachers, and in how Paddy has to manage his way round his father’s mood swings, "Da sitting down, asking us how school was - that meant the fight was over.”

Paddy is resigned to this disappointment, "Fathers are like that". Doyle shows that these epiphanies are part of growing up.

Many of the events are recognisable parts of an average childhood. The boys engage in adventurous and innocent fun, such as running through the nettles as a dare.

Other events seem alien to us and even sadistic. Because of the at times unreliable child narrator we are never sure if Paddy’s view of the world is brutally honest and accurate or exaggerated.

The swear game, the games made up from books Paddy has read and the football matches are all typical activities for children.

Being frightened by Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea while really wanting to watch it again is something most adults can recognise from their childhood.

In contrast to this world of adventure the adult world is routine and unexciting. Paddy even knows exactly what family meals they will have on set days of the week.

The adult world is sometimes a mystery to Paddy. His mother suffers from depression, but Paddy can only describe it as, "She didn’t get up one morning.”

The stories of Mr O’Connell howling at the moon seem amusing and ridiculous to Paddy, despite being a sign to the adult reader of Mr O’Connell’s grief about the loss of his wife.

The innocence of Paddy’s childish voice adds pathos to these accounts as we realise that growing up is about becoming more familiar with the hardships of life.

Mr Clarke punishes Paddy with a belt, something that would be considered unacceptable today.

But this could also be seen in the context of his father’s desire for Paddy to grow up knowing what is right and wrong.

The adult world crashes into Paddy’s world when he overhears his dad hit Mrs Clarke. The incident creates even more uncertainty for Paddy.