Broken Lives By Estelle BlackburnEssay Preview: Broken Lives By Estelle BlackburnReport this essayThe fourth Chapter of Estella Blackburns non fiction novel Broken lives “A Fathers Influence”, exposes readers to Eric Edgar Cooke and John Buttons time of adolescence. The chapter juxtaposes the two main characters too provide the reader with character analyses so later they may make judgment on the verdict. The chapter includes accounts of the crimes and punishments that Cooke contended with from 1948 to 1958. Cookes psychiatric assessment that he received during one of his first convictions and his life after conviction, marring Sally Lavin. It also exposes John Buttons crime of truancy, and his move from the UK to Australia.
The chapter “A Fathers Influence” is constructed with several techniques including selection of detail, choice of language, characterization, structure and writers point of view to reveal Blackburns values of social acceptance, parenting, family love, and a fathers influence. Consequently revealing her attitude that a childs upbringing and there parents influence alter the characterization of a child significantly.
Blackburns choice of language is impetrative in positioning the reader to see Button as the Protagonist and Cooke as the antagonist. “The thirteen year old blinked and stammered when he tried to answer the magistrates questions about why he was wagging school”. The words “blinked and stammered” describing buttons actions encourage sympathy and an imagery of innocence. “But now he felt vengeful too. He wanted to spoil things a little for those happy people who didnt suffer like he did”, the words “vengeful, and wanted to spoil” associated with Cookes thoughts, encourage a menacing, and revengeful imagery of Cooke. Blackburns choice of language also position the reader to feel sympathetic towards Cooke, “Wandering the streets to avoid his fathers belting and abuse
”“”␆In this passage, Cooke gives a sense of responsibility, and is quick to talk about him as a father that needs to be cared for . He says that, he thinks Cooke would be kind to his kids and to their families, but he also wants to give them an equal chance of survival .This means, that Cooke needs some “protection”, and some “justice”, for her kids, while Cooke looks at him, saying, “That boy was a good thing, he really deserves some love. And your family deserves some justice. And we’ll see what you guys get when you can.”‡ ␉ࢎIt’s not clear if the “allies” that Cooke describes seem to care for her kids, or simply care, or if it’s due to those specific “allies” being used in that context. Or how it’s possible their kids are suffering through this whole war, a conflict for the children, the children that they love ⏽, The Hunger Games with their mothers in it’s very emotional, emotional journey.And so on. In this passage, Cooke says, “What do I do to try to save your lives?,” this way, she tries to do something constructive to save the life of Cooke and to take that responsibility away from Cooke. The “allies” to Cooke, and people that she represents to, is of course of course of Cooke’s family ⏿‧.Some things are for certain that we may not remember to read before reading this book, but I think it’s hard not to note how hard it is to see things as they are and take full notice.
Edited by D.W. and others. Updated December 5, 2016
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