South London

South London exemplifies the plight of London's blue-collar poor. South London is home to people who can barely make ends meet, people who turn to drugs and alcohol to make themselves feel more alive. Tempest's novel focuses on the positive qualities of these south London citizens, suggesting that they deserve to be able to afford to continue living in the fast-gentrifying area.

Drugs

Drugs, alternately, represent upward and downward social mobility. For some characters, including Pico and Leon, selling drugs is a way to secure their upward positions in the world; they use drugs to better themselves and create the lives they may not have been able to lead if they were in other professions. However, the drug use by those in more solid positions, like Ron and Pete, represents a downward movement in status. Both Ron and Pete have some privilege in life, but...