Parenthood

Every major character in the novel has a fraught relationship with parenthood, whether as a parent or a child, and believes that their status as a parent or child has drastically effected - or has the ability to drastically affect - their current circumstances. Parenthood effectively begins and sustains the action of the novel. Maureen is exiled from her home country for becoming a mother before marriage; Jimmy brings Maureen back to Cork from London because he feels the “want of a family tree” (13). This reuniting of mother and son leads to Robbie’s death and thus much of the action of the novel.

Parenthood also plays a major role in the plots of Tony and Ryan. Ryan goes to Tara Duane’s house because he fears his father’s anger; Tony hates Tara because he thinks she has undue influence over his son. Much of...