More Than Just the Disease

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More Than Just The Disease – Critical Essay In the short story ‘More Than Just The Disease’ by Bernard MacLaverty, the main character Neil is a character that I sympathize with. In the story, Neil has to deal with pressures from his mother and the added embarrassment of his skin condition, psoriasis. During the course of the essay I will be thinking about the main themes which run throughout the story and taking a look at some of the main characters. The story focuses on a young boy, Neil who suffers from a skin condition called psoriasis. The ‘disease’ causes him great embarrassment and discomfort when he is around people and his Mother’s attitude towards it doesn’t help him. Her voice repeatedly interrupts the narrative of the story. While on holiday with his friend Michael and his family, Neil feels like he has to hide his condition. Instead of having fun, Neil finds refuge with homeowner Mrs Wan (a former duchess) who encourages him to feel better about himself and he finally gains enough confidence to go with Michael and do the things that normal boys of his age do. In the opening paragraph of the story, the author makes it clear how much Neil depends on his mother. When Neil is unpacking his case, we hear her voice for the first time, telling him what to do. ‘Be tidy at all times, then no one can surprise you’ We see here, that Neil’s mothers' attitude has a huge impact on him and his thoughts. The author attempts to show how most of Neil’s decisions are influenced by his mother as almost every thought he has is countered by a haughty comment. MacLaverty uses italics throughout the story to portray the Mother talking inside Neil's head. When she speaks through Neil's thoughts, she is un completethat she may be a in complete cpntrolas she is continuously telling him to be tidy. I think this might be a front she puts on as it sounds very

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