Theme: Change

Theme: Change

Introduction

  • Change is a central theme in the novel, Sunset Song, as it explores the ways in which the characters, relationships and the land itself shifts and evolves.

Personal Change

  • The protagonist, Chris Guthrie, experiences significant personal change throughout the novel.
  • Chris’s split identity embodies this theme - her love for the land and tradition (her ‘Scottish self’) conflicts with her desire for education and modernity (her ‘English self’).
  • It can be argued that Chris’s change is a journey of self-discovery and cultural identity as she constantly fluctuates between her two selves.

Social Change

  • The novel captures social change, chiefly through the transition from the traditional, agricultural society to a more modern, industrial one.
  • This is symbolised in the Agricultural Revolution, a symbol of the inevitable march of progress which brings both improvements and destruction to the way of life in Kinraddie.
  • The clash of cultures (traditional Scottish vs. progressive English) is a quintessential part of this transformation.

Change in Relationships

  • Relationships in the novel are also subject to change - some grow stronger while others deteriorate. This often reflects the external changes happening around them.
  • The relationship between Chris and her father, for example, changes from affectionate to strained, mirroring the changes within the Guthrie family and their surrounding environment.

Change and the Land

  • The novel presents the land as a constant amidst change. Even though the ways of farming and the people who tend to it change, the land itself endures.
  • The land also symbolises tradition and continuity - it is something that Chris continues to love and cherish, demonstrating her attachment to her Scottish heritage.

Conclusion

  • In conclusion, the theme of change pervades the entire novel and becomes a means by which Gibbon explores the human condition, societal transformation and the enduring power of the land.
  • The focus on change underscores the tumultuous period in which the novel is set, serving as a reminder of the adaptability and resilience of Scotland’s people and landscape through time.