Style and Technique: Conflict

Style and Technique: Conflict

Overview

  • John Byrne utilises various styles and techniques to present conflict in ‘The Slab Boys’.
  • The conflict comes in various forms: internal (within a character’s mind), interpersonal (between characters) and social (between characters and society).
  • The conflict is a major driving force in the drama, propelling the narrative and contributing to the character development.

Use of Language

  • Byrne’s use of colloquial language, abundant in Glaswegian slang, highlights the cultural and social conflict the characters experience.
  • The quick-fire dialectical exchanges, often filled with sarcasm and ridicule, represent the constant interpersonal conflict among the characters.
  • Dark humour and wit are used to highlight the severity of the characters’ conflicts and to provide a sense of relief from their harsh realities.

Symbolism and Imagery

  • Conflict is conveyed through the use of numerous symbols and images like the slab room and the ‘spanner’.
  • The slab room, dully monotonous and stifling, serves as a symbol for the broader societal and class conflict.
  • The ‘spanner’, a looming threat of punishment, symbolises the building tension and impending conflict.

Characterisation

  • The complex, multifaceted characters each embody a different form of conflict, from Phil’s artistic ambitions at odds with his social class, to Spanky’s struggle with loyalty and conformity.
  • The character of Lucille acts as an embodiment of the conflict between the harsh reality of the slab room and the dream of an escape.

Key Scenes

  • The scene of Phil’s rejection from art school is a major culmination of his internal and external conflicts.
  • Spanky’s wavering loyalty presents a personal conflict further driving the narrative tension.
  • The ending scene, with the unexpected return of Hector, dramatises both interpersonal and societal conflict, reflecting the characters’ dreams thwarted by reality.

Reflection of Conflict

  • Byrne paints a vivid picture of life in post-war working class Scotland, filled with conflict, struggles, dreams, and disappointments.
  • ‘The Slab Boys’ is an exploration of conflict – personal, social, and internal – revealing how these clashes shape the characters and their paths.
  • The drama effectively reflects how the characters try to cope with these conflicts, vacillating between rebellion and conformity.