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.