A Time to Keep: Character: Bill

Overview:

“A Time to Keep” features the character of Bill, a traditional fisherman placed within the idyllic, yet insular, Orkney Island setting. Bill serves to represent the daily struggles and experiences of individuals in the close-knit island community.

Character Analysis: Bill

Bill is portrayed as someone deeply rooted in his community and committed to the familiar rhythms of island life.
He embodies the values of hard work, self-sufficiency, and stoic perseverance, characteristics inherent to island life.
His character starkly contrasts with others like Danny, reflecting the differing perspectives and ways of life within the community.

Bill’s Role in A Time to Keep:

Bill’s narrative primarily revolves around his toilsome yet fulfilling work as a fisherman, serving as a metaphor for the inherent challenges and rewards that come with a simple, community-based life.
His character allows Mackay Brown to erotically detail the Orkney Islands’ physical landscape and daily life, establishing a vivid background against which the larger narrative unfolds.
His experiences help highlight the conflicts and contradictions between modernity and tradition, providing a multifaceted portrait of the island community.

Quotes and Analysis:

“Bill went home with his wages; and all around him, the sea roared and swooped… He knew himself part of that grand simplicity of action.” - This quotation captures Bill’s deep connection with the sea and his acceptance of life’s harsh realities.
“He was an old man now, but inevitable as the tide, without question or pride or fear, he made his voyages.” - This line reflects Bill’s stoic nature and his unwavering commitment to his work, even in his old age.

Themes through Characters (Bill):

Bill’s character brings to light the themes of hard work, survival, and acceptance of life’s harsh realities, reflecting the quintessential experience of traditional island life.
Through his narrative, the audience gains insight into the inherent conflicts between acceptance of life’s hardships and the desire for change or escape.
His journey provides Mackay Brown’s work with an element of reality and genuineness, enabling a nuanced exploration into the essence of traditional island life.

Techniques and Effects:

Through Bill, Mackay Brown captures the harsh realities and stark beauty of the island’s physical landscape, using detailed imagery and powerful language.
The character’s straightforward narrative exposes readers to the simplicity and harshness of traditional life, deepening the exploration of key themes such as survival, hard work, and acceptance.
The subtle contrast between Bill and other characters allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the diverse ways of life and perspectives within the island community.

Understanding the character of Bill and his role within “A Time to Keep” allows for a deeper exploration of George Mackay Brown’s portrayal of the Orkney Islands’ life, further examining the interplay between human nature, tradition, hardship, and acceptance.