Overview
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is a novella set in 1985 in a small Irish town, during the lead-up to Christmas. It follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who discovers the dark reality of a Magdalene laundry, where women and girls are being held and forced into unpaid labour by nuns. The novel explores the power of church influence, social class divisions, gender roles, and moral responsibility in Irish society.
The cultural context of the novel is shaped by Catholicism, economic hardship, and social silence—it portrays a society where secrecy and fear prevent people from speaking out against injustice. However, it also shows that individuals have the power to challenge cultural norms through kindness and courage.
Understanding Cultural Context
The Cultural Context of a text refers to the values, beliefs, and social structures that shape the world of the story. This includes factors like religion, gender roles, social class, family expectations, and political influences.
In Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan presents an oppressive but realistic version of 1980s Ireland, where the Catholic Church holds immense power, social status determines opportunity, and people fear challenging authority.
The Power of the Catholic Church
Ireland in the 1980s was still deeply influenced by the Catholic Church, which controlled education, healthcare, and moral values. In the novel, the Magdalene laundry run by the convent represents the dark side of this influence, where young women are forced into labour as punishment for perceived sins.
Bill Furlong’s discovery of Sarah, a girl imprisoned in the convent, highlights the cruelty of these institutions. “She was shaking and had no shoes on her feet.” The image of Sarah suffering in the cold symbolises how the Church neglected and mistreated vulnerable individuals while maintaining a public image of goodness.
The local people know about the abuse but remain silent, fearing the consequences of speaking against the Church. This reflects the cultural reality of the time, where institutions were rarely questioned, and those who did were often ostracised.
Social Class and Economic Hardship
The novel highlights the division between the wealthy and the working class in Irish society. Bill Furlong is a self-made man, having worked his way up from difficult beginnings. His mother was a single woman who worked as a servant, and he grew up knowing what it meant to be on the margins of society.
When Bill’s wife warns him not to get involved with Sarah’s situation, she says, “Do you want to end up in the same boat as your mother?” This reflects how people feared slipping down the social ladder, as financial security was difficult to achieve.
Bill’s status as a businessman means he has more freedom than others, but he is still expected to conform. His eventual decision to help Sarah shows that human decency should outweigh financial concerns, a message that challenges the cultural norms of the time.
Gender Roles and the Treatment of Women
The novel highlights the oppressive role of gender expectations, particularly for women. The Magdalene laundrieswere institutions where unmarried mothers and young girls were sent for being considered morally corrupt. Society saw them as shameful, and many families sent daughters away rather than face embarrassment.
Becoming a single mother was one of the worst possible fates for a woman at the time. Bill’s own mother experienced this struggle, yet she was saved by the kindness of a wealthy employer. “If she hadn’t been let stay, what would have become of us?” This contrast between compassion and cruelty highlights the injustice of a system where women were abandoned rather than supported.
The nuns in the convent are also women, yet they act as oppressors, reinforcing the strict rules of a patriarchal society. This reflects how even within an oppressive system, some women internalised and enforced societal expectationsrather than challenging them.
The Culture of Silence and Fear
A key aspect of the novel’s cultural context is the fear of speaking out against injustice. The people in the town know what happens in the convent but choose to ignore it. There is an unwritten rule that it is safer not to ask questions.
Bill’s wife warns him against interfering, as she believes challenging authority will only bring trouble. The priest also dismisses Bill’s concerns when he tries to speak about what he saw. This reflects a culture where blind obedience to authority was encouraged, and those who resisted were viewed as dangerous or foolish.
Despite this, Bill refuses to remain silent. His decision to help Sarah shows that change is possible, but it requires challenging cultural expectations and taking personal risks.
The Impact of Ireland’s Political and Social Landscape
In the background of the novel, there are hints of wider economic and political struggles in Ireland during the 1980s. The country was experiencing a recession, and many people were struggling to make ends meet.
Aunty Eileen’s conversation with Bill suggests that emigration is common, as many young people are leaving for better opportunities abroad. This reflects the limited opportunities for working-class individuals, reinforcing the idea that people often felt trapped in their circumstances.
The novel also subtly critiques the relationship between Church and State, as religious institutions were given control over social services, allowing them to operate with little oversight.
Comparative Insights
The cultural context of Small Things Like These can be compared to other texts that explore power, oppression, and resistance.
- Religion and Authority: The novel examines how the Catholic Church controlled morality and social order, a theme that appears in many texts about Irish society.
- Social Class Divisions: The gap between rich and poor, and the fear of falling into poverty, plays a key role in shaping characters’ decisions.
- The Role of Women: The story critiques how women were oppressed and silenced, particularly those who did not fit society’s expectations.
- Fear of Speaking Out: A major theme is the culture of silence, where individuals feel powerless to challenge injustice.
Conclusion
The cultural context of Small Things Like These is shaped by Catholic influence, social class struggles, gender inequality, and the fear of challenging authority. Claire Keegan presents a society where institutions control people’s lives, and many choose to look away from cruelty. However, through Bill Furlong’s journey, the novel also suggests that change is possible when individuals choose to act with courage and compassion.