‘Small Things Like These’ Overview

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is a novella set in 1985 in a small Irish town, following Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who discovers the mistreatment of young women in a local Magdalene laundry. The novel explores themes of power, oppression, morality, individual choice, and the struggle between silence and justice.

The themes and issues in the novel highlight how religious control, social expectations, and fear prevent people from doing what is right, while also showing that small acts of kindness and courage can challenge injustice.

Understanding Theme or Issue

The Theme or Issue in a text refers to the main ideas and concerns that run throughout the story. These themes are explored through characters, setting, conflicts, and outcomes.

In Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan examines a world shaped by secrecy and fear, while also offering hope through acts of moral courage.

Power and Oppression

The novel highlights the power of institutions like the Catholic Church, which controlled people’s lives and oppressed those who did not conform. The Magdalene laundry run by the convent is a symbol of this oppression, where young women are imprisoned and forced into unpaid labour for supposed moral failings.

Bill Furlong discovers Sarah, a girl being punished by the nuns, shivering and exhausted. “She was shaking and had no shoes on her feet.” The image of physical suffering represents the wider mistreatment of vulnerable women in Irish society.

Many in the town know about the cruelty in the convent but choose to remain silent. This reflects a society where people feared challenging powerful institutions, reinforcing the theme of oppression and control.

Silence and Fear in Society

A key issue in the novel is the culture of silence, where people choose to ignore suffering rather than risk social or financial consequences.

When Bill speaks to his wife about what he saw in the convent, she warns him not to get involved. “Do you want to end up in the same boat as your mother?” This shows how fear prevents people from taking action, as they worry about losing status or security.

The local priest also dismisses Bill’s concerns, reinforcing the idea that questioning authority is discouraged. This highlights how cultural norms prevented change, keeping injustice hidden.

Despite this, Bill realises that remaining silent makes him complicit. The novel suggests that change is only possible when people are willing to break the silence and stand up for what is right.

Moral Responsibility and Individual Choice

One of the most important themes in Small Things Like These is the power of individual actions to create change.

Bill’s decision to help Sarah is an act of moral courage, despite the risks it brings. He reflects on his own past, remembering how his mother was given kindness when she needed it most. “If she hadn’t been let stay, what would have become of us?” This moment makes him realise that he must now show the same kindness to Sarah.

Bill’s journey shows that people always have a choice—they can either ignore injustice or take action, even when it is difficult. The novel presents a hopeful vision, suggesting that small acts of goodness can challenge larger systems of oppression.

The Role of Religion and Hypocrisy

The Catholic Church plays a dominant role in the novel, controlling social values and morality. The nuns present themselves as charitable and religious, yet they treat the young women in their care with cruelty.

Bill questions the hypocrisy of the Church when he sees how the nuns show little kindness or Christian compassion. This reflects a society where religion was often used as a tool of control rather than a source of genuine kindness.

However, the novel does not completely condemn faith—it suggests that true morality comes from individual actions, not from blindly following authority. Bill’s compassion and sense of justice contrast with the cold, institutional power of the nuns, showing that faith should be about kindness, not punishment.

Hope and Change Through Small Actions

Although the novel highlights cruelty and injustice, it also shows that change is possible through small but meaningful actions.

At the end of the novel, Bill takes Sarah away from the convent, despite not knowing what will happen next. The final line, “He kept going, and did not stop,” suggests that doing what is right is not always easy, but it is necessary.

This ending represents hope—Bill’s action breaks the cycle of silence, showing that one person’s courage can make a difference.

Comparative Insights

The themes and issues in Small Things Like These can be compared with other texts that explore oppression, resistance, and moral responsibility.

  • Power and Control: The novel examines how institutions maintain control through fear, a theme found in many texts about authoritarian power.
  • Silence vs. Speaking Out: A key theme is the fear of challenging authority, showing how change is difficult but necessary.
  • Moral Choice and Responsibility: Bill’s actions highlight the importance of personal integrity, making the novel a strong comparison to other works that explore individual resistance against injustice.

Conclusion

The themes and issues in Small Things Like These focus on power, oppression, moral responsibility, and the struggle between silence and justice. Claire Keegan presents a bleak but realistic world where fear prevents people from taking action, but she also offers hope through Bill’s small but meaningful act of courage.

The novel encourages readers to consider their own responsibility in the face of injustice, making it a powerful text for the comparative study