Introduction

Construction of Identity in Northern Irish Novels 227
pear as the only solutions to their uncertain lives. “Chuckie wanted to be lost in
someone. Chuckie wanted a girl who would make life burn in his heart like a
heavy meal. Chuckie wanted to discover the secret of true love” (ibid. 45). He
soon finds his true love in Max. When he learns about her pregnancy everything
changes for him: “The child made it all right in some complete way he barely understood”
(ibid. 278). Jake by contrast has to endure some pain before he in the
end gets together with Aoirghe. In the beginning the reader learns that Jake was
left by his long-term girlfriend Sarah. Later Jake finds out she had an abortion
without him even knowing about the baby, something that deeply hurts him (ibid.
74). Always searching for love Jake sometimes finds companionship in his cat.
The cat could be interpreted as a wish for security, love or even a child.
Lucy Caldwell’s heroine Saoirse is affected by a fragmented family, too. Like in
One by One in the Darkness this fragmentation is clearly caused by the conflict in
Northern Ireland. Her mother Deirdre cannot deal with the violent state of affairs
that is unfolding itself outside their home. Because her husband Colin is working
for the RUC 30 she slowly begins to project the cause of all problems happening in
the country on him. Normally their “mammy never swears”, says Saoirse (Caldwell
6) but because Colin comes late for Daisy’s birthday Deirde’s mood is changing:
“Blame your father […] Blame this bloody country” (ibid. 6). This marks the
beginning of the catastrophe that is awaiting Saoirse’s family. The quarrels between
Colin and Deirde get worse as when talking about the death of one of
Deirdre’s friends who was killed by Protestants. Colin mentions that the brother
of the offender and the former’s wife were killed by a bomb planted underneath
their car. Deirde thinks he tries to justify the deed, which he denies (ibid. 40ff).
Still, discussions as this one continue driving a wedge between them and lead to
their separation. Deirde little by little becomes an alcoholic, then Daisy dies in a
bomb explosion. Finally, Deirde leaves Saoirse with her sister Bernadette in the
south of Ireland because she just cannot cope with the situation. In her anger and
grief about Daisy’s death she even blames Saoirse for not watching over her sister.
Even ten years after the accident her mother’s words still ring in Saoirse’s head:
“What have you done? How could you? Get away from me, go on, get away, I
can’t bear to touch you […] What have you done?” (ibid. 72/191).
In contrast to earlier Troubles writing the “conflict between innocence and involvement”
or “innocence and complicity” (Patten 132) can be named as another
factor that became important for the generation of writers who grew up during
the 1970s and 1980s. Innocence and complicity are also relevant for the discussed
novels. The innocence of the two children is again expressed by Saoirse Pentland
and her sister Daisy in part one of Where They Were Missed. Still unable to under-
30 The Royal Ulster Constabulary used to be the state police force in Northern Ireland. It was
established in 1922. Together with the British army and the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR)
the RUC was responsible to keep peace in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. It was renamed
the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2001 (Britannica 220).