The Vandals

‘Answers to question on prose fiction should address relevantly the central concern(s)/theme(s) of the text and be supported by reference to appropriate techniques of prose fiction such as: Characterisation, setting, key incident(s), narrative technique, symbolism, structure, climax, plot, atmosphere, dialogue, imagery. Choose a novel or short story with a central character you consider to be heroic, Show how the heroic qualities are revealed and discuss how this portrayal of the character enhances your understanding of the text as a whole.

ANSWER: Many complaints recently have revolved around the strong targeting the weak. In Alan Bolds short story ‘The Vandals’ we hear the story of Gordon Miller. A retired Civil Servant whom is a quiet gentle man. He could have been considered heroic when he stood up to a ground of youths – The Vandals of the story. Bold uses numerous techniques such as setting, imagery and foreshadowing to highlight Gordon Millers transition from hero to villain. The Vandals by Alan Bold is set in a small fictional Scottish town called Marshend.

Gordon Miller moves into a small cottage here looking for peace and quiet. This is soon disrupted by a local group of youths who call him names and vandalise his property. After trying to confront these youths to reason with them he soon realises that he is trying to reason with people who know no limits, he soon takes things into his own hands. In the opening of the story Bold refers to the Roman invasion of Marshend and to the Roman General Agricola. However the Roman’s failed to completely conquer Marshend.

From the beginning of the story Bold juxtaposes Miller against the Romans. Bold does this by giving the imagery of Miller being the Inhabitants of Marshend and the vandals being the Roman army. First Miller tries to reason with the vandals, however after multiple reoccurring attacks on his house Miller declares what would be classed as war on the vandals. Through numerous applications of word choice Bold manages to foreshadow the fact that Gordon Miller may not be as calm and tolerable person as he seems to be. ‘Gordon Miller decided he would keep calm’

This is after the first attack on his home. By having to decide to stay calm this shows that it is almost like he is forcing himself to do so and this is doubting that he isn’t as calm a person as he seems. In the others formed an opinion on Gordon Millers ‘mental stability’ from this it was reflected back to him to make an opinion on himself. This tells the reader that apart from what we have read Gordon Miller may act very differently as well. Bold seems to keep Gordon Miller personality close to his chest revealing only what he has too.

It triggers a reaction in the readers mind wondering as to why the other villagers have been commenting on his mental stability. It also would make Miller question his actions, if he has been acting a certain way and villagers were starting to question and talk about his actions then it would possibly make him take notice and try to change the way he acts around others. Nearing the end of the story Bold uses a lot of imagery linked in with Gordon Miller and the theme of the Romans.

When the vandals come back for the last time Bold describes Miller as standing at the ‘summit of the hill, on the top terrace. ’ This is similar to the idea of the Roman General waiting and observing his territory. Gordon Miller is standing and observing the youths and his home before he launches his attack on the youths. This is the turning point in the story where Bold twists Gordon Miller from being symbolic of the villagers in Marshend under attack to being the Roman General who is waiting to start his attack.

This shows Gordon Miller becoming heroic as he is standing up to the vandals who have been tormenting him. This gives us the understanding that certain people can only take so much stress and disruption in their lives before they come to the end of their tether and retaliate. The last sentence in the story is an image of Miller sitting playing with a set of ‘Roman Soldiers’. This shows that Gordon Miller is a lot more complex than Bold let us believe. He likes order and stability in his life, he does not like change and disruptions.

As he is playing with the Roman Soldier set this represents the order that he likes in his life. In conclusion revealing Gordon Millers personality slowly throughout the short story Bold uses a number of techniques such as pathos, setting, imagery and word choice. Through these we feel empathy towards Gordon Miller and understand why he proceeded taking the heroic actions that he did. This helps the reader not to dislike Miller for his actions but feel happy for him that he finally got justice on the vandals.

Word Count: 755