How is Jocelin presented?

This question contains two elements: what is his character AND how, technically is Jocelin presented?
To answer the first, you need to make 'GCSE' type character notes on each chapter as a starting point. For example, for chapter one you might have:

a man with a vision, moved to tears of joy as he sees the start of its realisation

a man at odd with those around him ( a 'type' of the seer/visionary/artist/ outsider?)

a man unaffected by the division around him (strong- minded?stubbor?blind?)

a man blind to others' views of him ( does not realise the two deacons are talking of his pride - 'Who is this poor fellow?')

a man lacking human charity and consideration (ignores Pangall's tears)

a man with a personal drama being enacted against the rituals of the church

a man in power with authority (note the chancellor's retreat from him and his refusal to reply to his aunt's letter)

a man who believes he has a guardian angel

To answer the second part, you need to think of the narrative techniquesused by Golding. For example, although this is a 3rd person novel, we see things almost exclusively from Jocelin's angle, as if we were looking over his shoulder; we sometimes seem to slip into his stream of consciousness (find examples).
You need also to consider the function of Jocelin as a construct in the text: to enable us to consider questions such as:

what are the origins of creativity (in this case, in faith, in the subconscious cellarage of the mind or in worldly corruption abetted by self-delusion and pride)

whether irrational faith (Jocelin)is stronger than rational judgement (Roger)

what is the cost of artistic creation? (Here, danger, alienation, loss of life, loss of self, lessons in worldliness, destruction of that we are trying to love, etc)


Return to home
Return to A level home