Sleeping Dogs essays

Sleeping Dogs essays Power in the novel Sleeping Dogs, by Sonya Hartnett, is used in different ways to affect another character. The characters relationships with eachother are viewed by the construction of their interaction, which reflects their values and attitudes. The novel expresses power through manipulation, abuse, neglect, knowledge and monotony. From these uses there comes consequences which left me discontent. The portrayal of characters and their relationships with eachother are impacted by the way power has been used to affect each of them. The character Michelle is construted to use manipulation as a power to increase her status in the novel. This is to show that she feels more significant than the other characters in the novel. (121-122) Griffin confronts Michelle about her and her brother Jordans intimate relationship. She manipulates Jordan by telling Griffin this lie which leads to the death of Jordan. Through this result the writer suggests that manipulation is used as a power to create the character Michelle with a higher status in the novel, Michelle is portrayed to the reader as a spoilt brat, while I seem to take the writers point of view of this character. Griffin, in the novel, is constructed to use physical abuse as a type of power. He does this to relieve his anger, so he lashes out at his own son Jordan whilst drunk. (92-93) Griffin goes into Jordans bedroom drunk and bashes him up. The power Griffin has over Jordan is extreme. Even though Jordan is a grown man he still doesnt leave due to not being allowed back into the family. I found that the way Sonya Hartnett expressed this part of the novel very well. She used imagery to get a response from the reader in a certain way. This left me discontent of the character Griffin. The character Grace uses neglect towards her children, but even more so towards her daughter Michelle. The writer suggests that Grace is inactive. This is through her not really ...