Michael M's spec study- Way To Go (might be a bit too long!)

Way To Go
Specialist Study
Michael Mackenzie

The novel "Way To Go" by Alan Spence is a novel which centers around the themes of death, fate and spirituality. The book has been structured in certain ways which reflect the themes of the novel and also contribute to our feelings toward the main characters. It is the story of a young boy named Neil who is the son of an undertaker and becomes fascinated with death and searches for the duration of his life to find the answer to the ultimate question, "What happens when you die?". This study will focus on how the themes of the novel are conveyed through structure and also how this is conveyed through characterization.
This novel has been written with a lot of dialogue which is in strong Scottish. Because of this there are many short sentences throughout the novel which also comprise of minor sentences. This is used as it creates a formal tone toward the reader. The reader therefore feels more involved in the story and shares Neil's interests in his search for the truth. But these short sentences also create a sense that the story is moving very quickly and that Neil's life is going to be shown as being quite short. This is also true between chapters as it seems a lot of Neil's life has been skipped. At the end of one chapter, Neil is starting secondary school, but the start of the next says, "I got out as soon as I could. The week after I left school." which adds to the point that life is short and death could come at any point.
Perhaps the most relevant parts of the book which regard Neil's fascination with death are the segments at the end of each chapter written in italics. These are all stories or poems which are linked to death in some way. They focus on Eastern culture and attitudes towards death; Neil has been intrigued by the Eastern ideas ever since an indian girl at school told him about Karma. These are included at the ends of the chapters as they show Neil's changing views on death after each section of his life. The first two are from when he is still at home, so what he knows about death he has learned from people around him. They are not very spiritual in any way, they are about funerals and famous last words, " Dying is a dull, dreary affair," showing his attitudes at this time are negative. But then as soon as Neil moves to London where he gets a new perspective on life, these segments change their tone. One talks of Zen masters and nuns who can predict their own deaths and wish to leave the world in a dignified way, without worrying about the afterlife. This shows Neil's new interests in different cultures and that he believes there is a more spiritual side to life. This theme continues with more discoveries of celebrations to death and cultures which accept it without grief. Then towards the end of the book, it is clear that Neil has again changed his perceptions on death. It seems he is comparing himself to a Zen master. "He felt no grief, just stood there and watched. He saw it was like seeing a sword being drawn out of its sheath. The sword was still the sword as before, its blade shining. Nothing had happened to it. And the sheath lay there empty." This is included to show that Neil believes that when you die, your soul is set free and people should not grieve. The "sheath lay empty" is similar to what Neil has been told by his father earlier in the book, saying that a corpse is no longer that same person, its just "stuff". But then at the end of this certain story it says, "But the next day he returned to the house and was overwhelmed by a sense of grief and loss...Ramakrishna had to understand both sides. Both true." We see that Neil is understanding why people didn't celebrate death in Scotland as much as in other cultures. He realizes from his years of traveling why people see death in different ways; it is more complicated than it seems. This is brought on by the threat to his own life from cancer.
Two of these stories are linked; one about Japanese haiku poets and the other about him after his death. Because this link is here, we can see that all of these segments can be related back to his own life in some way. It says the haikus were written, "looking at things for the last time, with a clear eye." His own haiku is the very last thing written in the novel which shows that there is an afterlife for Neil, as his final look at the world is after his own death. This is an effective ending to the book as we see that death is not the final part of out lives, Neil's journey continues.
The theme of fate is also important in this novel (it is referred to as 'Karass') not only because death is our ultimate fate but because a lot of things happen to Neil which he sees to be part of his Karass. Phrases often appear in the novel like, "Almost like it was meant." or, "There you go. Small world." and because these comments are included the reader understands how Neil thinks and why his beliefs are as they are. The fateful incidents are often emphasized with the word 'Karass' written in italics, on a line by itself so it stands out, which shows his thoughts toward every day events. The most fateful incident in the novel is probably when he meets Lila. It says, "...there was more, something I recognized but couldn't name. It felt as if I knew her and always had." At this point in the novel, Neil seems to be at his peak of spirituality as he has been traveling for a long time now and experienced many cultures. We see that Neil's Karass has guided him toward Lila and he believes her to be his soul mate. This "something" which draws Neil and Lila together and quickly leads to their marriage is conveyed through the characterization in the novel. Both characters are instantly attracted to each other and Lila repeats Neil's thoughts in a conversation with him, "I saw you sitting there. Just sitting there. And I don't know, there was something...you looked familiar, like i knew you." The repetition of this phrase is trying to show that Neil and Lila are in fact soul mates which backs up Neil's beliefs about Karass and spirituality; it is clear by this point that there will be an afterlife for Neil. We also see that their conversations can last a very long time, completely different to any relationship he has had before, like him and his father. The contrast between Lila and his father emphasizes his need to be with her as he had needed to get away from his father. When he returns to his old house after his fathers death, Neil finds it distressing at first, "And I suddenly felt claustrophobic, overwhelmed, had to get out." but then eventually gets used to it with help from Lila.
Neil as a character is always making mental comments to what people do or say, particularly at the start of the novel, which pokes fun at his fathers views of death and makes him seem like a ridiculous man. In a small argument with his dad he says:
"'Thought you were supposed to be studying?' An accusation.
'I was. I am. Just taking a break.'
'Aye. Well.'
'So. Is that it?'
'No. I came to tell you something. I just picked up a body from the mortuary.'
So what else is new?"
We see that the father and son have quite a hostile relationship which justifies why he would leave home, leaving only a note to tell his dad he was gone. But we see by the phrase in italics, that he doesn't agree with his father on a lot of things and as a result seeks a different approach to death all together from him. This is also because of the bad treatment he gets from his father as a boy, locking him in a room full of coffins as a regular punishment. Through Neil's thoughts in the book, his character develops as you read and changes slightly in each chapter as he is influenced by his surroundings. We understand why he wants to 'rebel' against his dad and a lot of his opinions.
Throughout the novel, death and fate are mentioned frequently as these are always on Neil's mind. He makes jokes of death as an easier way to deal with the concept as a young child. His curiosity on the subject is caused by growing up with death all around him. But there may be another reason; guilt. Neil's mother died in childbirth and his father resented him for it, calling him "the child in question". This is a very impersonal thing to call his own son and it is as if he is treating him as a dead person, just 'stuff', by speaking to him like this. The phrase "the child in question" appears many times in the novel as is he is being subconsciously reminded of his involvement in his mother's death. His father has made him feel really guilty for what he has done so Neil feels he has to find out what really happened to his mother. The phrase is used much less toward the end of the novel, as he believes he knows what happens when you die. The final haiku,
"After the fireworks
cold and still
the moon"
refers back to the death poems previously in the book. we see there is no part left of him on Earth anymore and that he is now at peace from a life which has been "fireworks". He is now in a place where he is content and his life's searching can now end. The main message being: We will find what we want in the end.