Danielle Malinen's Specialist study

“The Wasp Factory” By Iain Banks

“The Wasp Factory” By Iain Banks is a gripping and unforgettable story, written in first person narrative and told from the perspective of sixteen year old Frank Cauldhame. The story is set over twelve days and each day is dealt with in separate chapters. The purpose of this essay is to show how the theme identity is shown throughout the novel and how Frank’s identity is presented.

Frank’s identity is crucial in the novel, as it is the major thing that is being pin pointed in the book. Initially the reader believes he is a boy then later find out he’s a girl, this is a turning point for the narrator as he has to redefine himself as a woman. The theme of dual or split personality is being presented, Frank is warped by his upbringing, although the causes are physiological, and so another Frank takes possession of his body expressing a brutal and revengeful side to Frank encouraged by his maltreatment. The novel is somewhat similar to Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde” in that the scientific side of Jekyll is paralleled in Frank’s father with his scientific curiosity combined with a selfish personal impulse; he creates different hormones that change Frank’s appearance and physical nature from a girl to boy. The ‘Mister Hyde’ character is mirrored through Frank as he tortures the innocent and seems to have no remorse or regrets over his actions. At the end of the novel the ‘Dr Jekyll’ side of Frank comes out as she has to rediscover her lost personality.

Frank’s real identity really shock’s the reader because at the start of the novel, Frank makes his hateful feelings towards women clear and he believes that they are: “weak and stupid and live in the shadow of men and are nothing compared to them.” Frank blames his mother for all the wrong doings in the family and resents her for abandoning them when he was a baby. Earlier on in the novel Frank says: “I hate having to sit down in the toilet all the time. With my unfortunate disability I usually have to, as though I was a bloody woman, but I hate it. Sometimes in the Cauldhame Arms I stand up at the urinal, but most of it ends up running down my hands or legs.” The fact that Frank has said “bloody woman” is ironic as he is actually a woman. Women are rather too close to him for comfort; there seems to be a degree of fear in Frank’s attitude towards them.

The character of Frank contributes majorly to the shocking ending of the book, as throughout he is seen as a strong and powerful boy, who will not let anything stand in his way. But at the end the reader sees a more vulnerable side to him after he is emotionally distraught by finding out he is actually a girl. Frank has two sides to his personality, he can be eloquent: “I told her she might get a chance, though of course I would have the ultimate control” this quote is important as it shows he is in control and knew exactly what he was doing. Yet on the other hand he can be rather juvenile: “I built a big kite”. This refers back to the theme of Frank having a split personality. Frank’s father is the least developed character in the novel and you form an opinion about based on what Frank chooses to tell the reader about him, this is due to the narrative structure of the novel. The first person narrative gives a real insight into Frank’s thoughts and strange reasoning.

Frank is presented as an aggressive macho character due to the fact he kills people and animals feeling no guilt. Frank is living in a male-dominated world and has no contact with women except Mrs Clamp the elderly housekeeper. The reader’s feelings towards Frank and his actions become less hostile as more is revealed about him and his troubles. It is not a feeling that his actions are excusable, but the realisation that Frank is a victim himself and that his violence is a confused and pathetic reaction to his situation, in which he has no responsibility; he is targeting his anger at the wrong things. At the end when we find out Frank is a girl, Banks forces the reader to form new sentiments about Frank. This changes how the reader feels about Frank as you are forced to sympathise with him rather than loathe him for committing three murders.

In spite of the harsh obstacles that seem to prevent the reader from identifying with Frank, whether we see him as a vicious killer or a confused soul, it remains that Frank comes across as a strong character who you cannot help feel pity and sympathy towards. The fact that at sixteen years old she has define who she is, in her new gender. Also by Frank’s father having him on a tight leash for so many years, he will find it very difficult to interact and communicate with people.