THEME: loyalty

Question 1

ANALYSE: ‘just me and you and him, always’
chapter 1

Answer 1

• a moment early in the novel that establishes the foundational themes of family loyalty, belonging and the tragic irony that follows
• triadic structure (the use of three) is the most striking feature in this quote ➡️ by grouping ‘me’, ‘you’, and ‘him’, carol creates a closed impenetrable circle
• by framing their loyalty as an exclusive triad, carol inadvertently places a heavy emotional burden on Leon, charging him with the impossible task of ‘forever’ that the adult world won’t allow him to keep
• in the volatile environment of Leon’s childhood, this phrase acts as a verbal contract ➡️ carol is attempting to provide Leon with a sense of security and permeance that he desperately craves
• by avoiding names and using personal pronouns such as ‘you’, the bond feels more intimate and familiar ➡️ highlights that Carol’s mind in this moment, the outside world (nurses, society, or partners) does not exist; her attention is solely on Leon and her family
• the adverb ‘always’ is significant, carrying a heavy weight of dramatic irony
• to a child like Leon, ‘always’ is an absolute. It represents a lifelong commitment of loyalty - acts as a verbal anchor that keeps him emotionally attached to Carol and his brother, Jake + provides sense of permeance in an otherwise unstable world
• however, this statement is steeped in dramatic irony as the reader anticipates the inevitable fracture of this unit,‘always’ provides tragic foreshadowing and is particularly painful as the foster system will soon pull them apart ➡️ the ‘always’ is shattered almost immediately, making the quote a symbol of broken promises
• highlights the fragility of loyalty when faced with the pressures of poverty, mental health and the care system
• shows Leon’s identity at this point in the novel is entirely focused on his loyalty to brother + mum

Question 2

ANALYSE: ‘I’m the one in charge of my baby when mum’s not there’
Chapter 2

Answer 2

• At this point in the novel, Carol is struggling with postpartum depression + inability to care for Jake ➡️ Leon steps into a parental role which serves as a manifesto of his devotion to his brother
• phrase ‘I’m the one in charge’ highlights the burden of Leon’s parentification ➡️ his identity is shaped by being a protector which also drives his actions throughout the rest of the novel
• loyalty here can be seen as a heavy burden as Leon is forced to abandon his own childhood needs to ensure Jake’s survival ➡️ his loyalty is so fierce that he views himself as Jake’s primary protector - filling the vacuum left by his mother
• possessive pronoun ‘my’ - Leon establishes his ownership, suggesting a bond that goes beyond brotherhood ➡️ implies how Leon feels a deeper sense of responsibility for Jake than carol does at this moment; his loyalty is emotional, biological and protective
• conditional clause ‘when mum’s not there’ reveals Leon’s nuanced understanding of his family dynamic ➡️ not trying to usurp his mother; he is stepping up because she is failing - shows a mature loyalty to his family
• although Leon’s words sound assertive, they also emphasise his vulnerability to readers who realise a child shouldn’t be in charge, despite Leon’s willingness to step into the role of protector ➡️ de Waal evokes empathy for Leon in the reader
• loyalty is Leon’s strength but also becomes a great source of heart ache later in the novel when separated from his family

Question 3

ANALYSE: ‘he would get on a train and see his mum… they would both go and get Jake’
Chapter 22

Answer 3

• Highlights Leon’s internalised role of the protector, despite being a child ➡️ his loyalty manifests as a rescue mission
• simplicity of the phrasing ‘get on a train and see his mum’ contrasts with the complex, bureaucratic reality of the social service system that has separated them ➡️ indicates that reuniting with his family is a simple, instinctual concept motivated by his loyalty to them
• however, Leon’s loyalty may also be seen as flawed as it is blind to adult obstacles - he doesn’t see the legal or psychological barriers; he only sees the physical distance he believes he can bridge himself - views it as a geographical issue rather than a systemic one
• word ‘both’ signifies Leon’s desperate need for a partnership with his mother - sees her as an essential part of reclaiming Jake ➡️ Leon’s loyalty is selfless, his goal is to restore his collective family
• could be argued that Leon’s loyalty is self-sacrificial - he is willing to risk his current stability at Maureen’s or Sylvia’s in order to return to a mother who has consistently let him down
• this proves his loyalty is based on blood rather than reliability ➡️ adds an element of immaturity to Leon’s character as he doesn’t necessarily consider the consequences and logistics of his ideas, and serves as a reminder of his young age, despite being perceived as mature and responsible for his age throughout majority of the novel
• the determined tone of his perhaps naïve plan reflects his childlike conviction
• may also introduce the idea of systemic failure, Leon’s need to find his family highlights how the care system has fractured his identity ➡️ de Waal is perhaps displaying her critique of the impersonal nature of the foster care system that have removed Leon’s family units away from him, leaving him with an internal struggle igniting his desperation to reunite his family fuelled by his intense loyalty

Question 4

ANALYSE: ‘feels a fresh worry for his mum because no one is looking after her’
Chapter 24

Answer 4

• Leon’s loyalty is presented as instinctual and sacrificial ➡️ despite trauma of being separated from his mother and brother, his primary concern remains to be the well-being of the person who arguably failed him the most
• adjective ‘fresh’ implies his worries are constant and renewing, every time Leon achieves a moment of stability with Tufty or at Maureen’s, his loyalty pulls his back to his mother, preventing him from moving on
• his anxiety is not a static state but is a growing, evolving burden ➡️ in a healthy dynamic, a parent bears responsibility for the child, however, kit de Waal uses this moment to instead show how Leon has been forced into a parentified role
• loyalty can be damaging ➡️ Leon’s loyalty to carol is what makes his foster care experience so painful - he cannot ‘settle’ because his heart is occupied with a responsibility that shouldn’t be his
• quite highlights how the system cares for the child (Leon) but often leaves the parent (carol) to spiral ➡️ Leon’s ‘fresh worry’ is a critique of a system that separates families without providing the necessary holistic support to keep them together