Paula Spencer or the Miraculous Transformation of Misery into Joy
Roddy Doyle is one of the authors who has best understood that human existence is an interplay between comedy and tragedy. From his very first novel he has shown that it is possible to deal with the most difficult and harsh situations in a comic way without trivializing them. In spite of the cruel r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Asociación Española de Estudios Irlandeses
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Estudios Irlandeses |
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| Online Access: | http://www.estudiosirlandeses.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Aida_Diaz-Bild_7.pdf |
| Summary: | Roddy Doyle is one of the authors who has best understood that human existence is an interplay between comedy and tragedy. From his very first novel he has shown that it is possible to deal with the most difficult and harsh situations in a comic way without trivializing them. In spite of the cruel realities being portrayed in his novels, especially after the Barrytown trilogy, hope shines through the clouds of pain. InPaula Spencer (2007), the sequel to The Woman Who Walked into Doors (1996), characters face alcoholism, drug addiction, illness, violence, etc. but the introduction of the comic element or vision prevents melodrama and sentimentalism from entering the novel. Laughter allows Paula to face and transcend her loneliness, her physical and moral pain, her constant need for a drink or, in other words, all those aspects of her life that threaten to crush her. In fact, she has attained the highest level of humour, which is defined by love and compassion. |
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| ISSN: | 1699-311X 1699-311X |