Themes In The Killables

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1a) Identify the central issues represented in the novel. In the Killables, Gemma Malley addresses the issue that unethical control leads to helplessness in people. Readers take away this message because it is clearly presented through the characters and their development and the setting. Firstly, the main protagonist characters that play a role in conveying the main message are Evie and Raffy. Throughout the novel we journey through the main character Evie's point of view. The author effectively created the characterisation of an intelligent girl who seeks freedom and the truth. At first, she is self-doubting and even weak. The reader picks up on this because her thoughts are always explained to the reader, some of which include "How can …show more content…

The walls represent their fear. Those in control make the conditions of not being under control seem horrible, like they need them. This coincides with the metaphor and the book. The Great Leader tell the people of the terrible Evils that lay outside the City walls. The people are scared, outlined in Chapter 1; "Evie lay awake, listening to the shivering moans of the Evils". When Evie and Raffy brake down that fear barrier, they escape the City walls and at the same time, escape the Government's control. They realize that life without deceit, and unethical control is a lot better than it was made out to be, far exceeding life with it. This is the overall message the Author expresses to her …show more content…

This evaluative language is used to show character viewpoints and the underlying perspective of the author that is instilled on the reader. Examples of these include judgements by the characters such as; Evie - "we need to help them" referring to the people still in the City under control, outlining that they need help and are not in desirable living conditions. By using the word 'need' a sense of urgency is created. This helps to show the significance of the negative effect that unethical control has on people. When Raffy uses evaluative language such as "Can't you see Evie, the system is wrong. There is more evil inside these walls than there is outside" he portrays his perspective. This outlines that the control is corrupted and unethical and that such control is an evil thing. To show the effect he thinks it has on the people he states "we are not being protected from evil", such opinions meet a very unwelcoming response from the other citizens. This shows that the people inside the walls are helpless but to believe what the leaders tell them because they fear their power. Raffy and Evie's perspectives are against this response and later in the book they seek to help 'open the eyes' of the citizens to coincide with the perspective of the book and the perspective that is conveyed to readers. An example of a minor character that also share this perspective is