Noughts and Crosses Analysis
Noughts and Crosses Analysis
Novels help authors to explore a range of important issues in society, which Malorie Blackman clearly portrays through Noughts and Crosses. This novel follows the lives and experiences of two characters, Callum and Sephy. Throughout the book Blackman deals with a number of key issues including racism and prejudice, love and friendship and lastly, violent and peaceful protest. These themes are identified through different layers of meaning of her writing using textual evidence. This is conveyed through the narrative techniques of characterisation, structure and language in order to communicate the important messages to the readers.
Blackman has created a world of her own to contrast the society we live in, by using the black race which are often discriminated against in reality but in the novel are the upper high class. By doing this she has challenged our preconceptions and social views, and asked the readers to consider the deep effects of racism and the suffering it causes. Blackman has effectively used a range of narrative to bring her world to life giving the white reader taste of discrimination that many blacks have suffered for centuries, provoking feelings, empathy and understanding which lacks in today’s society. By turning the world upside down, Blackman tries to get her readers to see life in a different perspective more clearly.
The setting is essential in highlighting how severe racism can be in the world Blackman created. It is not until Callum is given the rare opportunity to attend a Cross School do we realise the extent of discrimination and intolerance towards the Noughts. The merging of Noughts and Crosses changes the setting completely, throwing the reader directly into the conflict. The racist views and attitudes of the Crosses are clearly seen on Callum’s first day at school when they are protesting outside Heathcroft High, repeating “No blankers in our school”. The underlying message of the demonstrations
Novels help authors to explore a range of important issues in society, which Malorie Blackman clearly portrays through Noughts and Crosses. This novel follows the lives and experiences of two characters, Callum and Sephy. Throughout the book Blackman deals with a number of key issues including racism and prejudice, love and friendship and lastly, violent and peaceful protest. These themes are identified through different layers of meaning of her writing using textual evidence. This is conveyed through the narrative techniques of characterisation, structure and language in order to communicate the important messages to the readers.
Blackman has created a world of her own to contrast the society we live in, by using the black race which are often discriminated against in reality but in the novel are the upper high class. By doing this she has challenged our preconceptions and social views, and asked the readers to consider the deep effects of racism and the suffering it causes. Blackman has effectively used a range of narrative to bring her world to life giving the white reader taste of discrimination that many blacks have suffered for centuries, provoking feelings, empathy and understanding which lacks in today’s society. By turning the world upside down, Blackman tries to get her readers to see life in a different perspective more clearly.
The setting is essential in highlighting how severe racism can be in the world Blackman created. It is not until Callum is given the rare opportunity to attend a Cross School do we realise the extent of discrimination and intolerance towards the Noughts. The merging of Noughts and Crosses changes the setting completely, throwing the reader directly into the conflict. The racist views and attitudes of the Crosses are clearly seen on Callum’s first day at school when they are protesting outside Heathcroft High, repeating “No blankers in our school”. The underlying message of the demonstrations