The wasp factory essays

The wasp factory essays Ian Banks novel The Wasp Factory explores the strange, sadly comic, offbeat world of a sixteen year old boy called Frank who lives with his dislocated father and psychotic brother, Eric, in an isolated area of Scotland. As I read the novel I find Franks life consists of grotesque behaviour worthy of any horror story, yet cruelly humorous. My essay will explore the way in which I believe Banks allows the character of Frank to perpetrate macabre, wicked deeds while still managing to engage my sympathy, support and amusement for this tortured soul. For me, Banks has achieved this, by portraying Frank as someone whose behaviour is merely a logical defence to the people and events that surround him in his chaotic life. The novel is written in the first person narrative, giving I feel, a real insight into Franks thoughts and strange reasoning. I am made to feel like his supporter, his confidante, one of only a few he can trust. I was never registered. I have no birth certificate, no national insurance number and nothing to say I am alive or have ever existed. By sharing this with me I understand Frank is declaring his difference, his isolation. As I read on I realise Frank believes his father plays a large part in this isolation. An illustration of this is Franks description of the relationship between him and his father ...an educated man.., ...a doctor of perhaps biochemistry. Frank and his father obviously enjoy a competitive and yet slightly cruel life together. This can be seen when Franks father deliberately misinforms the boy on answers to questions Frank has asked. By the time Frank can...reach the highest shelves of the house library, and walk into Porteneil to visit the one there... he realises his father has deceived him. No wonder then, I feel, that Frank has a sense of insecurity which develops in him a need for control over his enviro...