“북아일랜드 분쟁” 쓰기: 애나 번즈의 밀크맨

Abstract

This article aims to read Anna Burn’s Milkman, winner of 2018 Man Booker Prize, as a story of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Even though the main event of the story occurs in Ulster in the late 1970s, it also covers “the Bloody Sunday” and many other tragic moments that happened during the period. To reflect on the meaning of the Troubles, the story employs experimental narrative techniques such as the odd naming practices; characters in this novel lack proper names; the protagonist is “middle sister”; feminists are “the women with issues.” Likewise, the political divisions and nationalities are not specified: the places are just indicated as “over the border,” “over the water,” and “over the road,” thereby making this story more universal. Milkman contains plenty of insights on sexuality and masculinity. The distorted view of sexuality and fixed gender ideals are inextricably connected with the brutal atmosphere of the community controlled by paramilitaries and their ideological causes. However, Milkman is also a Bildungsroman focusing on the way the protagonist resolves her difficulties and finally reunites with her family and the community. At this point, the women community, “traditional women” as well as “the issue women,” provides a crucial role to “middle sister,” helping her to start the next stage of her life. The narrative techniques are also worth special attention. The main plot, plus plenty of diverting episodes painstakingly analyze the internal social conditions and emotional states. It is the mordant humour, which can be associated with “women’s writing,” that makes it possible to resist and overcome the brutality and trauma during the Troubles.