An Analysis of Roddy Doyle’s Writing Style

An Analysis of Roddy Doyle’s Writing Style

Roddy Doyle is an Irish novelist from Dublin, Ireland, who has written several award winning anovels. Through the use of a variety of literary techniques, Doyle has been able to delve into the thoughts and minds of his characters, so that the reader can easily empathize with them. Specifically, through the use of vernacular language, detailed imagery, and stream of consciousness in two of his novels, The Woman Who Walked Into Doors and Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, Roddy Doyle is able to successfully depict what occurs in the minds of both abused women, and adolescent boys, respectively.

In The Woman Who Walked Into Doors, Roddy Doyle tells the story of a recovering alcoholic who has been in an abusive marriage. This woman, Paula Spencer, struggles throughout the novel to gain control of the confusion her life has become. Through his use of the vernacular, detailed imagery, and stream of consciousness, Doyle is able to show the effect that abuse has on its victims.

Ever since she was a child, Paula Spencer was treated with disrespect. She attended a grade school which classified her as an idiot. As Paula described it, “ All the classes are named after Irish musicians. We were just 1.6. We got the worst room the worst teachers, the dopes…It was a fright, finding out that I was stupid” (Doyle Doors 28). This use of vernacular language is seen throughout this novel. Doyle’s technique of writing in the vernacular is very effective in getting his point across, plain and simple. In this case, Doyle is able to effectively show the psychological abuse Paula suffered as a child and what effect it had on her. This is most likely where Paula’s disrespect for herself stemmed from, and most likely what lead to her tolerance of the physical abuse yet to come.

At a young age Paula married a man named Charlo Spencer. It was quite apparent from the beginning that Charlo was not the right man for Paula. However, she married him anyway, and over their seventeen years of marriage Paula Spencer was severely beaten by her husband. The entire novel is about how Paula tries desperately to sort through her confusion. Since Doyle tells her story in the vernacular it is very easy for the reader to relate.

Doyle’s language and first person narrative perfectl...

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...helps them to understand the world from only that characters point of view and allows them to fully understand what that character sees the world as, nothing more and nothing less. “With great sensitivity …Doyle renders Paddy Clarke’s world in terms of what his young protagonist can see, but only dimly and reluctantly understand”(Morace 1-2).

Roddy Doyle has chosen successful literary techniques and styles of writing in both of these novels, The Woman Who Walked Into Doors and Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. In both novels, his purpose was to reveal to his readers, the inner selves of seemingly normal people(Kanner 1). In my personal opinion, he attained his goals. I personally learned a lot about how jumbled up the mind of an abuse victim is. Also, what goes on in the mind of a ten year old boy has become clearer. Although some critics feel that Roddy Doyle’s style makes for a boring book I disagree. Gray states that the books are merely “ …anecdotes and strung together incidents…” that don’t make for much of a novel(Gray 2). However, the lack of plot is what makes Doyle’s novels what they are: simple stories that delve deep into the minds of everyday people.