Many great authors have used characters in order to create one solid, organized novel. James Patrick Donleavy has used this technique in his best known novel, The Ginger Man. Through the eyes of the witty protagonist, the harsh reality of post war Dublin is put in a light, comedic perspective. Sebastian, a young man with a heavy desire to reach upper class lifestyle, is a drunk who does no work to reach the success he wishes for. While in the pursuit to find an easy route to reach upper class citizenship, we find he is not alone in this journey. After being introduced to Sebastian, other characters are brought forth that are too in the lower class life and hope to soon reach economic prosperity. By the characters doing so, the novel supports
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To Sebastian, remaining in his poor economic status isn 't an option, therefore his expectancy ‘to be made gloriously rich by inheritance’ (A Case of Death 330) shows that he is willing to depend on inheritance, rather than independent work to gain financial prosperity. ‘Don 't drag me down with you’ (22), says O’keefe to Sebastian when Sebastian begs him for money. Here, Sebastian is asking money from a man that is just as poverty stricken as he is, showing that Sebastian doesn 't care who he gets his money from, just as long as he receives it. His ‘fervent pleas for money’ (A case of death 332), is shown clearly when again Sebastian ask O’keefe for money and states, “ your money is safer with me than in your pocket, may get killed on a plane” (41), although jokingly, Dangerfield describes O’keefe’s money as being safer in his pocket than anywhere else, which is false especially since Sebastian intends just to simply waste it on alcohol. In another situation with O’keefe, Sebastian even goes as far as stating, ‘A shilling is nothing’ (22), when he is receiving from O’keefe in yet another the plea for money. To Sebastian, it is clear that money has no value but to make himself look greater in social class, rather than an outcome of self earned
To Sebastian, remaining in his poor economic status isn 't an option, therefore his expectancy ‘to be made gloriously rich by inheritance’ (A Case of Death 330) shows that he is willing to depend on inheritance, rather than independent work to gain financial prosperity. ‘Don 't drag me down with you’ (22), says O’keefe to Sebastian when Sebastian begs him for money. Here, Sebastian is asking money from a man that is just as poverty stricken as he is, showing that Sebastian doesn 't care who he gets his money from, just as long as he receives it. His ‘fervent pleas for money’ (A case of death 332), is shown clearly when again Sebastian ask O’keefe for money and states, “ your money is safer with me than in your pocket, may get killed on a plane” (41), although jokingly, Dangerfield describes O’keefe’s money as being safer in his pocket than anywhere else, which is false especially since Sebastian intends just to simply waste it on alcohol. In another situation with O’keefe, Sebastian even goes as far as stating, ‘A shilling is nothing’ (22), when he is receiving from O’keefe in yet another the plea for money. To Sebastian, it is clear that money has no value but to make himself look greater in social class, rather than an outcome of self earned