“In My Father’s Den” (1972) is a controversial novel that comments on
Puritan New Zealand; critically acclaimed New Zealand author Maurice Gee
wrote it. The novel follows Paul Prior a small town English teacher who’s top
pupil, Celia Inverarity, is murdered. The novel follows him as he goes through
his life story trying to make sense of why Celia was murdered. The idea of the
den has a large significance to two of the story’s main characters, Paul and his
younger brother Andrew Prior; it follows them through their whole lives from
their childhoods all the way through to their adulthoods. Paul and Andrew both
grew in an unrelenting Puritanical society, but grew into two very different
men: Paul turns away from the Puritan values …show more content…
Both Edith and Andrew disliked Henry’s den but condoned it. Edith’s reason
for condoning Henry’s den is unknown, whereas it is easy to assume that
Andrew condoned the den because it belonged to his father and disrespecting
one’s father is against the Puritan values Andrew held so dear. Towards the
middle of the novel Henry undermines the idea of the den that Paul has just
before he dies, he states two things to Paul that show the reader and Paul just
how Henry feels about the den in his old age. After stating he couldn’t believe
he spent so much of his life in the den he tells Paul “There were so many other
things I could’ve done” (Gee, 1972. p. 100), this statement shows how Henry
feels that he’s wasted his life in the den and almost seems to be a warning for
Paul not to do the same as him. The other statement was on his deathbed; his
final words to Paul were “women are so damned biological” (Gee, 1972. p.
100), this statement undermines everything that Paul thought den stood for, he
chose those five words to become his legacy and the last piece of advice for his
eldest son; he practically stated “women are nothing more than their …show more content…
p. 25).
Paul’s complete and utter opposite in this novel is his pious, younger brother
Andrew Prior, Andrew was his mother’s son and followed her word slightly
like gospel. Paul believes that in his adulthood Andrew’s relationship with
Edith was thought of as “mother, Goddess of The Hearth – Andrew wise child,
acolyte” (Gee, 1972. p. 166). Andrew views Paul’s whole life as “a mess.
Nothing but self-indulgence and pleasure. Women, the drink, the stuff [Paul
calls] art. No discipline, no belief, no order” (Gee, 1972. p. 145), he despises
the idea of a den, this hatred is seen towards the end of the novel when he
poured petrol over everything in Paul’s destroyed den and set it alight. Andrew
views the den as unholy and evil, but in saying this Paul paints a picture where
Andrew seems to respect Paul’s need for a den; when he sees what Charlie has
done to Paul’s den “he looked at the ruined room with an expression of
outrage” (Gee, 1972. p. 162) and insists that Paul call the police claiming “this
is – criminal. This is valuable property” (Gee, 1972. p. 162).
The den plays a significant role in the novel In My Father’s Den, it is
Puritan New Zealand; critically acclaimed New Zealand author Maurice Gee
wrote it. The novel follows Paul Prior a small town English teacher who’s top
pupil, Celia Inverarity, is murdered. The novel follows him as he goes through
his life story trying to make sense of why Celia was murdered. The idea of the
den has a large significance to two of the story’s main characters, Paul and his
younger brother Andrew Prior; it follows them through their whole lives from
their childhoods all the way through to their adulthoods. Paul and Andrew both
grew in an unrelenting Puritanical society, but grew into two very different
men: Paul turns away from the Puritan values …show more content…
Both Edith and Andrew disliked Henry’s den but condoned it. Edith’s reason
for condoning Henry’s den is unknown, whereas it is easy to assume that
Andrew condoned the den because it belonged to his father and disrespecting
one’s father is against the Puritan values Andrew held so dear. Towards the
middle of the novel Henry undermines the idea of the den that Paul has just
before he dies, he states two things to Paul that show the reader and Paul just
how Henry feels about the den in his old age. After stating he couldn’t believe
he spent so much of his life in the den he tells Paul “There were so many other
things I could’ve done” (Gee, 1972. p. 100), this statement shows how Henry
feels that he’s wasted his life in the den and almost seems to be a warning for
Paul not to do the same as him. The other statement was on his deathbed; his
final words to Paul were “women are so damned biological” (Gee, 1972. p.
100), this statement undermines everything that Paul thought den stood for, he
chose those five words to become his legacy and the last piece of advice for his
eldest son; he practically stated “women are nothing more than their …show more content…
p. 25).
Paul’s complete and utter opposite in this novel is his pious, younger brother
Andrew Prior, Andrew was his mother’s son and followed her word slightly
like gospel. Paul believes that in his adulthood Andrew’s relationship with
Edith was thought of as “mother, Goddess of The Hearth – Andrew wise child,
acolyte” (Gee, 1972. p. 166). Andrew views Paul’s whole life as “a mess.
Nothing but self-indulgence and pleasure. Women, the drink, the stuff [Paul
calls] art. No discipline, no belief, no order” (Gee, 1972. p. 145), he despises
the idea of a den, this hatred is seen towards the end of the novel when he
poured petrol over everything in Paul’s destroyed den and set it alight. Andrew
views the den as unholy and evil, but in saying this Paul paints a picture where
Andrew seems to respect Paul’s need for a den; when he sees what Charlie has
done to Paul’s den “he looked at the ruined room with an expression of
outrage” (Gee, 1972. p. 162) and insists that Paul call the police claiming “this
is – criminal. This is valuable property” (Gee, 1972. p. 162).
The den plays a significant role in the novel In My Father’s Den, it is