One of the topics that we discussed in class is why do we use fiction to depict extreme times of violence and duress in history? The two books that we discussed were Mojo Mickybo, which reflected the violence of the Troubles in Belfast and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which reflects the extreme violence of the Holocaust. Why do we need to come up with stories like these to explain events in history that are already regarded as tragic and catastrophic?
I believe the answer to this question is that by making up these stories, it makes the tragedy real for its readers. For members of the younger generation, the Troubles and other events that occurred decades ago are very hard to relate to on a personal level. Yes, we can recognize struggles of the time and realize how terrible it was, but to a certain extent there is not enough of a personal effect on us to understand the true pain of the time.
These stories allow people to feel that personal effect. Through reading, we develop a relationship with the characters. We begin to understand their life, thoughts, and emotions, which creates a genuine bond and connection. In Mojo Mickybo, we develop a relationship with the two boys and come to care for them and their friendship throughout the story. This connection makes it even more painful when Mickeybo’s father is shot in the back of the head and killed. Mickeybo’s friendship with Mojo is ended and him and his mother are now left to fend for themselves. This story is sad and although we know it is fiction, it still shines a light on the true pain of the time. The violence of The Troubles in general was not like a Hollywood movie, where killing is always justified and romanticized. The same can be said about the Boy in the Striped Pajamas, when both boys are mercilessly killed, leaving their families shattered. Stories like Mojo Mickeybo and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas shows how violence is often heartless and tears families, friendships, and lives apart. It affects the innocent just as much as those directly involved. This isn’t the story people want to hear, but it is the truth and that is why fictional stories like these hold value. It forces people to acknowledge the true pain and suffering from the time, instead of only looking at the Hollywood version.
I think Mojo Mickybo and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas aren’t quite as parallel as we had perhaps alluded to in class this week. The novel version of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was written in the 21st century, incidentally by an Irish author. While I imagine some research was involved, there is a prominent difference between studying the Holocaust and experiencing it, or even being alive at the time. Owen McCafferty may have invented the story he tells in Mojo Mickybo, but he himself was a young boy living in Belfast around the time the story was set. He lived through the Troubles, and I imagine he used his own experiences and the experiences of those close to him to inform Mojo Mickybo.
We did discuss how some components of the play are clearly fictitious, that the major premise of the play was impossible. I would offer in response to that notion, though, that it may be more illuminating to view it as fantastical elaboration, and not pure fiction. McCafferty is not unaware that certain parts of Mojo Mickybo are impossible; his decision to include them was intentional and are vital to the story.
At the end of your post, you mention that fictional stories like Mojo Mickybo are powerful because they have the power to force people to acknowledge the reality of a struggle like The Troubles. I have a little bit of an issue with this because I don’t think the fact that being fictional is what gives it that power (similar to what the previous comment discusses). After all, you say it yourself that Hollywood movies, many of which are fiction, actually romanticize and glorify moments of turmoil, glorifying them and discounting the hardships of those times. In my opinion, a non-fiction piece could be equally as potent in creating a powerful portrayal of a historical conflict. I would emphasize though the Mojo Mickybo is able to get the empathy of the reader because of the fantastical passages which let you see the thoughts of these two young boys. Seeing how they dream of escape all day long, despite being young enough they should be full of innocence, was very powerful to me. I feel that either a non-fiction or fiction story which provided you this insight into the inner thought processes of people could be quite powerful in portraying a conflict.
While I agree that the stories almost force us to realize the horrors that happened at the times they took place in, like Mojo Mickybo and the Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I feel that the fact that they are fiction actually make it difficult to relate it back to the events themselves. We do form a bond and grow attached to the characters in these stories, but at least for me, it still feels detached because I know that they are just stories. I wonder even if reading a biography or autobiography of someone who lived through these horrible times will give us more of a sense of what it was like at the time. For Eamonn McCann’s book, we already discussed how it was bound to be biased because it was seen through his eyes, not just straight facts, so is there anything we can read or see that can make us fully understand the objective truth of the history of the events of the time besides, unfortunately, rather boring textbooks or documentaries? Must we live through something like it ourselves to fully grasp what happened to people who survived and went through these awful times in history?