Stigmatization and analysis of the the story ‘The Stoat”

Stigmatisation and Analysis of the story ‘The Stoat"

There is no denying the fact that in the story ‘The Stoat’ by John McGahern, we have the theme of self-centeredness, terror, blame, negative response and integrity. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator, the reader realises after reading the story that McGahern may be exploring the theme of selfishness. The protagonist’s father, on hearing that Miss McCabe has had a heart attack, decides to abandon any notions he had of getting engaged to Miss McCabe. It is as though the protagonist’s father doesn’t want to care for Miss McCabe should the need arise. This may be important as it suggests that the protagonist’s father is being selfish. Thinking only of his own approach rather than on how Miss McCabe may feel.

 It envisages to be a case that if the focal point is not on him, he does not want to get engaged to or marry Miss McCabe. If anything, Miss McCabe has become a liability rather than an asset to the protagonist’s father. It is also possible that the protagonist’s father fears the upshot should he end up marrying Miss McCabe. He has already buried one wife and may not wish to have to bury a second. Miss McCabe is no longer of any use to the protagonist’s father, and as mentioned, she has become a charge. Where previously the protagonist’s father had been happy to get engaged to Miss McCabe, this is no longer the case. Driven by his own sense of importance, the protagonist’s father decides to go back home without discussing the break-up with Miss McCabe.

If what on earth the protagonist’s father is not taking responsibility for his actions. It would be more appropriate for him to be honest with Miss McCabe rather than simply abandoning her without any type of explanation. Not only is the protagonist’s father acting selfishly, but he is also avoiding having to tell Miss McCabe as to why he no longer has any interest in seeing her or getting engaged. His actions lack any type of honesty. Similarly, his fears that he may have to take care of Miss McCabe suggest that the most important person in the protagonist’s father’s life is himself. He had been seeking companionship; however, everything must be on his terms. Something noticeable by fact that the protagonist’s father was unhappy with many of the women that he had seen before he chose Ms McCabe. The other women may have been too much work for the protagonist’s father. He is looking for something easy in life without having to put too much effort in. Miss McCabe fits the bill till she has a heart attack.

Though the protagonist’s father has every right to choose the woman he wishes to marry, some critics might suggest he is acting spinelessly by abandoning or rejecting Miss McCabe. It may also be a case that the protagonist is rejecting his father (and Miss McCabe). Something noticeable by the protagonist’s desire to ‘avoid the trout dinner and anything more got to do with them.’ As to why the protagonist wishes to reject his father and Miss McCabe is uncertain. He may have grown tired of their interaction with one another. Where previously he had no objection to his father finding female companionship. The protagonist has now changed his mind. The protagonist’s relationship with his uncle is also interesting, as he appears to have more constructive dialogue with him than he does with his father. Throughout the story, the father has been concerned only with his own goal of finding a companion. Whereas it seems his uncle listens to him. Something noticeable by the fact that they go on a four-mile walk together and then go to the Grand Central for a drink. It is as though both the protagonist and his uncle share common interests not only professionally but also personally.

The end of the story is also interesting as McGahern repeats a paragraph. This may be important as McGahern could be suggesting that just as the stoat will kill again, so too symbolically will the protagonist’s father. Just as the stoat has killed the rabbit. The protagonist’s father has killed off his relationship with Miss McCabe, and he may do so with any other woman who does not match the strict criteria that the protagonist’s father has set out. Though the protagonist’s father is looking for companionship, he also seems to be looking for perfection, yet he is not able to offer this himself. As a man, he is flawed. He has abandoned Miss McCabe for no other reason apart from the fact that she had a heart attack. The standard that the protagonist’s father has set and which many women have not been able to attain in any way may not be realistic.

Because of the above, it is evident that the protagonist’s father himself has very little to put forward. He is wedged in his way; incredibly, it is conspicuous by his reading habits when it comes to the newspaper. Yet the woman that the protagonist’s father seeks must be able to accommodate his idiosyncratic way of living, and at the same time have no quirks of note themselves. Again, the protagonist’s father is a selfish man who thinks only of himself. If the woman does not tick all the right boxes, the protagonist’s father doesn’t want to know. Yet he cannot tick some of the boxes himself.