Throughout this novel, we see Alison
adjust from a child to a young and confident woman.
What events bring about this change?
Introduction
There are many important phases in life, ranging from baby, to toddler, to schoolchild to high school and finally to an adult.
Many regard puberty as the most important phase as it involves growing from a dependant child to a self-sufficient adult. Growing up (maturing) is different in every individual. In the novel ‘The Coal House’, we see Alison maturing from an insecure, complaining mischievous child to a young certain and sensitive young woman.
People such as her vulnerable dad, the Sue woman, Tommy, and events such as the riot, moving up north the mishap with Sue, all collaborate to form the woman she is today.
Every individual develops in to adulthood at different ages. Much depends on their experiences in childhood. Alison was compelled to mature quickly as a result of the death of her mother. Instead of having a mother look after her, she was increasingly finding herself supporting her vulnerable father.
Middle
In the first few pages of this novel, we are given a very good description of Alison’s’ approaches to various situations. She’s very unambiguous about going through her life at her own pace and has an aversion to any abrupt changes to her daily routine, reflecting on the possibility that she’s insecure.
This is quite understandable if you take in account that her mother passed away a few months earlier and that Alison is still adjusting to the situation.
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When children are very young, always bring yourself down to their level. Sit on the ground next to them or sit on a chair equal to the size of their own. Having an adult towering over them whilst in conversation must be very intimidating. This in turn helps the child have eye contact with you so they can be assured of your full attention. Looking around the room while you are talking to them is ...
So obviously, her father’s altruistic attempt of moving up north to start a new life isn’t going to appeal to Alison very much. She makes this very clear, attempting childish behavior and excuses to provoke her family.
A good example is when her Gran shows her a picture of her future house with her future bedroom window circled and Alison replies,
” It isn’t an attic room, I told Dad I wouldn’t move unless I had an attic room”.
This last bargaining line suggests the threatening tactics of an infant, which should not be expected from a thirteen year old, and Alison knew it. I presume Alison was only trying to appear superior and determined not to show all the anxiety and anguish she felt ever since her mother’s death. When arriving at her new town, she continued to resist her father’s desperate attempts of making the place welcome to her. In paradigm, her father picked out some interesting and beautiful scenery, for example he pointed out a small Cathedral. Alison however, remarked bluntly, “A good Cathedral, not a great Cathedral”. No matter how hard her father tried to be optimistic, she always put all his nice remarks down.
When just leaving the train station, a very callous yet notable remark about her attitude towards this change was included in the conversation on the way home.
“This is the road out. We live about five miles away.”
“Not yet we don’t”.
“Oh Ally, come on.”
Her Dads attempt to start up a conversation is put down quickly with Allison’s reply. Alison’s line could be called non-tactful. A dead-end line, which, she knows will only lead to her dad getting annoyed, maybe to test his patients.
She is very clear right from the beginning that she is gong to make her Dad suffer for forcing her to move, which is a very childish thing to do, and once again, reflects she is immature.
Thus far, Alison is very much a dependant child, but will obviously gradually change as she acclimatizes herself to her mother’s absence and her fathers’ sudden dependence on her.
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Alison was, although she tried to show little interest at first, fascinated by her new surroundings. She was keen to explore her house and it’s ambiance even though she appeared remote. She exerted pressure on her father pointing out faults or how things should have been improved beforehand, for example, when Alison discovered they had mice her father again attempted to save the situation and offered to buy cats, which pleased Alison a great deal. It was that offer that she realized how much effort her father was putting in to make her happier settling in. Although at this stage she did not forgive him for the move, she accepted it. A good example of her gradual acceptance of her new home was when she was looking back at the house from the woods. “Well, it was home. I’ll just have to do something about it”.
She soon came to meet, Tommy Sadler, a not so well off local whose life was braided around rabbits. He was hired to hunt them; not wasting one bit of the rabbit, using the meat to feed him and his family, the fur he collected to make clothes for the cooler winter months. He was aided with an air rifle and a terrier.
Alison at first was horrified to see a boy, hardly older than herself handling such a dangerous weapon, and most of all killing innocent bunnies. Although later on in the novel she came to realise how important the rabbits were for his well being. As he had many siblings, and his parents could not finically support them, every member of the Saddler family had to contribute to his or her welfare, and Tommy could do this by keeping down the rabbit population.
I would say the main fact that Alison learns from Tommy is that life can be very difficult just to stay alive for some, and for others like herself, gets everything wanted, within reason, without much labour. And if a family suffers a problem they should stick together and work at the problem together.
At school she, as many new students do, found it very easy to make friends and as she describes it in the book, “She realised it was a novelty to be new and that was her strength. “
A couple of weeks later, her maturity were tested when Tommy Saddler shot her on her cheek. Tommy was sure the police would come and arrest him for such a criminal mistake. She recognized how much trouble she could get him in for this and disregard him when present. But instead she told her friends, who didn’t like Tommy anyway, that accidents happen and it was all a big mistake. She soon forgave him, which was a very liberal and mature thing to do for a person of her age, as she didn’t like him much herself.
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Scared The sun was beating down on my friends and I as we played army in the fields behind our houses, filled with wild grass and weeds. As we played in the hot afternoon, my stomach would turn as if I was about to get in a fight at school. This could only mean one thing: it was almost time for dad to get home. Many things ran through my head as I lost my breath. Did I do everything that was on ...
One night, when Tommy, hoping to try and slightly make-up for the accident offered Allison a lift home in his uncles van, passing the picket lines on the way. Alison agreed and, although she did not know it yet, this would be a night she would never forget. The van pulled up the hill and the scene was horrific. Men were fighting all over the picket lines, one side for the law and the opposing side for rights. There was terrible laughter from one side, when a bottle full of petrol was lit and through and flames caught the suit of a terrified man, who was soon put out with the help of some friends. Alison was particularly infuriated to see a team of cameramen, snooping about capturing the raw violence. Knowing that these were people’s fathers and that their torture was being captured to entertain their audients with it. Alison was motivated by this to help join and challenge this unfairness though stupid, very brave. In her attempt of doing this, she ran full pace in to the recording eye of the enemy and fiercely beckoned them to mind their own business, only to be pulled back by policemen. Her father soon arrived to pick her up.
That evening Alison let out a very grown up point of view about the fight. She explained to her dad the unfair fight. She particularly sticks to the miners’ side. We see this is in the conversation she has with her dad that evening.
“The miners are right. They want their jobs back. They’re good at their jobs. People won’t let them work and, and…”
“Steady on Ally.”
“…don’t you see? There’s nothing else for them to do! Dad those policemen had shields and helmets and sticks. The miners had nothing. It’s just not equal.”
This incident really opened her eyes to the horrors of the world, and of course, once again, increased her maturity. But, she doesn’t just say how awful the fight was, adopting a more mature point of view; she actually chooses a side for a valid reason.
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The True Side Effects f Sterids What, exactly, are sterids? Usually called anablic sterids, they are synthetic substances similar in chemical structure t the hrmne teststerne. Teststerne is ften called the male sex hrmne, but females prduce it t. In bth sexes, teststerne prmtes the grwth f skeletal muscles, the muscles that are cnnected t the skeletn and enable a persn t mve. The muscle-grwing ...
Another major part of her increasing maturity took place when her father met Sue. Her biggest test yet. Even though Alison had not met Sue yet, as soon as her dad mentioned that a lady called Sue would be coming for lunch, Alison was determined not to like her, no matter what she was like. She wore her oldest clothes around her, almost to say:
“You’re not special enough to see my best clothes.”
When seeing Sue for the first time she wore a white boiler suit. Although this was in Alison’s opinion
Alison was constantly in competition with Sue. Sue, who was quite quick-minded, realised the competition. She told Alison who was very surprised.
The most important event with Sue occurred to wards the end of the novel. When Alison’s Dad is drunk on the sofa and Sue tells Alison to make some back coffee.
“He doesn’t like back coffee”
“That’s not the point, dear. Make some, then I’ll put him to bed.” Alison had been turning towards the kitchen door. She stopped abruptly. She turned towards Sue and said:
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ll put him to bed. Sleep it off, best thing. “
“You, put my dad to bed?” She remembered a pick up line of Masies. “Sister, you’ve lost you’re thread.”
“Well, well hello Alison.”
“Hello yourself. You make the coffee, I’ll put him to bed.”
The above conversation holds victory of Alison Lucas. Alison proves her supremacy over Sue and the battle is won, and Sue knew it.
It once again, shows how Alison has developed to a potent woman and is no longer wishy-washy-woman.
The last issue, which proved Alison very mature for her age, occurred with the presents of Arthur Shotton. Mr Lucas was the first of the two to discover the ghost. But before he told Alison about him, Alison found out for herself. His blemished face was damaged from a past accident. This was obviously very difficult to look at without squirming and Arthur Shotton was ashamed of it and did his best to keep it covered with his wide-brimmed hat. Alison, though, acted like there was nothing on his face and asked politely and reassuringly how it happened.
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Question 1 In her essay “Shooting Dad”, Sarah Vowell describes her attempt at “becoming a better daughter.” Her effort to understand her father’s interest in guns is a potential model for resolving disagreements. Do you believe her approach—trying to understand the other side—could be used to address conflicts you’ve experienced or observed? Why or why not? Write an essay that answers this ...
And also, she didn’t pressure her dad into telling her about the ghost, but left him in peace to tell him in his own time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, during this novel we see Alison grow up in a number of events, each as important as the next, all involving Alison to think about other people rather than just herself.
