🚶🏻♂️➡️Devlin Flashcards
Dev
What is his importance to the novel as a whole?
Devlin is one of the characters in the sub plot, and from the opening his past is wrapped up in mystery. Despite misgivings from Tufty about the intentions of his relationship with Leon, it transpires that he lost a son from a previous marriage because his son broke rules about running around traffic. This explains why Devlin is so focussed on keeping the rules. Devlin’s ending is happy as he makes peace with Tufty and begins a relationship with Sylvia. His role as another archetypal sage in Leon’s life is important, and his character reminds us how much the past can affect people’s personalities.
’'’I used to be Señor Victor. Can you say Senhor Victor?” ‘Senhor Victor.’ Mr Devlin stares at Leon and then whispers, ‘Or Papa!
‘Papa.’ ‘Ah,’ says Mr Devlin.” (Ch. 18)
This dialogue between Devlin and Leon might make the reader feel uncomfortable, as we do not know why Leon calling Devlin ‘Papa’ would make him sigh. At the end of the novel, we know that Devlin lost a son, but as the reader doesn’t yet know this they might feel concerned about his intentions.
‘photographs of boys, lots of them; dozens.’ […] ‘there are things in Mr Devlin’s shed that he wants to see again.’ (Chapter 26)
The reader probably feels very uncomfortable here, wondering why Devlin has lots of pictures of boys in his shed. They might feel concern for Leon who wants to see his items, and worry that Leon doesn’t have any suspicions towards Devlin.
‘Stay away from that man. He don’t like black people unless they’re under sixteen.’ (Ch. 29)
Tufty’s concerns about Devlin’s intentions may echo the readers.
However, Devlin has done nothing that Tufty hasn’t done, for example inviting him into his shed, giving him things, teaching, and talking.
Keep the f***ing rules! Isn’t that what I told him? Isn’t it? … It’s my fault she said. My fault for shouting. He wasn’t looking. My fault. Always my fault. Always will be my fault. For ever and ever. Amen
Chapter 31
Here, the true rson A lot of is revealed: he was unable to prevent the death of his set talk of his behaviours are given context, for example his desire to talk to Leon and his need for rules. We feel symoatgy for Devlin here. Like a chant, religious connotations
‘It’s a protest. Except we don’t bomb people in their beds like you Irish people.’… ‘Oh, every Irishman is a terrorist, is that what you’re saying?’ (Ch. 36)
Here, xenophobic attitudes towards the Irish and stereotypes are raised. It is ironic that both Devlin and Tufty mistreat each other because of negative stereotypes.
Leon likes it when they pretend to argue like they used to. (Ch. 42)
At the end of the novel, we can see how Leon’s relationship with Tufty and Devlin has led to a resolution; they are both happy friends, and even their faux arguments remind Leon of how far they have come.
