SettingSetting

Black and BlueBlack and Blue

Setting - TimeSetting - TimePublished in 1997Published in 1997Just as Scotland was being promised its own Just as Scotland was being promised its own

governmentgovernmentThe Conservative government which had The Conservative government which had

been in place for 15 years was nearing its endbeen in place for 15 years was nearing its endCovers various places in Scotland – Covers various places in Scotland –

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, ShetlandEdinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, ShetlandThis is because it is a ‘state of the nation This is because it is a ‘state of the nation

novel’novel’

Setting in place is used to great effect Setting in place is used to great effect in the novel:in the novel:

It creates atmosphereIt creates atmosphereIt reflects and shapes characterIt reflects and shapes characterIt conveys themeIt conveys theme

AtmosphereAtmosphere An example of this is the scene of McLure’s death:An example of this is the scene of McLure’s death: ““The weather was forecast for sunshine and The weather was forecast for sunshine and

showers...Brisk black clouds, shafts of sunlight, blue showers...Brisk black clouds, shafts of sunlight, blue skies, then clouds gathering again. At one point, it skies, then clouds gathering again. At one point, it started raining when there didn’t seem to be a cloud started raining when there didn’t seem to be a cloud in the sky.” (127)in the sky.” (127)

““The wooden walkway where McLure’s body had lain The wooden walkway where McLure’s body had lain had been blown dry by the wind, leaving nothing to had been blown dry by the wind, leaving nothing to indicate that a death had occurred so recently.” indicate that a death had occurred so recently.” (p138)(p138)

It seems desolate and isolatedIt seems desolate and isolated The world seems disinterested in his deathThe world seems disinterested in his death The oil rig becomes a source of fear in Rebus’s The oil rig becomes a source of fear in Rebus’s

dream (279)dream (279)

CharacterCharacter

Alan Mitchison’s FlatAlan Mitchison’s Flat

On page 23 Mitchison’s flat is described On page 23 Mitchison’s flat is described as “solitary” and “bare”as “solitary” and “bare”

Although it contains expensive, new Although it contains expensive, new equipment it does not seem like a homeequipment it does not seem like a home

Mitchison does not seem to belong Mitchison does not seem to belong anywhere and is a lonely figureanywhere and is a lonely figure

Rebus’s FlatRebus’s FlatRebus’s flat illustrates his loneliness and the Rebus’s flat illustrates his loneliness and the

emptiness of his life: “There was music, and emptiness of his life: “There was music, and there were books, but neither in great quantity there were books, but neither in great quantity nor of great quality. The clothes were nor of great quality. The clothes were utilitarian, one jacket much like another. No utilitarian, one jacket much like another. No shoes. He found that bizarre in the extreme. shoes. He found that bizarre in the extreme. Did the man possess only one pair?” (361)Did the man possess only one pair?” (361)

Redecorating the flat coincides with an Redecorating the flat coincides with an improvement in Rebus’s moodimprovement in Rebus’s mood

Understandably Rebus wants to escape from this, Understandably Rebus wants to escape from this, hence “Sometimes he drove all night.” (p13)hence “Sometimes he drove all night.” (p13)

He also seeks refuge in pubs, particularly the He also seeks refuge in pubs, particularly the Oxford Bar where the optics seem “quietly Oxford Bar where the optics seem “quietly hypnotic” (41)hypnotic” (41)

CraigmillarCraigmillar

Rebus compares Craigmillar to “purgatory”Rebus compares Craigmillar to “purgatory”And calls the station Fort Apache – Wild And calls the station Fort Apache – Wild

West referenceWest reference It reflects his depressed mood: “a low-It reflects his depressed mood: “a low-

built, dour-faced building”built, dour-faced building” It seems to trap Rebus: “a mob could cut it It seems to trap Rebus: “a mob could cut it

off from civilisation with ease.” (p6)off from civilisation with ease.” (p6)

The housing estates of EdinburghThe housing estates of EdinburghCraigmillar is just one place which seems to Craigmillar is just one place which seems to

trap its residents in a cycle of poverty and trap its residents in a cycle of poverty and crime:crime:

Niddre, Craigmillar, Wester Hailes, Niddre, Craigmillar, Wester Hailes, Muirhouse, Pilton, Granton… They all Muirhouse, Pilton, Granton… They all seemed to him like some horrible seemed to him like some horrible experiment in social engineering: scientists experiment in social engineering: scientists in white coats sticking families down in this in white coats sticking families down in this maze or that, seeing what would happen, maze or that, seeing what would happen, how strong they’d have to become to cope, how strong they’d have to become to cope, whether or not they’d find the exit…whether or not they’d find the exit… (P106) (P106)

Setting not only reflects character but Setting not only reflects character but makes the characters who they aremakes the characters who they are

EdinburghEdinburgh Referred to as ‘Empty Capital’Referred to as ‘Empty Capital’ ““It cost a fortune to live in Edinburgh these days. It It cost a fortune to live in Edinburgh these days. It

could cost you everything you had.” (p13) – the city could cost you everything you had.” (p13) – the city seems to be at least partly responsible for Rebus’s seems to be at least partly responsible for Rebus’s depression and lonelinessdepression and loneliness

Mitchison seems lonely there too: “He didn’t have Mitchison seems lonely there too: “He didn’t have many pals left in Edinburgh.” (15)many pals left in Edinburgh.” (15)

But Edinburgh is home to Rebus: “It amused him that But Edinburgh is home to Rebus: “It amused him that he could sell up and be suddenly rich…except, of he could sell up and be suddenly rich…except, of course, that he’d have nowhere to live…He realised course, that he’d have nowhere to live…He realised he was just about as trapped as anyone in Niddrie or he was just about as trapped as anyone in Niddrie or Craigmillar, nicer model trap, that was all.” (106)Craigmillar, nicer model trap, that was all.” (106)

ThemeTheme

GlasgowGlasgowBible John comments on GlasgowBible John comments on Glasgow ““In the late Sixties, it had been reinventing In the late Sixties, it had been reinventing

itself: knocking down old slums, building their itself: knocking down old slums, building their concrete equivalents on the outskirts. New concrete equivalents on the outskirts. New roads, bridges, motorways – the pace had roads, bridges, motorways – the pace had been an enormous building site. He got the been an enormous building site. He got the feeling the process was still ongoing, as if the feeling the process was still ongoing, as if the city still hadn’t acquired an identity it could be city still hadn’t acquired an identity it could be comfortable with.” (comfortable with.” (57)57)

Like several character in the novel – Bible Like several character in the novel – Bible John, Johnny Bible, Joanna Bruce – the city John, Johnny Bible, Joanna Bruce – the city itself seems to be looking for a new identityitself seems to be looking for a new identity

To Bible John Glasgow embodies a To Bible John Glasgow embodies a mixture of violence and endeavour:mixture of violence and endeavour:

““He remembered the city of his youth, He remembered the city of his youth, stories of razor gangs and bare-knuckle stories of razor gangs and bare-knuckle bouts. Glasgow had a violent history, but bouts. Glasgow had a violent history, but that didn’t tell the full story. It could be a that didn’t tell the full story. It could be a beautiful city, too, a city for photographers beautiful city, too, a city for photographers and artists.” (296)and artists.” (296)

Rebus, though, simply seems Rebus, though, simply seems uncomfortable in Glasgow:uncomfortable in Glasgow:

He calls it “Raintown” which is “dreich” He calls it “Raintown” which is “dreich” it is a “maze” where he gets lostit is a “maze” where he gets lostLater he reflects that “Glasgow was built to Later he reflects that “Glasgow was built to

monumental scale, making the capital monumental scale, making the capital seem like Toytown.” (83)seem like Toytown.” (83)

It is an intimidating settingIt is an intimidating setting

AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen like Glasgow is full of contradictions.Aberdeen like Glasgow is full of contradictions. It too seems to be searching for an identityIt too seems to be searching for an identity

““For all the associations with granite, Aberdeen For all the associations with granite, Aberdeen had a feeling of impermanence. These days it had a feeling of impermanence. These days it owed almost everything it had to oil, and the oil owed almost everything it had to oil, and the oil wouldn’t be there for ever… “ wouldn’t be there for ever… “ (p163)(p163)

The reality is less like a mythical land of gold The reality is less like a mythical land of gold and more like the Wild West: “initial stories of and more like the Wild West: “initial stories of Eldorado turned into tales from the darkside: Eldorado turned into tales from the darkside: brothels, blood-baths, drunken brawls”brothels, blood-baths, drunken brawls”

It seems to settle for a mixture of It seems to settle for a mixture of respectability and corruption:respectability and corruption:

““somewhere in the middle, between Hell somewhere in the middle, between Hell and Eldorado” (164)and Eldorado” (164)

The oil fieldsThe oil fields

Shetland too is a contradiction. Most of it Shetland too is a contradiction. Most of it seems like “Miles and miles of bugger all” seems like “Miles and miles of bugger all” (212)(212)

The Sullom Voe refinery is “like a sci-fi city The Sullom Voe refinery is “like a sci-fi city transported to prehistory” (214)transported to prehistory” (214)

Progress moves so fast it creates another Progress moves so fast it creates another contrast in the novel: contrast in the novel:

Progress and unspoiled coutryside, rich and Progress and unspoiled coutryside, rich and poor, respectable and corrupt, right and wrong, poor, respectable and corrupt, right and wrong, good and evil good and evil all coexistall coexist