In Ian McEwan’s novel Saturday, the main character Henry Perowne attempts to navigate the complexities of a world that he previously (before 9/11) thought was safe, and in his search for safety, he coincidently examines his own morality and inner confidence. Following the attack that occurred on 9/11, Perowne (although he is a very intelligent, successful British neurosurgeon with a beautiful, healthy, thriving family) spends his entire Saturday questioning his safety and the confidence he has in himself, and Zoe Heller puts it best: “in an instant, his illusion of intellectual mastery over his surroundings is shattered and the euphoric visions of civic cooperation are replaced by dreadful imaginings of panic and death” (Heller).
Perowne’s insecurities begin when he sees a burning, floundering fireball speeding down to earth. Immediately, he figures it to be a meteor of some sort. After ruling the meteor possibility out, he assumes that an accident occurred, and he wonders if he should try to help. Ultimately, he settles on the possibility that the “figure” is really an act of terrorism (much like the attack that happened in America on the twin towers). Quickly, an unsettling fear for his wellbeing grips him for over an hour. As the fear for his safety finally dies down when he learns that the “terrorist plane” is in fact a harmless cargo plane, a new emotion of anger emerges – not at the possibility of terrorist acts but at the idea that he so quickly abandoned his self-assured logic and reason that he has relied on (and thrived on) for his entire life. Consumed by distaste for his own fickle minded hysterics, Perowne begins to question his confidence.
Perowne correlates religious faith to “what his psychiatric colleagues call a problem, or an idea, of reference. An excess of the subjective, the ordering of the world in line with your needs, an inability to contemplate your own unimportance'' (McEwan). Clearly, Perowne is not a religious man, which can lead to a lack of moral fiber – an issue that flares up when he gets into a car crash with Baxter. Baxter is a thug who attempts to intimidate Perowne into taking ownership as the cause of the accident. As Baxter is intimidating him, Perowne uses his intellect to defeat his foe by calling him out on his Huntington’s disease. The tactic works, but Perowne feels extreme guilt after the altercation, as explained by Zoe Heller: “by confronting him with this diagnosis, he creates a distraction that allows him to escape without injury. As he drives away, his relief is undercut by misgivings. He doubts the morality of using his medical authority as a stun gun, even in an act of self-defense” (Heller). Perhaps his lack of religion has led to a lack of moral values; hence, his intuitive humiliation and belittlement of Baxter.
Perowne’s insecurities begin when he sees a burning, floundering fireball speeding down to earth. Immediately, he figures it to be a meteor of some sort. After ruling the meteor possibility out, he assumes that an accident occurred, and he wonders if he should try to help. Ultimately, he settles on the possibility that the “figure” is really an act of terrorism (much like the attack that happened in America on the twin towers). Quickly, an unsettling fear for his wellbeing grips him for over an hour. As the fear for his safety finally dies down when he learns that the “terrorist plane” is in fact a harmless cargo plane, a new emotion of anger emerges – not at the possibility of terrorist acts but at the idea that he so quickly abandoned his self-assured logic and reason that he has relied on (and thrived on) for his entire life. Consumed by distaste for his own fickle minded hysterics, Perowne begins to question his confidence.
Perowne correlates religious faith to “what his psychiatric colleagues call a problem, or an idea, of reference. An excess of the subjective, the ordering of the world in line with your needs, an inability to contemplate your own unimportance'' (McEwan). Clearly, Perowne is not a religious man, which can lead to a lack of moral fiber – an issue that flares up when he gets into a car crash with Baxter. Baxter is a thug who attempts to intimidate Perowne into taking ownership as the cause of the accident. As Baxter is intimidating him, Perowne uses his intellect to defeat his foe by calling him out on his Huntington’s disease. The tactic works, but Perowne feels extreme guilt after the altercation, as explained by Zoe Heller: “by confronting him with this diagnosis, he creates a distraction that allows him to escape without injury. As he drives away, his relief is undercut by misgivings. He doubts the morality of using his medical authority as a stun gun, even in an act of self-defense” (Heller). Perhaps his lack of religion has led to a lack of moral values; hence, his intuitive humiliation and belittlement of Baxter.
3 comments:
Good point about the correlation between and psychiatry and religion. What does Henry depend upon. PLease do more with the family dinner.
Henry Perowne does evolve into an insecure being, as you state. The unending events that worsen his Saturday only create a greater conflict in his mind. He doubts God, though not a religious man, he questions human beings and himself even. When he figures out the plane crash at Heathrow airport was not part of a terrorist attack he does become quite upset with himself, and his confidence is affected by this fear. Come to think of it, there are two types of fears Henry experiences; the first one would be safety in general, for himself ad his family. Then there is the fear that he will never regain his confidence ever again. That fear and insecurity will never leave Henry’s mind is what drives him mad. I think that by hiding behind his profession and knowledge is how Henry believes he will regain that confidence.
I don’t think Henry did wrong when he attacked Baxter psychologically after the car crash. Diagnosing Baxter’s illness in front of his “friends” was a smart move and I would’ve probably done the same.
I don't think (nor agree with Zeller that)Henry's post-event thoughts about the traffic accident necessarily assume or concede guilt for using his medical authority to de-escalate the situation. Henry sees an opportunity to avoid physical harm and proceeds to try to drop a figurative anchor in on Baxter's vulnerability. He quickly determines the nature of Baxter's illness and then attempts to sidetrack him with a blunt statement about the illness, seemingly without much thought about embarassing him in front of his cohorts. Theo even has to point out this very fact to Henry later on closer to dinner.
Once Henry latches on to Baxter's vulnerability in playing on his hope for a cure, he develops a surprisingly genuine and legitimate doctor/patient relationship with Baxter. He pries deeper than necessary in an attempt to start formulating a plan for his individual predicament.
Henry is a physician through and through and we see this as he treats the wounds Baxter suffers after his son Theo overpowers Baxter's efforts to invade their home. Henry takes his powerful gift seriously and is deeply committed to improving the lives of others.
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