The Slap, The Meaning

The Slap, The Meaning

Introduction

Tsiolkas is a brilliant and fearless writer. His writing, though raw, is capable of igniting powerful emotions in the reader. The Slap successfully enrages and disgust readers. At times, it creates a sense of pity and warmth. The teenagers in the book are very relatable and one of them stands out amongst the entire ensemble of disturbed personalities. The book has been a center of debate since the day it sold its first copy. Not many books can generate such emotion but the The Slap succeeds in doing this entirely due to the skilled storytelling of Tsiolkas.

Another reason to pick up this book is Tsoilkas' prose. The man's writing does not bend to society's norms or any form of political correctness. The author deals with domestic violence, controversy, homosexuality, racism, extra marital affairs and child rearing in such a unique way. You do not need a degree in psychology to understand the characters, where they are coming from. It is almost a reflection of real people, only in print. Tsoilkas skillfully dives head first into the mind of teenager and then seamlessly becomes an old man as if he never strayed from the aging wisdom only a man near his end can display. The Slap is a riveting story. By the time the reader finishes it, it would be fair to say that he has not read a work of art, he has lived it.

Finally, this is a book about the complexities of community that makes decisions based on genders, race and sexuality. The presence of these factors is what makes the story and view of each character so gripping. Furthermore, an incident early on defines the books flow. A slap, the only symbol of discipline, brings together all the characters. It then tests their relationships, their bonds and their limits. This paper takes a detailed look at the book and the notion of discipline that many thoughtful readers might deduce.

Discussion

The novel begins at an average suburban barbeque. The barbeque setting itself is nothing special and the setting mimics community barbeques from any part of the world. Be it London, Los Angeles or Sydney, the setting is quite familiar and could be thought of as your own back yard. There is turmoil in the kitchen, the guests are drunk and nobody seems particularly happy about being there. The only thing that sets this barbeque apart from all the rest is specific event that takes place over only a few seconds.

Hugo, a spoilt young brat cries begins acting up. He has been a nuisance all day. After smashing a video game remote earlier, he refuses to leave a game of cricket. In rage, he raises his cricket bat to strike a much older child. The boy's father steps in at just the right moment and prevents the bloodshed. Hugo lashes out at the father, and the father of the saved child instinctively reprimands him with a slap across the ...