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When Kes dies, Mrs Casper says: “It’s only a bird. You can get another, can’t you?” How does the writer show the importance of Kes?
Barry Hines shows the importance of Kes throughout the book in many different ways; he does this through use of language, imagery and often in comparison with the other characters involved in Billy’s life. ... Jud (Billy’s “brother”) and Mrs Casper, prove uncaring, and frequently uninterested. Jud’s role in the novel is as Billy’s taskmaster, and general bully. He is always ordering Billy to run errands for him, such as putting on the bet for him, “An’ there’s a bet for our Jud’s to take an’ all. ... The almost warning tone of Mrs Casper, as she reminds Billy of his purpose, tells us more about Jud’s attitude. Billy’s brother is short-tempered, irrational and reacts on his instincts; this is one of the reasons why Kes ends up dead. Without Kes however, Billy may have followed another path in life, the one Jud choose to lead. Kes has taught Billy to remain level-headed, “ Only ‘cos she thinks I’m not bothered…when she used to peck me I kept my finger there as though it didn’t hurt.” If Billy had taken on Jud’s character, Kes would have been shown no remorse and would probably have been killed much earlier in the book.
Approximate Word count = 1066
Approximate Pages = 4.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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