The Father Image In McGahern's Amongst Women

John McGahern is one of the most important novelists in contemporary Ireland. He has produced about thirteen books ranging from novels, short stories to plays. His works capture the rural landscape and family life of Ireland with precision and charm. Among his literary works, Amongst Women is the most successful and popular novel. From the viewpoint of the author of this thesis, it might best represent his unique creative power and be a significant mark on his literary career. The novel mainly concerns the Moran family and is also a mirror of the Irish country—from the war of independence to post-independence in its progress through fifty years of change.McGahern successfully creates in Amongst Women a self-enclosed father image—Moran. Having been a guerrilla leader in the War of Independence, Moran is disgruntled about the outcome of his"revolution', so he makes up his mind to establish a"Republic"of his own within his family. He acts like a tyrant on his farm, Great Meadow. He dominates everything and must be the centre of any attention. Moran lives in"a completed world,"his own closed circle, which he guards against all kinds of intrusion. His self-enclosure makes his life become one-dimensional and imprisoned: he lives in the past, dissatisfies with the present situation and sees little prospect of an improvement. When his sons and daughters grow up, they would not tolerate his tyranny and escape from their father one by one. Amongst Women reflects the conflicts between father and children, and conveys McGahern's concern about Irish masculinity and the idea of family.The thesis consists of five parts.The first part makes a brief introduction to John McGahern and his works and gives a concise literature review that highlights the previous studies concerning McGahern and Amongst Women. In addition, it introduces the theoretical basis and the purpose of the thesis.The second part traces back to the father images created in Irish literature of the twentieth century and outlines the father images in McGahern's works. The father characters depicted in Irish literary works in the twentieth century are often alcoholic, paralytic, alienated, irresponsible, escapist, and violent individuals. McGahern's father figures bear a large resemblance to the previous portraits.The third part analyzes Moran's image as a father—self-enclosed home governor. His"home rule"causes tension and suffocation within the family and his children choose to escape from home to seek freedom and new life. At his old age, Moran's daughters come home again to seek self and reaffirm their sense of belonging, but Luke, the eldest son, never comes, nor reconciles with his father.The fourth part examines Moran's image. The author of the thesis explores the causes of such a home governor. The impact of war, the disillusionment about the new country and the idea of family account for Moran's image as a self-enclosed home governor. Besides, this part reveals McGahern's purpose of creating this image and the significance of this image. McGahern might intend to re-examine Irish masculinity and the institution of Irish family.The last part makes a general summary of the thesis. Moran's image as a father is closely tied up with that of Irish literary portraits. Moran's self enclosure, one-dimensional life and patriarchal dominance are the extension of Irish fatherhood and the continuity of mismanagement of colonialism. In addition, McGahern suggests a reexamination of the Irish family and the family-centered society.