A part of the novel that webbed some fiction into facts is the letter that Merridith writes to his sister. It is safe to say that most of what he describes is fiction with only a hint of truth. He did go visit their parents’ grave, but the graves did not have fresh flowers; his father’s tombstone had been sabotaged [probably by former tenants]. Even when detailing his current trip, some fibs are spawned. Like when he says that he and his family is enjoying ‘roughing it out’. I hardly believe that Merridith is having a good time on his voyage with that foul smell on board and that urinary infection. It is interesting however, how each of his lies really do have some truth to them: Merridith did visit his parents’ graves [I will give him that], and he does have to ‘rough it out’ on his trip. But there are only very small truths in his letter.
It makes me wonder as a reader if Dixon has done something similar with this entire novel. I ponder if what I’m reading even happened. Like how would Dixon know that Mulvey used to steal? [Or that he even enjoyed it?] As far as I know Dixon is riding in first class and doesn’t exactly know Mulvey. But I guess none of this matters as long as the message [whatever it may be] is put across clearly; being artistic is not bound only to expressing the truth, but also to incorporate a sense of creativity as well [as Dixon is told by his editor]. I don’t believe there is a responsibility to stick to reality. The only responsibility Dixon has is to convey the pain and misery that he watches others go through. If a few minor details have to be altered to express this, then so be it. If people want actual facts, go get a textbook. A novel gives room for free expression.
Mulvey also learns about free expression when he wakes up from his dream and writes his ballad; realizing that changing some of the lines would make it better. But as he changes them, he begins to venture off from the facts of what truly happened with the sergeant and his brother. “The facts did not matter, that was the secret”, Mulvey says. I think he means that the expression of the feelings in that moment values more than what actually happened. Just telling an entertaining story or singing a good song should be the priority.
English 1102- Ireland 