Barry Hines’s book `A Kestrel For A Knave’ is a powerful adaptation that dramatizes the entire text in a clear and exciting way, it also explores it’s themes motivations and social settings. Barry Hines uses these `Themes’ to show billy’s world and the people around him whether its at home school or out in the open. The main theme that rotates around Billy is education this is because Mr. Hines tries to show the reader how important education is for them and Billy.
However education is not the only theme that takes place we regularly see the theme of poverty ` Packet of dried peas and a bottle of vinegar’ which was all that was left in his cupboard. Sorrow is regularly used to try and change things so the reader can empathize with Billy’s situation and this tends to have a great affect on the reader. Barry hines appears to see education as crucial there are many sections in the novel where billy is at scholl. We see him lessons talking to teacher studying and evem in assembly. However barry does not show education just as learning he shows it as a part if life he does this by showing education has a vital impact on personal development a way to make friends become independent kearn talent gain confidence and aquire qualifications.
He puts this all together to make people see education the opportunity to breakout of poverty and have a choice at your ambitions During the book we meet two characters that play a big role in Billy’s life these two people are Mr. farthing and Mr. sugden. These two characters are compared and have many similarities these similarities are they are both in control, they both enjoy there subjects and both have a similar style Barry Hines could through these characters be showing the qualities needed for effective teaching and what education is about.
They are both effective in education and development to hard work commitment, determination and perseverance Although sugden and farthing have similarities they also have differences these similarities are sugden exploits his authority and control for himself while mr farthing uses it skillfully to bring out the talents confidence and abilities of pupils however the system is flawed because authority can be abused the wrong skills attitude can be taught the pupils most needing a good education are the ones most likely to be victimized are the ones that suffer the most in barry hines novel it touches the heart of the novel.
The pupils in lessons work similar and get involved in tasks the pupils have the capacity interest desire to learn and be involved they want to learn and use there skills The book also uses something called irony and this is used with two characters mr sugden a sports teacher and mr gryce a headteacher.and so irony makes them memorable and there effects of teaching really sad it also makes a negative effect for the reader but creates humor to lighten the book. The irony in a kestrel for a knave is used to amuse and stimulate the reader.
