LAGAN

Chapter 3 of this fascinating book which observes the physical space of Belfast alongside the emotional/spiritual history of the Troubles connects deeply with themes from Lagan. Like many of the other articles, this chapter discusses how walls are crucial to many community members within Belfast. Peace walls allow the past to stay alive, act as protection in addition to bridging divided worlds. Because of the group-dynamic, any attack on the individual is synonymous with an attack on the community. This group dynamic could be why Northern Ireland has had so much difficulty in accepting and adapting to new social norms (homosexuality, abortion, etc.). Other interesting questions this article presented in terms of character development: Belfast community members may partake in avoidance and/or confrontation tactics, there is a need for separation, characters may develop safe and unsafe places. The landscape of Belfast itself is a landscape of memory (murals, peace walls). The violence itself has shaped the current space and separates people from the “other” who are deemed as a threat, not to be understood, means harm and is expected to apologize for past hurt.