The Children Act by McEwan (Book Review Sample)

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The Children act by McEwan
In the Novel The Children act by McEwan there are number of recurring character traits that have well developed. Decision making is on of the main character traits that the author brings out in a very perfect which he relates it with life wishes. Ethical Dilemma and Ethical Epiphany is another character trait that the author has really expounded to explain some of the ethical dilemma that the real society faces. The author has also demonstrated people with strong believes in fate and destiny(Fiona). The author has also brought the conflict between religion and legal law in the book. The author tries to show how the two conflicts and how it is difficult to obey both. Justice law and judgement is another recurring character trait portrayed by the author in this book. The author tries to show how the three matters are expressed and misused in the real society. The author uses wishes, greed and ambitions in the book to demonstrate hoe the three have overtaken the society destroying any kind of transparency. I shall discuss about the three main character traits as I have identified in the book.
Adam can be justified due to the fact he is nearing eighteen and his wants are important in making a final judgement, however, Fiona begins to cross the professional line when engaging in the poetry and music. Her judgement becomes clouded as she makes this encounter far more personal than it needs to be and memories of better times are brought up(Morgan). Adam’s youthful innocence and fondness of her seem to guide her decision rather than what he had expressed to her. This makes one think, was her decision to save him grounded in the law or was it more personal? To me, this was a personal decision. Fiona had just seemingly lost her husband and she needed something or someone to grasp onto. She believed she could save Adam, and this gave her the illusion that she was still in control of something.
Adam’s appreciation of her must have brought up feelings of earlier years with Jack and as a result the two became one at the moment and Fiona could not separate her personal desires from the law in this situation. When handing down her decision, she states that Adam is of sound mind and steadfast in his decision but would rule against him and his parents ordering the administration of the life-saving drugs and blood transfusion. This comes as shocking after Adam had clearly expressed his refusal for this, but Fiona had voiced this decision was based on protecting a child’s welfare and was the moral thing to do. While I found this slightly concerning since it was against the wishes of the parent and child, I do agree with the decision. Even though it infringes upon religion, sometimes it is necessary (Adam). Adam knew nothing outside of his religion and lacked the ability to think outside of what the elders had told him, so he needed an advocate who looked out for his best interest, and not the religion’s best interest.
Fiona was far more motivated by her personal desires, though, and cited child welfare for saving Adam solely so it would have a legal basis. As the novel continued, Adam wrote to Fiona, followed Fiona to her hotel in New Castle, and wrote to her again. Each letter went unanswered and his visit was met with a slight coldness as she denied his request to live with her, but Fiona had kissed him again inviting him down a confusing path. Her refusal to answer him and house him but kissing him, all point to her selfishness(Adam). She invited the letters when telling him how to reach her at the hospital, but when he wrote she did not care. It is entirely understandable for a teenage boy who has had his entire belief system shaken to write to the person who began that questioning. While the stalking went a little too far, he was confused and needed answers but was met with a kiss which sent into an even further spiral of unknowing. Fiona continued to walk that fine line of professionalism and personal desires but, again, crossed it when she kissed Adam. Had her motivation in her decision been for his welfare, she would have sent a short letter back, but as soon as Jack had returned, she no longer sought the approval of another man or, in this case, a child. Fiona eventually learns the news of Adam’s passing and that he had suffered a painful death because of his refusal for the proper medical treatment. I found this death to be symbolic in which it showed either religion had still managed to trump the law or, if it was suicide, then despite believing that Fiona was saving him the first time, she actually caused more pain, more confusion in sending a boy off into the world alone, which shows that protecting his welfare was not the true motivating factor(Fiona pg 23). First, his death representing religion prevailing despite the law shows how if it was truly Adam’s faith then it would have happened despite intervention.
Those with strong beliefs believe in fate and if it was Adam’s time, he would pass regardless of whether the law intervened or not. Second, showing that his welfare was not at core of Fiona’s decision reinforces the idea that sometimes personal feelings can cloud professional judgement. If Fiona was truly seeking to protect Adam and