Lies of Silence (novel)

Brian Moore was born in Belfast on the 25th of August 1921 to fervently Catholic parents. Lies of Silence was short-listed for the Booker Prize in 1990.

Lies of Silence is an exciting read and is full of suspense. This suspense derives from the fact that the dilemma faced by Dillon has both personal and political implications. He puts Moira's life at risk if he informs on the IRA. However, he places dozens of other lives in danger if he does not. The psychological wrangling that results for him is made more complex by his intention to leave Moira and by the question of whether or not the IRA themselves have issued a warning about the bomb.

The novel is a scathing attack on the "wink and nod" and "turn a blind eye" mentality that has allowed the conflict in Northern Ireland to continue over the decades, as well as being a thriller. Dillon is apolitical. He is a successful manager of a Belfast hotel hoping to escape his unsatisfactory life by moving to London. He is perhaps an ideal character through whom to explore the many Lies of Silence synonymous with Northern Ireland because he has no interest in becoming entangled in the conflict surrounding him.

He is forced to confront these silences, both in himself and in the wider community over the course of the novel. "It's better you say nothing", advises Detective Randall after the bombing incident. The priest's counsel carries the same sentiment and, although Dillon initially breaks the silence by telling the police about the bomb, he subsequently oscillates between silence and speaking. Meanwhile, Moira embarks on a campaign to shatter the silence by going on TV to tell about being held hostage. She seems to be the only solution Moore offers in relation to the acquiescent silence. "It's people like us who're the only ones who can stop them", she asserts to Dillon and her family.

Social Setting

The novel is set Belfast in Northern Ireland during the 20th Century. The atmosphere is dominated by fear and tension because of the political situation. Tension as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland forms the social setting of this book. Violence and conflict are both a constant feature of life in the novel. The novel deals with a divided city in both religious and political beliefs shows the attempts of the IRA (the Irish Republican Army) to target a large hotel for a bomb attack.

Plot Summary

Set in Belfast, Lies of Silence deals with the moral dilemmas faced by Michael Dillon, a hotel manager who is drawn into the political conflict by the IRA. He must choose between helping the terrorists to bomb the hotel where he works or saving his wife, Moira, who is being held hostage by the gang to force him to comply with them.

The choice is complicated by the fact that the action takes place on the day Dillon plans to tell his wife he is leaving her to go to London to live with his girlfriend, Andrea, a researcher with the BBC. His decision has far reaching implications that play themselves out over the course of the novel, culminating in a horrific ending.

Relationships

Dillon and the IRA: Dillon first comes into contact with the IRA when they hold him at gunpoint in his own house one night. He feels angry and bitter towards them. When he meets the priest later on, he is disgusted and refuses to accept his offer not to inform. At the insistence of Andrea and for the sake of peace he decides not to inform. However, he makes this decision too late. The IRA shoot him at the conclusion of the novel.

Dillon and Andrea: They are very much in love. For a great deal of the novel, Dillon is divided between his loyalty to Andrea and protecting Moira from the IRA. In addition, their relationship suffers after the incident with the IRA. Dillon is clearly confused about whether to inform or not. This creates much tension between Dillon and Andrea. She is clearly in love with him and stands by him right through to the end and.

Dillon and Moira: Although Dillon is married to Moira, he is not in love with her. She realises this and is angry. Their already tense and strained relationship worsens when she discovers about his affair with Andrea. Moira reacts in a rebellious and aggressive manner when the IRA holds she and Michael hostage. On their release, Moira decides to give interviews to the media and exposes the IRA. She is hurt by the way she has been treated and in some way wants to gain her revenge on Dillon.

Heroes, Heroines and Villains

Hero: Michael Dillon is from the middle class area of Belfast. He hopes to move to London. He is manager of the Clarence Hotel in Belfast. He is married to a woman called Moira although he is love with another woman. He shows courage in informing the police about the bomb in the car. However, he is an indecisive character.

Villain: The IRA is seen as a hostile and negative presence in the novel. Dillon and his wife are held to ransom by the IRA while they force him to plant a bomb in the car park outside the Clarence Hotel. Their representative is a priest who pleads with Michael to withhold information about one of the IRA men called Kev, his nephew. The IRA carry out their revenge on Dillon by shooting him because they fear that he will testify against Kev.