High Ground Zusammenfassung:
High Ground (John Mc Gahern)
deals with:
internal/external conflict
emigration
summary
page 15:
Moran is on a lake with his boat to be alone, he is thinking about the last evening
met a lot of former friends
drove a girl named Una to her home, they kissed and talked – he is in love with her
went home but wasn‘t able to sleep because he had to help his father with the roof
page 16:
when evening came, he didn‘t want to sleep but be alone
a man calls him and he recognizes Senator Eddie Reegan who wants to talk to him
Moran rows over to him slowly (he doesn‘t feel like talking)
page 17:
offers a job to Moran: Principalship of the school, because Moran is qualified to teach
he doesn‘t want to accept, because another man (Master Leddy) is principal
Senator Reegan says he isn‘t qualified enough for the job, lots of people feel same way, he wants to handle over a list to the priest so Moran is appointed
page 18:
the Senator admits that it is for his own advantage: wants the best education for his sons
Moran is better because he is young, qualified and ambitious – he adulates (schmeicheln) him and the Senator is scared that Master Leddy isn‘t good enough for his children
Moran is concerned about Master Leddy and his future
flashback:
Moran visits Master Leddy three days before
Leddy welcomes him very politely
page 19:
goes out with the Master who is happy to see a former student of him
the Master tells him that he was one of his star pupils
page 20:
the Master gives him some advices for women and life in general
flashback is over
the Senator says Master Leddy will have a rest cure on full pay
Moran shouldn‘t be worried about him
he has to think about it
page 21:
Senator Reegan wants to force him to decide immediately, but Moran insists on his point
Moran goes home and meets his sister, she says there isn‘t any water left so he decides to go and get some
hears noises from Ryan‘s Bar, recognizes Master Leddy‘s voice and some former students
page 22:
they talk about former classes
some of his former students say that he did a great job and was a good teacher
the Master says that some of the pupils could have become doctors but the opportunity was lacking
if he could, he would improve the situation of his countrymen
characters:
Moran:
went to a religious school, „The Brothers‘ Building Fund”
dislikes the Senator
left his small town when he was younger
qualified to teach
gets into an internal conflict
Senator Eddie Reegan:
he came poor to the place, bought a small farm cheap, and soon the farmhouse burned down
the house was replaced by the present mansion
bought up other small farms
never works physically on his farms
is always perfectly dressed, set up an auctioneer and entered politics
married to Kathleen Relihan, the daughter of the richest man
they have three sons
only a matter of time until he will become Dail (Unterhaus in der Repulik Irland)
works only for his very personal advantage and he only cares for himself
Master Leddy:
principal of the school
has at least two sons who are grown men
his house is in a disorder, there is a lot of unnecessary stuff
very polite and nice towards Moran
his wife ties up his shoe laces (Schnürsenkel) and reminds him of everything
thinks that loyalty is a fine quality
High Ground (John Mc Gahern)
deals with:
internal/external conflict
emigration
summary
page 15:
Moran is on a lake with his boat to be alone, he is thinking about the last evening
met a lot of former friends
drove a girl named Una to her home, they kissed and talked – he is in love with her
went home but wasn‘t able to sleep because he had to help his father with the roof
page 16:
when evening came, he didn‘t want to sleep but be alone
a man calls him and he recognizes Senator Eddie Reegan who wants to talk to him
Moran rows over to him slowly (he doesn‘t feel like talking)
page 17:
offers a job to Moran: Principalship of the school, because Moran is qualified to teach
he doesn‘t want to accept, because another man (Master Leddy) is principal
Senator Reegan says he isn‘t qualified enough for the job, lots of people feel same way, he wants to handle over a list to the priest so Moran is appointed
page 18:
the Senator admits that it is for his own advantage: wants the best education for his sons
Moran is better because he is young, qualified and ambitious – he adulates (schmeicheln) him and the Senator is scared that Master Leddy isn‘t good enough for his children
Moran is concerned about Master Leddy and his future
flashback:
Moran visits Master Leddy three days before
Leddy welcomes him very politely
page 19:
goes out with the Master who is happy to see a former student of him
the Master tells him that he was one of his star pupils
page 20:
the Master gives him some advices for women and life in general
flashback is over
the Senator says Master Leddy will have a rest cure on full pay
Moran shouldn‘t be worried about him
he has to think about it
page 21:
Senator Reegan wants to force him to decide immediately, but Moran insists on his point
Moran goes home and meets his sister, she says there isn‘t any water left so he decides to go and get some
hears noises from Ryan‘s Bar, recognizes Master Leddy‘s voice and some former students
page 22:
they talk about former classes
some of his former students say that he did a great job and was a good teacher
the Master says that some of the pupils could have become doctors but the opportunity was lacking
if he could, he would improve the situation of his countrymen
characters:
Moran:
went to a religious school, „The Brothers‘ Building Fund”
dislikes the Senator
left his small town when he was younger
qualified to teach
gets into an internal conflict
Senator Eddie Reegan:
he came poor to the place, bought a small farm cheap, and soon the farmhouse burned down
the house was replaced by the present mansion
bought up other small farms
never works physically on his farms
is always perfectly dressed, set up an auctioneer and entered politics
married to Kathleen Relihan, the daughter of the richest man
they have three sons
only a matter of time until he will become Dail (Unterhaus in der Repulik Irland)
works only for his very personal advantage and he only cares for himself
Master Leddy:
principal of the school
has at least two sons who are grown men
his house is in a disorder, there is a lot of unnecessary stuff
very polite and nice towards Moran
his wife ties up his shoe laces (Schnürsenkel) and reminds him of everything
thinks that loyalty is a fine quality
