Clay by Lewis Gibbon
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'Clay' is a short story by Lewis Grassic Gibbon written in the 1930's. It deals with the issue of obsession and how when you love something so much, you can tend to loose sight of what else is important in your life. By referring closely to the text, I am going to show how the writer accomplishes the vision of obsession.
The story starts off by the story to you and telling you how the Galts were a large clan and somehow were part of everyone's life. It is portrayed in an informal manner. This is shown by the use of a metaphor,
' if you went for a walk at night and it gave a squiggle, it was ten to one that it was a Galt.' The clan also came across as rudely spoken, 'the average Galt knew less of politeness than a broody hen knows of Bible exegesis.'
The writer highlights the clan and then focuses on Rob Galt of Drumbogs as the 'lightsome and hearty' man. The way in which the clan as a whole is described and the way he is described alone, are very contrasting because the clan comes cross as rude and he comes across the ' best of the bunch.' He worked for his father for twenty five years as his foreman, until one day they fell out and Rob decided he wanted land of his own and 'parks that are MINE...