Darkness, Light, and Moral Courage in Small Things Like These
Imagery in Small Things Like These
In Small Things Like These, Claire Keegan uses simple but powerful imagery to reveal the hidden cruelty and silence of Irish society in the 1980s. The novella is set in winter, and Keegan repeatedly uses images of darkness and light, cold and warmth, and confinement and openness to reflect Bill Furlong’s moral journey. This imagery helps the reader understand both the emotional atmosphere of the story and its key themes of silence, institutional power, and moral responsibility.
- Darkness / Light
- Cold / Warmth
- Confinement / Openness
Darkness and concealment
One of the most important forms of imagery in the novella is darkness. The story takes place during the shortest days of the year, and Bill Furlong often begins work before sunrise, delivering coal in the dark. This physical darkness reflects the moral darkness of the town, where people go about their daily lives while ignoring the suffering of women and girls in the convent. The convent itself is described as shadowy and closed off, suggesting secrecy and fear. Keegan uses darkness to show how abuse is hidden in plain sight and how silence allows it to continue.
Light and moral awareness
In contrast, light imagery represents truth and moral awareness. Furlong’s home is often described as warm and well lit, especially in the evenings when his wife and daughters are together. This creates a sense of safety and kindness that stands in strong contrast to the convent. As Furlong reflects on what he has seen, moments of light suggest his growing understanding that something is deeply wrong. Light imagery helps show his movement towards moral clarity and action.
Cold imagery
Cold imagery is also used throughout the text and is closely linked to cruelty and lack of compassion. The harsh winter weather mirrors the emotional coldness of the institutions that control the town. This is most clearly seen when Furlong discovers the young girl locked in the coal shed. She is freezing, hungry, and desperate, and her physical suffering symbolises the emotional and physical abuse experienced by the women in the Magdalene laundry. The cold makes the reader feel her vulnerability and increases the emotional impact of the scene.
Warmth and human decency
In contrast, warmth is associated with kindness, care, and human decency. Furlong’s memories of Mrs Wilson, who showed him kindness when he was a child, are filled with warmth. His own home is a place of heat, food, and love. These warm images highlight the difference between ordinary human goodness and the cruelty of the Church-run institution. Warmth imagery reinforces Keegan’s message that kindness, even in small forms, matters deeply.
Confinement and openness
Keegan also uses imagery of confinement and openness to highlight injustice. The convent is surrounded by high walls and locked doors, suggesting imprisonment rather than protection. The coal shed, where the girl is locked, becomes a powerful symbol of entrapment and punishment. In contrast, Furlong’s work takes him along open roads through the town, symbolising freedom and choice. This contrast emphasises that while Furlong has the ability to act, the women in the laundry do not.
Imagery’s moral impact
Overall, Keegan’s use of imagery is quiet but extremely effective. By using ordinary images such as winter cold, darkness, and light, she exposes the moral failures of society and highlights the importance of individual conscience. The imagery deepens the emotional impact of the novella and supports Keegan’s message that small acts of kindness and moral courage can challenge even the most powerful institutions.