Anne Enright’s Fiction: Border Crossings and Alienation in The Gathering and The Green Road

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to show in what ways Anne Enright in The Gathering (2007) and The Green Road (2015) employs different forms of border crossings and alienation, in order to uncover the intricate dynamics of family and how it is affected by movement. This analysis will be done by means of close reading the primary texts, as well as engaging with reviews from other critics. Furthermore, it specifically explores the physical boundaries crossed between nations, the breaking of society’s rules per automobile and moving past the limits in relationships. After a detailed study, this thesis concludes that any sort of border crossing leads to a dynamic change, which paired with struggles and setbacks, is necessary to live a prosperous life.