Stereotypes in Literature

[Dark Muse]

I recently started reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" which I will mention thus far I am quite enjoying. But one thing I noticed that caught my attention is the character of Johnny Nolan is portrayed as the stereotypical "drunken Irish." He is described as a bachelor having been charming and seductive but once married, did not want the responsibility of a family, took to drinking, could not hold down a steady job, leaving his children to go hungry and his wife to have to slave away. Upon reading this it occurred to me how frequently within literature I seem to have come across this character before (or at least ones very similar).

Just off the top of my head Walter Morel in "Sons and Lovers" is described in a very similar way, not that long ago I read a book called "Hidden" which had a similar character, and in the USA trilogy by Dos Pasos there are similar characters.

Upon having noticed the blog by Breathtest talking about the censorship of the "n" word within Huckleberry Finn it made me think about how the drunken Irish stereotype does not seem to garnish the same amount of outrage and offence, and while certainly I do not think that these books should be censored for such characters, I am simply remarking upon the way readers react and respond to the use of certain stereotypes and how some do seem to be more tolerated and accepted than others.

I am curious to hear others thoughts and opinions upon the matter and if anyone else has noticed the same frequent reoccurrence of the drunken Irish character within literature.

[PeterL]

Most stereotypes are based on some evidence. There have been, and still are, many men of Irish ancestry who are drunks. From the point of view of the author using stereotypes is easier than ceating completely different character types, because the reader may already know some drunken Irishmen.

[Dark Muse]

Most stereotypes are based on some evidence. There have been, and still are, many men of Irish ancestry who are drunks. From the point of view of the author using stereotypes is easier than ceating completely different character types, because the reader may already know some drunken Irishmen.

While on the hand there is some truth to that, the thing which most strikes out at me, is that in many ways the portrayal of Johnny Nolan, Walter Morel and the character from Hidden are almost interchangeable (not just the fact that they are drunks and Irish) both other aspects of their personality as well. It is almost like the same exact character with a few minor alterations.

[PeterL]

While on the hand there is some truth to that, the thing which most strikes out at me, is that in many ways the portrayal of Johnny Nolan, Walter Morel and the character from Hidden are almost interchangeable (not just the fact that they are drunks and Irish) both other aspects of their personality as well. It is almost like the same exact character with a few minor alterations.

Maybe the authors were lazy and copied a character from a common source.

[kelby_lake]

I didn't know Morel was Irish...

Long Day's Journey into Night has an Irish drunk but that was autobiographical...

[cacian]

Maybe the authors were lazy and copied a character from a common source.

I totally agree with that. I also believe that this kind of plots suggest a total lack of imagination.
This kind of stale stories go around in circles, you see this kind of plot/scenario in films/soaps, you hear about them from real people and then you open a book and there they are.
Whilst the world has moved on it seems stories of this type are stuck in a catch22 cycle, they are constantly rehashed rebranded and then resold to the public to make money.
Stereotypes are vindictives and so are those who think it is Ok to rely on stereotypes such as nationalities. It is a cheap and fad way of writing and frankly they should not be allowed in this dayand age.
It is insulting to the whole Irish commnunity who is not like this so called writer makes it to be.
As a reader I would question the validity of this story because what the book is saying is that is acceptable to be a drunk and have someone slave for you.
I have not read the book but I would imagine the end story of this character would be for his wife to leavehim in the end.
This is the obvious and predicatable which stereotypes do: They are the embodiement of predictability.

[Dark Muse]

I didn't know Morel was Irish...

Long Day's Journey into Night has an Irish drunk but that was autobiographical...

I thought he was of Irish decent but it has been a while maybe I am wrong, or maybe for some reason I just sort of made that presumption without it actually being indicated.