The Wall by John Lanchester: Detailed Chapter Analysis (Part 1)
The Wall follows Kavanagh, a young defender stationed on a massive coastal barrier protecting Britain from both rising seas and desperate refugees called "Others." During his first two-week shift, we witness his transformation from an inexperienced recruit to a hardened defender.
After completing their wall duty, Kavanagh and his squad, including the mysterious Hifa, return home intoxicated in a military lorry. This marks Kavanagh's first glimpse of Hifa without her protective gear - skinny yet resilient, with wild black hair. The narrative explores how "home" becomes an increasingly abstract concept for these defenders, mirroring the wall itself as a symbol of selective inclusion and exclusion.
Back home, Kavanagh struggles with intergenerational tension, particularly resenting his parents' generation for their role in climate change. Unlike his peers who romanticize stories of beaches and the past, Kavanagh remains cynical, stating "show me an actual beach and I'll express interest." His relationship with his father deteriorated during his teenage years, though he maintains a complex pride in his defender status despite complaining about its hardships to friends.
Definition: Others - Refugees seeking entry into the protected territory, viewed as threats by the defenders but sharing a complex humanity with them.