'Jack'+is+a+family+name+for+the+Meredith+family

='Jack' is a family name for the Meredith family. Compare and contrast the characters of brother Jack and father Jack. Do these similarities/differences cause Davy to question his place in the Meredith family?= Older Jack and younger Jack both have violent qualities that are similar and different. Young Jack fights as a resolution to his problems and the problems of others where as Old Jack fights to punish and as a release for his frustration at himself of having not acclomplished anything with his life. Davy is the opposite of this, he never confronts a problem and has a very submissive personality. His different qualities to the other men in the household make him question his place as he is so different. He is scrawny and tall while Old and Young Jack are of a muscular build.

Davy feels like he is the odd one out, especially in terms of the family name Jack, which gives a sense of belonging. It symbolises part of being a family, and this shown in reference to Jean's first son who is also called Jack, and refered to as Little Jack by Minnie. Although Davy feels left out by his exclusion from family tradition he welcomes the fact he can remove himself from his father, whereas his brother Jack will always have a connection. Both of the Jack's have similar traits such as lack of education, and being tradesmen/labourers. Young Jack blames his father for his lack of education and unlike his father does not discriminate against those who are better off than he is terms of education, money, oppoutunities and doesn't discriminate against religion. [Read the last couple of pages of Chapter 16 and the whole of Chapter 17. It is here that the revalation regarding education by Jack is made. Jack does not readily come to the decision that education is the answer, if is only after his own experiences and seeing the success of Davy that this education is seen as being the way to make it in the world. You must remember though that Davy and Jack have had the same educational opportunities, so what has happened for Jack during the depressionand WW2? Please consider.]

Davy feels like he is following in the wake involuntarily of Brother Jack and Father Jack, but he strives to be different in a manner of not contributing to his father's beliefs. For example religion and politics. Jack feels an obligation to be seen as the best he can be by his father whereas Davy strives on working his way up and into the good books by a different means. In a sense Davy feels insignificant because of his use of different methods. This defines the differences and attitude of the two brothers. As was written above, Davy may feel excluded by family tradition but he is glad that he doesn't share the same connection with his father as his brother does.

Young Jack feels more proud of his family and his place in life, for he is not mentaly hurt from the war. Young Jack fights for himself, family, and his homeland. Old Jack does not think about the scar he leaves on people from his actions, he thinks that his family will fail like his brothers and sisters, so he judges David and young Jack to be cheats and liars. Young Jack begins to hate his dad for his lack of faith in his family, wife and his country.

Jack jr and Jack snr are very similar in their strength of will and their character beliefs. The point in Jack snr's life that may well have changed him from being just as his son is may well have been his participation in World War One and like many men that fought in that war it left him bitter and degraded.

Jack snr. was a headstrong proud man who gladly went off to war; he thought he knew everything and that the world was his oyster. However, the horrors of it changed him physically, mentally and emotionally. Jack jnr. also has a strong sense of honour and nationalism, however, after seeing the effrects his father has on his family and facing the abuse of Jack snr. he realises that it is better to be the bigger man.

Jack junior and Jack senior are quite similar. Although they may have different morales, they are both strong in forcing their morales on others. It is often said that you clash with the parent you are most alike, and Jack senior and Jack junior certainly clash. They are both proud, and get angry when their proudness is compromised.

Jack and Jack senior are both the typical working day man for the era, this is why David feels out of place in his family, he and Jack are both expected to turn out like his family. He is different to his brother and his father and they both look down upon him and he feels left out when his dad and his brother are doing things and know how to react to each other. Where Davey doesnt.

Since Davy does not have the family name of Jack he probably feels like he is not part of the family legacy. [It is that very sense of not being like his father or his brother that causes inner turmoil for Davy. He is not like his older male role models in any way - he is not a fighter, he doesn't have passion, he doesn't love easily, he is a writer, he writes poetry, he doesn't want to fight for king and country, he is secretive, the list goes on. It is not simply the name he doesn't share].