Topic: English
In the next few paragraphs I will be talking about the definition of prejudice and how it relates to noughts and crosses. I will also be talking about the powers of different people with different statuses when I talk about different groups of people and how the characters react to this. Near the end of the assessment I will be writing about the author and her inspiration and ideas.
Prejudice is judging a persons character traits before you have met them and got to know them based on for example; race, nationality, status.
The definition of prejudice links to noughts and crosses because the story is much centred on racism. One of the ways it is shown is on the front cover it being a centre divide of black and white, representing the divide between the noughts and crosses. Another way that prejudice is shown in noughts and crosses is the way that the characters interact with one another an example of this is when most of the Crosses, (the more socially important characters) pre judge the noughts, (the less important minority) by thinking they are all criminals thus extremely bad people. This is shown more blatantly in some parts of the text when Kamal Hadley is Talking to the under cover agent, Page 42 “God spare us from liberals and blankers”.
As I said in the previous paragraph Kamal Hadley was caught saying “God spare us from librals and blankers” This is more significant than another random cross saying it because he is an important member of parliament. I suspect he wants to become prime minister as then he would have the power to some how eradicate the noughts. The noughts have almost no power at all unless they join what the crosses call a terrorist group the ‘Liberation Militia’, however if they do join they are turned into pawns in an elaborate game of political strategy.
As I mentioned in the previous paragraph the liberation militia is a powerful group of noughts made up of cells. They have already pressured the government for equality and for nought children to be accepted without complaint at cross schools. This links to the characters Jude and Ryan McGregor Callum’s brother and dad. When they join the liberation militia and get directed to plant a bomb in one of the crosses world renowned shopping centres. When the bomb goes off all hell breaks loose between Meggie Ryan’s wife and the family is brought to turmoil after Lynette commits suicide.
Blackman makes references in some parts of the book to peaceful and violent protests. Meggie makes a subtle link to Martin Luther King when she and Ryan are having a debate about peaceful and violent protest to reach equality. I also interpret it as a representation of real life only turned the other way round. For example when the white majority had more power over the black minority.
