Anshika Brijmohun

The Stoat

In The Stoat by John McGahern we have the theme of selfishness, fear, responsibility, rejection
and honesty. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after
reading the story that McGahern may be exploring the theme of selfishness. The protagonist’s
father on hearing that Miss McCabe has had a heart attack decides to abandon any notions he
had of getting engaged to Miss McCabe. It is as though the protagonist’s father doesn’t want to
care for Miss McCabe should the need arise. This may be important as it suggests that the
protagonist’s father is being selfish. Thinking only of his own feelings rather than on how Miss
McCabe may feel. It seems to be a case that if the focus is not on him he does not want to get
engaged to or marry Miss McCabe. If anything Miss McCabe has become a liability rather than
an asset to the protagonist’s father. It is also possible that the protagonist’s father fears the
outcome should he end up marrying Miss McCabe. He has already buried one wife and may not
wish to have to bury a second. Miss McCabe is no longer of any use to the protagonist’s father
and as mentioned she has become a liability. Where previously the protagonist’s father had
been happy to get engaged to Miss McCabe this is no longer the case. Driven by his own sense
of importance the protagonist’s father decides to go back home without discussing the break-
up with Miss McCabe.
If anything the protagonist’s father is not taking responsibility for his actions. It would be more
appropriate for him to be honest with Miss McCabe rather than simply abandoning her without
any type of explanation. Not only is the protagonist’s father acting selfishly but he is also
avoiding having to tell Miss McCabe as to why he no longer has any interest in seeing her or
getting engaged. His actions lack any type of honesty. Similarly his fears that he may have to
take care of Miss McCabe suggest that the most important person in the protagonist’s father’s
life is himself. He had been seeking companionship however everything must be on his terms.
Something that is noticeable by fact that the protagonist’s father was unhappy with many of
the women that he had seen before he choose Ms McCabe. It is possible that the other women
may have been too much work for the protagonist’s father. He is looking for something easy in
life without having to put too much effort in. Miss McCabe fits the bill till she has a heart attack.
Though the protagonist’s father has every right to choose the woman he wishes to marry some
critics might suggest he is acting spinelessly by abandoning or rejecting Miss McCabe. It may
also be a case that the protagonist is rejecting his father (and Miss McCabe). Something that is
noticeable by the protagonist’s desire to ‘avoid the trout dinner and anything more got to do
with them.’ As to why the protagonist wishes to reject his father and Miss McCabe is uncertain.
He may have tired of their interaction with one another. Where previously he had no objection
to his father finding female companionship. The protagonist has now changed his mind. The
protagonist’s relationship with his uncle is also interesting as he appears to have more
constructive dialogue with him than he does with his father. Throughout the story the father
has been concerned only with his own goal of finding a companion. Whereas it seems his uncle
listens to him. Something that is noticeable by the fact that they go on a four-mile walk
together and then go to the Grand Central for a drink. It is as though both the protagonist and
his uncle share common interests not only professionally but personally too.
The end of the story is also interesting as McGahern repeats a paragraph. This may be
important as McGahern could be suggesting that just as the stoat will kill again so too
symbolically will the protagonist’s father. Just as the stoat has killed the rabbit. The
protagonist’s father has killed off his relationship with Miss McCabe and he may do so with any
other woman that does not match the strict criteria that the protagonist’s father has set out.
Though the protagonist’s father is looking for companionship he also seems to be looking for
perfection yet he is not able to offer this himself. As a man he is flawed. He has abandoned Miss
McCabe for no other reason apart from the fact she had a heart attack. The standard that the
protagonist’s father has set and which many women have not been able to attain in all
possibility may not be realistic. The protagonist’s father himself has very little to offer. He is
stuck in his ways something that is noticeable by his reading habits when it comes to the
newspaper. Yet the woman that the protagonist’s father seeks must be able to accommodate
his idiosyncratic way of living and at the same time have no quirks of note themselves. Again
the protagonist’s father is a selfish man who thinks only of himself. If the woman does not tick
all the right boxes the protagonist’s father doesn’t want to know. Yet he cannot tick some of
the boxes himself.

Symbols of the story:

In many ways the stoat and its actions mirrors the protagonist’s father. Just as they stoat has
the ability to kill the rabbit. So too does the protagonists father have the ability to break Miss
McCabe’s heart and other women’s heart. The holiday home may also have some symbolic
significance. It is possible that McGahern is using the holiday home to highlight the fact that
the protagonist’s father doesn’t really take his relationship with Miss McCabe seriously. He
won’t be there for her. Just as a holiday is a time to relax. The protagonist’s father might be a
little too relaxed. The fact that the protagonist’s father also was unhappy with a lot of the
women he met before meeting Miss McCabe may suggest that the protagonist’s father is too
picky. It is more likely that this is the case rather than the fact the women the protagonist’s
father met were unsuitable. The protagonist’s father is looking for perfection from an
imperfect situation.

Structure:

It’s difficult to say. McGahern opens the story and ends the story with the protagonist apart
and departing from his father. With the mid section being a setting of conflict (for father and
Miss McCabe). However the real conflict may be the fact that the protagonist is distancing
himself from his father. Which would explain the reasoning behind having the protagonist
alone at the start and end of the story. In the story, he is shown as the rabbit and not the
stoat. Ms. Mc Cabe is the stoat who is relentlessly pursuing him and wants to get married to
him against his wishes after a change of her circumstances.

However, the roles are interchangeable as like the stoat, he is selfish and preys on her
interest in him in the beginning while Ms. Mc Cabe is the rabbit left at the mercy of the
selfish school principal.

Instances of selfishness and death in the story:

● The boy’s father dumping (insensitively) Miss McCabe.

● One where the stoat kills the rabbit.

● The death of Mrs. McCabe’s relationship with the boy’s father.