The voices of silence by Bel Mooney Essays

The voices of silence by Bel Mooney Essays The voices of silence by Bel Mooney Paper The voices of silence by Bel Mooney Paper The novel The voices of silence by Bel Mooney is set in the country of Romania during the last months of the regime of the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The story is told from the viewpoint of Flora Popescy, a thirteen-year old school girl who lives with her parents Rodika and Constantin in the capital city of Bucharest. In chapters one to three we are given an immediate insight into the harshness of life under an oppressive government. Floras family lives in great poverty. We realise from Floras dream that even bananas are a delicacy, and a seven-year-old boy requested a banana for his big birthday present. Floras family lives in a twenty-story block, which was due to have new lifts fitted but as the government ran out of money they left the shafts on view. Between each block theres only rough terrain as there is no gardens or even grass. When rain falls puddles collect easily, as there is no drainage system just unfinished ground. Flora describes her flat as tiny with only two rooms, a tiny kitchen and bathroom. The sofa in the flat is her parents double bed at night. It is a damp flat which was evident from Floras description of the dampness that bubbled and sprouted on the walls. Also they have an old wooden draining board which is cracked down the middle. They heat the flat with paraffin but it isnt enough to keep the flat warm. Each day at dawn they have to queue for bread and milk. Sometimes Tata would return with an old bag containing four/five apples, or bacon or just a lump of cheese, which made any of these things a real feast and by our standards shows how what a poor state they really live in. For Floras birthday it was such a treat for her to be served fresh bread and in addition she had two pieces of salami and a little strip of cheese and a fried egg. Flora had one birthday card, which was obviously appreciated because she took great care looking at the decorations the pictures and colours. Also Flora had one present rapped in the same paper their food was wrapped in, yet her mum had drawn and painted moons and stars on it. Flora had a scarf as her only present, she really appreciated it because it was an extravagance not a necessity. Daniel Ghiban had joined the school on the first day back. At lunchtime everyone crowded round him because of what he had on his sandwiches which was proper meat on soft bread and cake. On that day Floras school bag had broken again, she mentioned her mum had already mended it five times before, another example that they cant afford new possessions. Daniel Ghiban stopped to help her pick her stuff and sharpened her pencil with a real sharpener. Flora told Daniel that usually she sharpens with a knife. Daniel wore real jeans, a blue jumper with the schools badge on and trainers, he really stood out from the others because Flora described everyone in school looked the same Drab dark clothes From the opening chapters of the book we also learn a great deal about the political regime. President Ceausescu is a cruel dictator who lives in luxury, while keeping his people in poverty. In chapters two, on Floras birthday, she and her parents go into the city to look at the presidents dreadful, lavish, giant new palace, Her father Constantin seethes anger but dare not voice his opinions aloud in public. We learn very quickly that the citizens of Romania are spied on and that the government tries to control their thoughts and actions. Floras account of how the pupils chant their loyalty to Romania and the beloved president on a daily basis is evidence of the political indoctrination in school. From a early age Flora tells they learned from songs that the president was the father and his wife Elena was the mother. Some examples of characters been nervous of talking about the government are when mama tried shushing Tata from explaining why they are deprived from having certain things. Also Flora was worried when Alys called Old Ceausecu an old monster. This was evident because Flora tried shushing Alys and looking over her soldier to see if anybody had heard. Another point about this is the fact that Daniel was not supposed to tell his friends how he had managed to have decent food, he told his friends in a whisper, which later made Flora nervous of running footsteps behind her. Constantin was suspicious that Daniel had arrived unexpectedly at their flat bringing MMs for Floras birthday. Father said It was not Right because even though he was a school friend he was a stranger, adding people in Romania have to look after themselves and it wasnt normal to send presents to others unless they wanted something in return. From my reading of the novel so far, I understand life in a country like Romania must be very miserable. I think that the thing I would hate most of all would be the fact that you couldnt have any real friend or someone to trust as you have to live a life of secrecy and whispers because you never know who might be listening in on you.