Perspectives

Literary perspective

The short story “To Keep the Faith” by Michael Becket is written as a modernist text. 

Modernism often features relevant social and political issues, drawing the reader’s attention to them. In “To Keep the Faith”, Michael Becket addresses the conflict between Catholics and Protestants during the Troubles. The focus is on how the conflict affects common people who might not be invested in the political and religious implications of the conflict. 

Modernist literature often uses symbols. In “To Keep the Faith”, the candle at Siobhan’s window after the death of Jean’s husband is an important symbol, as it highlights the need for people to stay connected to each other despite their differences. The story is written in a simple, easy to read style. This is also a feature of modernism.

Current issues

The short story takes place dur...