The Butcher Boy: How does McCabe present the encounter between Francie and Dr Roche?

The extract begins on page 126 with the words, “There you are again, Francie, Lord bless us . . .”   and finishes on page 128 with ‘It didn’t look like that at all.’

Dr Roche is an example of a figure of authority who Francie must encounter. However, unlike the other figures of authority in the text, Francie is unable to undermine his position. McCabe's use of the first person narrative is effective in conveying Francie's inability to challenge Dr Roche. The stream of consciousness style means we hear Francie's robust thoughts, "I'm in charge here". However these thoughts do not materialise as speech, "that is what I wanted to say." Instead we find, as seen through the increasing use of expletives, "what the f***" and "sh*** talk", that Francie struggles to hold his composure in front of Dr Roche. The ironic discrepancy between Francie's fantasy and the reality appears comical. However Francie is ultimately reduced to a figure of pathos here. His tone becomes increasingly desperate and defensive, "what's wrong with that", "don't ask!". He is clearly unnerved by Dr Roche's silence, "why he just stands there." 

McCabe's pattern of sharp, short sentences suggests their conversation is interrogative to Francie. It quickens the pace of the exchange. The stream of consciousness means their interaction is interspersed with Francie's paranoid thoughts, "he was trying to trick me". We find that, as the interaction continues, huge slabs of the text appear without punctuation. From "there was beads on my forehead..." to "Uncle Alo", we find little punctuation. McCabe is stressing how Francie has little control over his memories. The febrile recollection of events indicates Francie lacks thought process. He focuses on every minute action of Dr Roche, on the "twirl twirl" of his watch for example. This use of onomatopoeia underlines Francie's intense absorption in the moment and his suspicion perhaps of Dr Roche's every movement.

McCabe adds to the sense of Francie's discomfort with his use of hyperbole. He uses the simile, "as big as berries" to describe the beads of sweat gathering on forehead. This tendency to wild exaggeration highlights Francie's deep anxiety in encountering Dr Roche. As with other figures of authority, Francie creates a nickname for Dr Roche, "black eyebrows Roche". This nickname indicative of how Francie evidently struggles to look Dr Roche directly in the eye. It is Francie's attempt to distance himself from Dr Roche. He not only gives himself alternate personas, but also attempts to give other people alternate identities too. It is suggestive of how Francie endeavours to escape the reality of the uncomfortable encounter with Dr Roche. It engenders further pathos for Francie as fails to pick up upon the premise of the conversation - Dr Roche needs to see his father because he severely ill.