Religion

SIVE

  • Plays a prominent role in the narrative and values of the characters

  • Roman Catholic church had major influence & power in the 1950s rural Ireland

  • Numerous references to god:

  • “Your mother, Lord have mercy on her” - Nanna Glavin

  • “She was pretty, too pretty. She was handsome, God rest her” - Nanna Glavin

  • The characters believe in Heaven / the afterlife

  • Mike is adamant that Sive must be buried on holy ground / consecrated ground after her death (she committed suicide which is frowned upon by the church, seen as murder / a sin)

  • “The priest… we must go to the priest… she must have the priest… Holy ground… she must be buried on holy ground…” - Mike Glavin (When Liam brings Sive’s body)

  • Some characters speak of their fear of the devil and Hell e.g.

  • Mentions of characters believing the doctor’s car headlights coming up the drive were the eyes of the devil on the night of Sive’s birth

  • Religion in education - The nuns were head of the convent where Sive went to school

  • Portrayed negatively as Mena constantly threatens Sive with the school nuns (depicted as figures to be feared

  • E.g. “I’m sure the nuns would like to hear of your conduct” - Mena (when giving out to Sive in an early scene)

  • The church shuns Sive as she is illegitimate

  • The church oppose those who committed suicide to be buried on their grounds

  • Religion used to expose hypocrisy:

  • E.g. characters such as Mike, Mena, Tomasheen & Seán Dóta outwardly respect religious norms but act selfishly and cruelly behind closed doors. (E.g. Forcing Sive into marriage)


COLDER THAN HERE

  • Contrasting to Sive (not a major subject in the text)

  • The Bradleys are a largely secular family. No emphasis on prayer, faith or belief in the Afterlife

  • Most references to God are made in a casual fashion:

  • E.g. “Oh, for God’s sake” & “Jesus!” - said out of frustration / shock (would be seen as blasphemous if said in the world of Sive)

  • Modern world, attitude towards death is becoming less traditionally religious

  • Myra’s family’s refusal to accept to come to terms with her terminal illness could be due to the fact that they don’t believe in life after death

  • Myra abandons religious rituals & ceremonies for her funeral in favour of more eco-friendly alternatives (e.g. cardboard coffin)

  • “Haven’t told your dad yet. We always said cremation but now it - Think he might find it a bit odd. Cardboard coffin, no headstone or-” - Myra


KNIVES OUT

  • Again, religion is virtually non-existent in the film

  • Any religious references made colloquially / casually

  • E.g. “Jesus!” & “Oh my God!” - Richard in early scenes (said out of frustration or shock)

  • After Harlan’s death, the audience are not made aware of how religious his burial ceremony was, if at all