Riddley Walker | Themes

Riddley Walker Themes

History and Chronology

The history of Inland in Riddley Walker pivots around two events, the "1 Little 1" and the "1 Big 1." These refer to the production of gunpowder and the release of nuclear power. The two events, almost venerated by the dirt-scrabbling population of Inland, compress history into one or two legends: "The Hart of the Wud" story, and The Eusa Story, for example.

However, the stream of events experienced by Riddley from beginning to end of the text, is markedly distended. What seems to occur over a course of weeks or months is, in fact, confined to a few days. This dynamic between history and chronology accomplishes at least one very important goal. Hoban makes it clear that the society of Inland insists on an unending cycle of violence or power struggle, which amounts to historical stagnancy.

Leadership

The world of Inland is ruled, quite literally, by a puppet regime. There...
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