Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha - Plot - CCEA

• Roddy Doyle – like Paddy Clarke – started life in Dublin in 1958. He too was brought up north of Dublin in a working class suburb. This could suggest that Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha might be seen as a semi-autobiographical work as it is likely Doyle used many of his own experiences when writing the novel.

• Doyle became a teacher and was still working in a school when he wrote his first four novels, though he became a full-time writer after he won the Booker Prize for Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. Doyle is passionate about the need for children – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – to receive a good education. In the novel he shows that while there are obviously some teachers and adults trying to educate Paddy, nobody really encourages his natural ability.

• Roddy Doyle’s books tell the story of everyday life in the recent history of Ireland. He is known mainly for his famous Barrytown Trilogy. This is made up of The Commitments (1987), The Snapper (1990) and The Van (1991). These novels are all set in Barrytown, the same fictional suburb in Dublin where Paddy lives. Therefore – although the area is fictional – Doyle had previously created many stories of people living in this area in other works. Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha is just another example from one of many where he uses Barrytown to focus on individual people and situations from what could be any working class Irish community.

• During the 1980s, many artists believed that by creating work describing the ‘real’ world they could inspire people to want to change it for the better. Doyle’s novel is one of social realism, showing snapshots of what real everyday life was like. Sometimes when we think of Ireland at this time in history we only focus on The Troubles but Doyle’s work reminds us that there is much more to the country. His writing describes the good and bad of everyday life in some working class communities. Alongside the warmth and adventure that Paddy feels and sees in his community, there are also incidents of violence, poverty and child neglect. Doyle shows us these through Paddy’s voice.

• Some people have criticised Doyle for what they see as his negative or stereotypical depiction of Irish life, and some critics believe that the amount of ‘bad language’ in his books is unrealistic. However, Doyle does not write as an outsider looking in on working class life. He is from the communities he chooses to write about. His colourful dialogue, vivid descriptions and cultural references all give the novel realism.

The eponymous Paddy Clarke lives with his mother and father, his brother Sinbad and his two younger sisters. Paddy and Sinbad fight a lot but, in general, the family seem happy.

1. We meet Paddy’s gang through a variety of mischievous scrapes – stealing from building sites for example.
2. Paddy’s friend Kevin seems to be the leader of the group.
3. Paddy is a bright, curious boy, despite the routine learning in Mr Hennessey’s class. He enjoys watching comedy films in the school hall.
4. Paddy has memories of his youth and happy times with his parents but, as the novel progresses, Mr and Mrs Clarke begin arguing more and more.
5. The Corporation houses are being built nearby – there is a feeling that things are changing in the area.
6. Mr and Mrs Clarke’s fighting becomes noticeably more frequent and violent.
7. Paddy begins to stay up to do more school work in the hope he can stop them. Consequently, he makes progress at school.
8. Paddy’s father comes home drunk – something Paddy has never seen before. As things get worse in the house, Paddy tries to be kinder to Sinbad.
9. Paddy becomes fascinated with Charles Leavy, a streetwise boy from the Corporation houses. In an attempt to befriend him, Paddy truants and smokes.
10. Paddy fights with Kevin and falls out with him. Paddy’s gang turn against him.
11. Paddy’s father leaves and Paddy becomes “the man of the house”.