A novel that effectively demonstrates the disruption of the characters" lives, by a force or person, is Robin Jenkins" " The Cone Gatherers". This is portrayed through many effective techniques such as characterisation, imagery and theme.
The evil inside Duror is the novel's focus, although other themes do run throughout. Evil is described as a "presence like air, infecting everyone". This evil influence or force is one of the main reasons behind the disruption of Duror's life resulting in Calum's death. Evil, is one of the forces in the novel that drives Duror into insanity. The evil in the novel is a force that compels Duror into thinking and undertaking devious and immoral doings. This sinister power acting upon Duror is not only portrayed through direct speech and thoughts but also through imagery of the tree growing inside his mind.
Although at the beginning of the novel Duror is moderately sane, it is quite clear to see the disruption in his life in the latter stages of "The Cone Gatherers", thus leading to his madness and the disruption of Calum's life.
The early signs of the evil force affecting Duror's life by leading him down the path of insanity, is evident from the reader's first encounter with Duror. .
" stood Duror the gamekeeper, in an icy sweat of hatred, with his gun aimed all the time at the feebleminded hunchback To pull the trigger, requiring far less force than to break a rabbit's neck-.
Considering the committing of a sin, stresses how insane Duror is. This act itself is enough to declare that not only does Duror hate this hunchback with passion but also this evil force changes Duror's natural human morals of what is right and wrong. This leads the reader to believe he is an extremely twisted and wicked man who would consider taking a human life far easier than an animal's.
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Calum constantly disturbs Duror's thoughts regardless of whether he is present, throughout the novel.
