Transitivity and mental transformation: Sheila Watson’s The Double Hook

Abstract

Since M.A.K. Halliday published his influential essay (1971) on the thematic function of transitivity patterns in William Golding’s The Inheritors more than 30 years ago, there have appeared numerous stylistic investigations into transitivity in literary narratives. The investigations, however, are mostly concerned with power relations between conflicting parties and for those that probe into a character’s inner life, what is revealed is usually a certain mental state or ‘mind style’ of the character. A transitivity analysis of Sheila Watson’s The Double Hook(1989) demonstrates that the model of transitivity can function as a useful tool in revealing the process of a character’s mental transformation, and, further, that a transitivity analysis may shed fresh light on the interpretation of the text. The present study focuses on the process of mental transformation of the novella’s protagonist James on his return journey, a process subtly brought out by the change in transitivity patterns, and a process that has been neglected by previous critics who have concentrated on the physical aspect of James’s return. It is argued that James’s mental transformation as realized by the change in transitivity patterns is of great importance to the novella’s theme of forming a spiritual community.