The Rachel Incident

The narrative is told in the form of a confession written by an adult Rachel recalling her college years and experiences. Why did Caroline O’Donoghue choose to structure the text this way and what does the framing narrative add to the novel’s themes?

What is the role of humor in the novel, and how does it relate to the novel’s themes? How does the narrative format, with an older Rachel narrating her past, emphasize the more humorous aspects of the events?

Social class is an important background issue throughout the novel. How do the different class backgrounds of James Devlin, James Carey, and Rachel affect their lives and career trajectories? What do their different experiences illustrate about contemporary Irish society?