Shuggie Bain Themes

Shuggie Bain is about a boy grappling with his identity in a society that antagonizes him for being himself. The expectations for men and women are quite different in the novel’s community, and there’s a distinct dichotomy between what’s considered feminine and what’s considered masculine. From a very young age, it’s clear to everyone that Shuggie doesn’t adhere to stereotypical ideas of masculinity. He is intrigued with Agnes’s hair and clothing, and he gravitates…

Central to the novel is the way that trauma accelerates Shuggie’s coming of age. Throughout the story, adult figures fall like dominoes around Shuggie and Agnes. First, his family moves away from his grandparents, who are his most responsible caretakers. Immediately upon arriving in Pithead, Shug leaves Agnes and the children to move in with Joanie Micklewhite. Catherine follows shortly after when she marries Shug’s nephew, Donald Jnr., and finally, Leek leaves—or…

In Shuggie Bain, Agnes uses her pride in her appearance as both armor and salve as she navigates heartbreak, poverty, and addiction. While her drinking alienates her from others and damages her most intimate relationships, even those she’s wronged still credit her for her ability to maintain an immaculate home and appearance. Whenever she prepares to do something difficult, like crossing the street to confront her hateful neighbor Colleen McAvennie, she dons her…

Though sectarianism is not the primary concern of Shuggie Bain, the impacts of the historical division between Catholic and Protestant Scots are felt throughout the novel. On the surface, the tension between these two groups is attributed to religious differences, but social, economic, and political discord are also at the core of sectarian conflict. For both Catholics and Protestants in the novel, there are very rigid expectations around behavior and values, and the pressure…