Essay Questions

How did Jean's kidnapping affect her children?

Jean was abducted in the presence of her children, and the entire experience was traumatizing. The kidnapping was very cruel, and Jean's children tried to hold her legs in an attempt to offer protection but in vain. Jean instructed the children to take good care of themselves, and she promised them that she would return soon. Unfortunately, Jean never returned home. Some of the kidnappers were Jean's neighbors, and the children could identify them. The experience of living with people who are responsible for their mother's mysterious disappearance is horrible. However, the children kept quiet for fear of their lives.

Why did the Irish Republic Army (IRA) abduct Jean?

Jean was a victim of circumstances because she was suspected of informing the British about the affairs of the Irish government. Jean is among the thousands of people that were subjected to suffering by the IRA because of claims that they were British informers. IRA was doing everything possible to gain control of Ireland, but they had to do everything to drive out the British soldier. Any citizen who was suspected of helping the British soldier was killed. When reports went around that Jean was a British informer, her neighbors got angry, and they were part of the scheme that arranged her kidnapping and killing.

Are manslaughter and vehemence emerging as the main issues discussed in 'Say Nothing' by Patrick Radden Keefe?

Most of the book discusses the Irish Republic Army's evils to the suspected informers of the British Army. The author narrates the horrific experience of Jean's kidnapping and killing. Jean's children never saw her alive. After thirty years, Jean's remains were discovered, which confirmed to her children that she was killed. The kidnappers are not ashamed of the trauma they leave behind after kidnapping Jean violently in front of her children. The ten children try to cling to their mother's legs, but she is violently dragged to the waiting van. Jean represents many people tortured and killed by the IRA in their quest to drive out the British soldiers.