Testimony
The book opens with the protagonist, Roseanne detailing moments of her past life in what the author refers to as “Testimony of Herself.” Roseanne has been institutionalized in a mental hospital for over twenty years. Now at the brink of death, she writes the story of her life hoping to tell her version of her past before she dies. Roseanne understands that her story needs to be read once she dies and not a moment earlier. She believes that people will listen and appreciate her conviction better once she departs from this world.
The author, Sebastian Barry, employs this form of writing to introduce the reader to Roseanne’s life and create tension in the notion that she is running out of time. Barry also wants to grab the reader’s attention and have them discern whether Roseanne’s testimony is valid.
Truth
Truth is one of the key themes in the novel. Barry’s aim is to demystify the existence of singular truth and introduce another notion of unreliable memory. The author wonders if the human mind can correctly recall valid memories, both personal and historical, thereby making valid decisions. Roseanne has lived most of her life hiding the truth about past experiences. In her testimony, Roseanne, describes the two most important men in her life, her father Joe and her husband Tom differently from what the reader understands at the start of the novel. Her decision to lie about her father begs the question of whether she can be honest about her past.
Father Gaunt’s testimony about Roseanne’s father is also tainted by his strong dislike for women, Roseanne in particular. He too, disguises the truth to favor his testimony and to satisfy his ego. As the book concludes, Dr. Grene sides with Father Gaunt claiming he had less reason to lie about Joe’s death. On the other hand, Roseanne painted an innocent picture of her father as a way of coping with the trauma of witnessing his death. She created a different story as she could not accept the fact that her father also inflicted pain on others.
Memory
In one of the chapters, Roseanne admits to having heard different versions of her father’s life and death which introduces the idea of unreliable memory. Her testimony relays moments of her life that she recalls differently from what is mentioned in the courtroom. The reminiscent memories imply that Roseanne is simply trying to convince herself that what she knows is the truth. Roseanne also recalls her father being a gravedigger and then a rat-catcher. Contrary to her story, Dr. Grene discovers documents that refer to Joe as a policeman who was killed by rebels.
