The Children Act

THE CHILDREN ACT

by Ian McEwan

 

Nominations: Carnegie Longlist 2015, Dublin Longlist 2016

 

Date Read: January 11, 2022

 

Fiona is a Family Division court judge, overseeing some of the worst cases that England has to offer – bitter divorces, vicious custody hearings, determining the uncertain futures of virtual strangers with a meager amount of information. Yet, Fiona is known in the judicial world as being fair and level-headed, her opinions much discussed among her peers.

 

Fiona is going through a family upset of her own. After decades of marriage, her husband, Jack, is having a mid-life crisis of sorts and seeks Fiona’s permission to have an affair. Their sex life has come to a stand-still and Jack is trying to be as honest and respectful as a partner can who wants once again to feel passion and heat before he is no longer able to. I actually liked his approach. Of course, Fiona is hurt and livid. After all the years they have dedicated to each other this seems like a complete betrayal.

 

While her personal life slowly comes undone, Fiona is still juggling serious matters in court. Her most recent case involves a Jehovah’s Witness family that is refusing a simple blood transfusion because of their faith. The son, Adam, just 3 months shy of his 18th birthday is refusing as well. Fiona, in an attempt to have a well-balanced opinion and adhering to the standards of the Children’s Act which mandates the welfare of the child be placed above all other concerns, travels to the hospital to meet Adam in person.

 

She finds Adam to be intelligent, well-reasoned and very firm in his beliefs about a transfusion. He shares with her his poetry, his recently acquired music skills and Fiona even sings a song with him. Adam is oddly pursuing hobbies as if investing in his future self. It becomes clear that Adam is feeling lonely and isolated and that Fiona has made a lasting impression on him. He begs her not to leave.

 

Fiona goes against everyone to preserve Adam’s life. And as much as he was willing to martyr himself for his beliefs, he and his parents are overwhelmed with joy. But Adam, so intent on dying, seems to not know what to do with himself and pursues Fiona in her private life, seeking her out for wisdom, companionship and guidance. Fiona, unfortunately, brushes him off. 

 

Fiona’s personal life seems to resolve itself at great personal cost. Just when she was acclimating to the idea of living on her own, Jack returns with his tail between his legs and moves back in. Months go by before they are actually speaking and interacting. But it’s nearly impossible to spend decades together and cut someone out of your heart completely.

 

I always forget how gifted McEwan is at thoroughly researching his subject matter (Powers comes to mind), and creating moral conflicts that are highly relevant. 

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