The Irish psyche depicted through Miranda in Fool's Sanctuary by Jennifer Johnston In her novel Fool's Sanctuary, Jennifer Johnston reflects on the Irish psyche and provides an insight into some of the factors that appear to create such a culture unique. This aspect of the novel is explored particularly through the novel's protagonist, Miranda. He acts like a symbol, the embodiment of the typical Irish person. Miranda's characteristics, attitudes and values ​​are shaped by the influences of her country, thus reflecting the possibilities that typically distinguish Irish people. These characteristics include a symbolic and surreal view of life, a love of poetry and music, the importance placed on memories, a sense of humor, the way they love, and an inability to accept happiness as reality. Ireland is a spectacular island battered by harsh climates, steeped in history and torn by wars that have raged for centuries and it is these aspects that contribute to the Irish psyche. Great Irish writers throughout history, such as Yeats and Joyce, have written about these influences in Ireland and the impact they have on its people. Johnston equally explores similar concepts in Fools' Sanctuary. It is a powerful story, Miranda's story, showing how the Troubles in Ireland in the 1920s affect an individual's life and change it irrevocably. Johnston's delicate blend of emotion and caustic observations provides a unique insight into the Irish psyche. Furthermore, it explores the concept that many of the characteristics developed are fundamentally self-defeating. Miranda tries not to be influenced by the Irish conflict and tries to escape in various ways. However, in the end, this just ends up in Johnston's h... half of the paper... tray. However, Fool's Sanctuary not only serves as an exploration of the unique characteristics of the Irish people, it also serves as an explanation. It's an explanation that offers insight into why certain traits are unique to the Irish psyche, what they might be attributed to, and how they ultimately lead to self-destruction. Jennifer Johnston's careful and powerful depiction of Ireland on the brink of war is like a magnifying glass and, when examined, essentially reveals a unique portrait of the Irish psyche. The student may wish to begin the essay with one or more of the following quotes: We came from Ireland. Great hate, little space, maimed us in the beginning..... WB YEATS, 1931 The Irishman's house is his coffin. JA JOYCE, 1922Work citedJohnston, Jennifer. Fool's Sanctuary London: Hamish Hamilton 1987