Andrew Shankland

Beyond the Grail: 'a Thorn Rose. Surely Not an Irish Lullaby.' Andrew Shankland

An American in the sunset of his time, who through interaction with relatives and other people in the land of his mother's birth learned a great deal of the struggles encountered. More important, the affirmation of the old saying, "that fact is stranger than fiction." The human conflicts in life are reflected as they occur between a few people or groups of people including countries. A major theme of the story as written signifies that we are all truly victims of our environment. Also, the common bond that can exist between persons witnessing the horrors of war and the feelings they express of their opposing it if at all possible. One theme to be challenged by the reader in conclusion is the experience of life and the purpose of it for each person.