Exploring the Different aspects of Subjugation, Oppression and Troubles in Anna Burns’s Milkman

Abstract

Anna Burns’s Milkman (2018) offers a compelling narrative of an unnamed eighteen-year-old protagonist, referred to as the “middle sister,” as she navigates the pervasive social surveillance, gendered violence, and psychological trauma endemic to Northern Ireland during the Troubles of the 1970s. The novel foregrounds the protagonist’s strained relationships—with her family, romantic partner, and community—while highlighting her attempts to resist the unwanted attention and sexual harassment of a paramilitary figure known as Milkman. Her unconventional behavior, particularly her habit of reading while walking, positions her as a deviant within a highly conformist and patriarchal society, leading to social ostracization. Through the lens of a young woman, Milkman explores the mechanisms of collective oppression and the deeply embedded paranoia within a conflict-ridden sociopolitical landscape. This article examines the multilayered expressions of violence and coercion—both physical and psychological—within domestic, communal, and national spheres. It aims to interrogate how systemic oppression permeates all levels of society, underscoring the interplay between individual agency and structural domination in a climate of sustained political unrest.