Five: A Novel
Five: A Novel
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Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of ableism, graphic violence, and mental illness.
Literary Context: The “Evil Child” Trope and Maternal Taboos
The character of Gideon exists within a long literary tradition of the “evil child” trope, featuring children who exhibit malevolent behavior that subverts traditional notions of childhood innocence. One of the best-known examples is William March’s The Bad Seed (1954), in which a seemingly perfect young girl is revealed to be a cold-blooded killer. Such works often invite readers to ask whether evil is innate or learned, while parents struggle to reconcile unconditional love with fear of their own child. Bannister uses this trope to create immediate tension, portraying Gideon as both unsettling and difficult to understand. His unpredictable violence, apparent lack of empathy, and repeated acts of self-endangerment immediately place him within this lineage of psychologically disturbing children.
Rather than repeating conventions of the trope, however, the novel shifts the emotional center away from Gideon and toward Emma. Bannister pairs the “evil child” with another literary taboo: maternal ambivalence. Early in the novel, Emma experiences the intrusive thought, “[I]t would be easier if I lost him” (4), a moment the narrator immediately contextualizes as a common but shameful experience for overwhelmed parents. Instead of asking readers whether Gideon is inherently malevolent, the novel asks how society responds when a mother cannot honestly express every aspect of her experience. Emma’s fear, exhaustion, resentment, and fierce protectiveness exist simultaneously, pushing back against the idealized expectations often placed upon motherhood.
This dynamic closely mirrors that of Lionel Shriver’s novel We Need to Talk About Kevin (2003), which the author cites as a direct influence. In Shriver’s book, the narrator, Eva, grapples with her culpability and resentment in the face of her son’s horrific actions. Like Eva, Emma is judged both for her son’s behavior and for the complexity of her own emotional responses. Both novels reject simple explanations for childhood violence and instead examine the uncertainty surrounding parental responsibility. By combining the unsettling conventions of the “evil child” narrative with an intimate exploration of motherhood, Bannister examines judgment, empathy, and the impossible expectations placed upon mothers.
Social Context: Disability Rights and Assistive Technology in 1980s Britain
Danny and Liam’s childhood unfolds during a period of significant transition in Britain’s understanding of disability. Throughout much of the 20th century, people with disabilities often faced exclusion from mainstream media, education, employment, and public life, while social attitudes were frequently shaped by pity, stereotypes, and low expectations rather than inclusion. Casual use of language such as “spastic” and “spaz,” which Liam repeatedly confronts while defending Danny, reflects a culture in which prejudice was often accepted as ordinary. Against this backdrop, Danny’s determination to define himself through his intelligence rather than others’ assumptions becomes one of the most important aspects of his character, while Liam’s fierce protectiveness develops in response to a society that consistently underestimates his brother.
At the same time, the 1980s marked a period of rapid advancement in assistive technology. Growing momentum within the disability rights movement encouraged governments, universities, and researchers to prioritize technologies that promoted independence and equal access, while the emergence of microcomputers made increasingly sophisticated communication devices. These developments coincided with major advancements in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems and portable speech-generating devices that dramatically expanded opportunities for people with complex communication needs. Bannister draws upon this historical context through D-Tech, the company founded by Danny and Liam, which develops “speech-generating devices and adaptive keyboards” (169). Their success reflects a broader movement toward accessibility and technological innovation that was changing the lives of many people with disabilities.
Understanding this historical context lends insight into the relationship between the brothers. Liam’s instinct to protect Danny is shaped by a childhood spent confronting discrimination, while Danny’s determination to live independently reflects the gradual expansion of opportunities made possible by changing social attitudes and technological progress. Bannister portrays disability as one aspect of Danny’s identity within a society that is itself evolving.
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