Annotation - Chapter 15, Page 158
From Riddley Walker Annotations
- (158:33) "I fealt like that Power wer a Big Old Father I wantit it to do me like Granser done Goodparley I wantit it to come in to me hard and strong long and strong. Let me be your boy, I thot"
This is the first and only mention of a patriarchal god and the idea is clearly a novelty to Riddley. The Eusa Story does not include a Big Old Father, but Riddley's use of capital letters is a sure sign that he means it in a religious sense (like Power, No., or Trubba).
Note that Riddley, Goodparley, and Lissener all have fathers who were killed: Riddley's by accident; Lissener's by Goodparley; Goodparley's by pirates, and his surrogate father by Goodparley.
Also note the use of the word "boy," more explicitly than earlier, to refer to submissive sex.