Barometer Rising

Having lived in Halifax for some of his childhood, Hugh MacLennan lived through the great explosion of 1917. Canada s involvement in the first World War brought life to the harbours of Halifax. For many of the characters involved, life prior to the explosion was complicated. Penelope is constantly under-estimated in a male dominant profession. She often stresses over her love for his cousin, Neil Macrae. Neil himself has issues of his own to deal with. Believed to be dead, supposedly having been killed in the war, Neil has lived under a false name to avoid a court martial brought upon by his uncle, Penelope s father, Colonel Wain. He has now returned to Halifax in an attempt to clear his name. Geoffrey Wain, having been discharged from his position due to the events surround Neil s court martial, has a poor relationship with Penny, and hatred for Neil.

The conflicts between Neil and Penny where resolved because of the explosion, which gave them a second chance. In Hugh MacLennan s novel, Barometer Rising, the emotional issues between the main characters are resolved through the disastrous explosion that shocked Halifax. After the explosion, Penny and Neil reunite, ending Penny s confusion about Neil s death. Among the people that died was Geoffrey Wain. Although he dies this loss becomes a joyful time for Neil and settles the conflict between himself and Geoffrey. Neil does not have to hide from the people he used to know and does not have to pretend is died. Among all the death and destruction of this explosion, comes a relief for Neil, he can now rejoin society and be with Penny with out fearing from Geoffrey Wain.

The explosion brings to and end all of the tension and stress caused by Colonel Wain. His death brings to and end the major conflict with Neil. Geoffrey can no longer pursue the destruction of Neil Macrae. Penny no longer has to worry about her torn relationship with her father. She is more saddened but the fact that her father has thrown away his life, then she was by his actual death. The major conflict in the relationship between Penny and Neil, is now dead, leaving them with a clear road ahead.

Penny shows that she is an incredible woman, having to deal with a great deal of pain in her life. With the absence of her mother, Penny acts like a mother to her brother, Roddie. She has to hide the fact that she has a child with Neil and live with the knowledge that she never told Neil, "the desire to tell him about Jean was overpowering." (MacLennan, p. 111)also hides her child from her father. Living through all of this is hard, especially with her daughter, Jean, in the care of her aunt and uncle. She becomes involved in a relationship with Angus Murray, a man who served with both Neil and her father. She likes Angus very much, but her heart is torn for that she hopes that Neil might still be alive. The return of Neil brings about a mass of confusion. Penny becomes surrounded by all of these problems.

When the explosion occurs, a sense of relief comes to Penny in unusual way. She breaks up with Angus, still on friendly terms and goes with Neil. Her father s death is a sad experience but it solves many problems for Penny and Neil. She no longer has to hide her love for Neil, or the fact that Jean is her child. She will now be able to share with Neil that they have a child and look forward to a new life with a new family. In essence, the explosion that hit Halifax and destroyed the lives of so many, helps Penny resolve so many emotional problems.

Neil deals with the largest of the problems, he faces an ongoing battle to clear his name. He has to use a false name, and even has to hide from his own family, including Penny. He secretly returns to Halifax in an attempt to clear his name. Neil faces the problems of finding Alec Mackenzie, the only man able to help him. Alec Mackenzie served in the same regiment with Neil and witnessed the orders from Colonel Wain. Neil s problem is that he needs to find Alec, before Geoffrey finds him. Another problem for Neil is that while Penny wants him to stay, Geoffrey is searching for a way to get him out of the country.

When the explosion hits, many things happen. Neil no longer has to walk in secrecy. He realizes that he does not care if he is seen, "even though he was still subject to court martial, his personal had ceased to matter."(MacLennan, p. 166) With all the chaotic events going on, Neil becomes closer to Penny. He receives a written testimony from Alec stating that the orders given by Colonel Wain were contradictory. Neil later on discovers the body of Geoffrey Wain. Geoffrey s death brings about a new life for Neil. All conflicts aside, Neil s emotional issues are resolved in the midst of the explosion.

If it was not for this explosion explosion that destroyed Halifax Neil and Penny may have never been back together again. Because of the death of the Geoffrey Wain it now allows for Neil and Penny to become a family again. Wain and Macrae may have fought for the end of their lives. Penny is relieved of a lot of emotional tension and all her confusion about her love Neil is resolved. She can now progress from the complicated life prior to the explosion . Neil Macrae, a man suffering a great deal of anguish, has his name cleared and becomes reunited with Penny, all as a result of the explosion.