ISP Blog #3, "The Hanged Man," by Ian Rankin

This story by Ian Rankin is uses good writing techniques that are worth noting. These techniques include the structure and believability of the piece along with the applicability and appropriateness of the title chosen. The structure of the piece makes the reader feel very satisfied when finished the story. This is because the character introduced at the beginning is a completely different character, and can be viewed with a completely different perspective, than at the end of the story. The character first introduced is an assassin, or a “killer,” as he describes himself. He mentions various euphemisms for the same term, however it is concluded that his job classifies him as a killer. The character at the end of the story is different because he finds out that his victim is in fact his mother, and that he was sent to kill her by his own father. Unveiling this other dimension creates a new view for the character who at the beginning was essentially “just” a killer. Although I did not use this tactic in my original short fiction piece, I found it very effective in this work of Rankin’s. It takes readers on a journey, forcing them to change their views on certain characters in an unexpected manner.

The plot is believable because we see how, for the protagonist, killing is simply business. He has no moral standpoint on it, “and for today, the fair was his place of work, his hunting ground.” This lack of morals makes it understandable that he would accept any task, without question, as long as he is promised a relatively large sum. This detail is how it becomes reasonable that he would not realize his relations to his client, as he was simply focused on the task. Also, the discovery that the victim is his mother also makes sense. The killer is used to having the upper hand on his victims, holding their life in his hands. His mother (the fortune teller), begins saying things to him that make him feel vulnerable and exposed, “No, dear, your problems all stem from your particular line of work.” All of these attributes help add to the believability of the plot. As well, Rankin also chose a very effective title. Before reading the story and seeing the title, “The Hanged Man,” you would expect that you would come across a “hanged man.” Thinking that you will come across a hanged man, causes the reader to be curious until the end, wanting to find out why that is the title. When the fortuneteller says, “the final card is intriguing – the hanged man,” the reader thinks that this is why the piece is titled in that manner. I hope to be able to incorporate a title as convincing as that of Rankin’s, “The Hanged Man.”

In conclusion, I found it useful to read “The Hanged Man,” because it demonstrates a superior use of structure and believability of the piece along with the applicability and appropriateness of the title. Through observing these qualities, it becomes easier to apply them to one’s own work.