Chae Strachan
Chae’s Role
Farmer in early 20th century Scotland
Minor character but has importance in key events:
• Opening of the novel – confrontation with rich motorist –
contrasting with friendship of Long Rob – accepts
difference of opinion but not ‘class’
• Gives Chris fatherly advice on her wedding day – as if to
look after her for John –as they were good friends
• Peesie’s Knapp goes on fire – cattle – connection with
the land
• One of the first in Kinraddie to join the army – later tells
Chris the truth about the killing of Ewan
Highlighted Themes and Ideas
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He wants the world to change – equality
Represents the old way of life
Belief of education – supports women
Sends his daughter Margaret to Aberdeen for
schooling
• His views are respected (Shows change in society)
• He is well travelled – plenty of experience, wise
• The burning of his house highlights the
community coming together
Family
• Chae’s family consists of himself, his wife, Kirsty
and their three children
• Although Chae had duties on the farm to provide
for his family, he joined the army without
hesitation
• This shows his character as being strong-willed
and loyal to his country even if it means having to
leave his family behind
Reaction to War
• He is keen to fight for his country – patriotism
• Values other’s opinions about war, he does not try
to recruit anyone
• His personality has changed when he comes home
on leave – traumatised
• Typical soldier in that he does not speak about the
horrors of war. He keeps them bottled up
• Changes from his more laid back attitude to quite
aggressive, for example – his strong reaction to the
cutting down of the trees
War Role
• Chae was one of the first to join the army
• He began as a soldier and moved up the ranks to a
sergeant – a middle rank in the army.
• His role was to inform Chris of the truth behind
Ewan’s death and he delivered the news in a
personal, sensitive way.
• He died 1 hour before Armistice – He represented
the end of the old Scot’s way of life that died with
the end of the war
Chae’s Quotes
• “Keep a civil tongue in your head.”
• “There was no justice under capitalism”
• “A revolution would soon sweep away… corrupted
lackeys.”
• “Chae covered his ears and cried Oh God, that’s old
Clytie, Clytie was his little horse, his sheltie.”
• “Never doubt your Ewan, Chris, or let him know that you
do. That’s the hell of married life. Praise him up and tell
him he’s fine…and he’ll want to cuddle you till the day he
dies.”
• “It would end the armies and fighting forever, the day of
socialism at last would dawn.”
• “Better always to know what truths in a thing…I swore to
myself that I’d tell you it all, that you’d never be vexed
with some twisted bit in the years to come.”