Danny Miller

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Danny Miller is the name of a fictional character in the 2001 novel Border Crossing by English author Pat Barker. Throughout the novel, Danny also goes by the alias Ian Wilkinson to hide his true identity from the media.

[edit] Description

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

When Danny was ten years old he murdered an elderly woman by the name of Lizzie Parks, smothering her with a pillow before "play[ing]" with her deceased body. Based on psychologist Tom Seymour's testimony in court, Danny was sentenced to be tried as an adult, and served seven years at the Long Garth correctional institute. At the age of 18, Danny was transferred to an adult prison, where he was allegedly harassed and sexually abused.

Upon his release from prison, under the alias Ian Wilkinson, Danny finds it difficult to fit into society.

Curiously, the reader perhaps learns the least about Danny from Danny himself. He is deliberately a very mysterious character, and his face is often "veiled in [cigarette] smoke" to symbolise this. Furthermore, he is not entirely honest in what he says. During their initial meeting, Tom observes that, though the forensic evidence is mounted against him, "[Danny] was a good liar." Nigel Lewis, who had been Danny's solicitor at the time of the trial, admits that, prior to Tom's psychological testimony, the jury had believed Danny's story. "I was looking at them all the way through. They believed him, Tom. They looked at that kid, and they didn't believe he'd done it. I didn't believe it, and I knew he had." Angus Fletcher also reveals that there was no sexual relationship between himself and Danny, contrary to what Danny originally told Tom.

Elspeth Greene, who observed Danny for seven years at the Long Garth correctional institute, describes Danny as being "very, very good at getting people to step across that invisible border." These manipulative qualities appear especially true in Tom's case. Whilst Tom at first believes himself to be above such manipulation, it is later apparent that, despite is initial wishes, his relationship with Danny has progressed well beyond the typical therapist-patient association, and Danny's influence has caused Tom to blur the borders between his personal and professional lives.

Danny's attempted suicide and his "chance meeting" with Tom is later found to be a deliberate bid to get himself back into Tom's life.

[edit] Lizzie Parks' Murder

At the age of ten years, Danny was convicted of murdering an elderly woman by the name of Lizzie Parks. Danny had broken into Lizzie's house to steal money, not particularly because he needed it, but because he enjoyed the empty house's "helpless[ness]." Finding only loose change, Danny had proceeded to her bedroom, but it wasn't long before he heard Lizzie unexpectedly arrive home. Panicking, Danny slipped into Lizzie's bedroom wardrobe, his faced pressed into the fur of a fox's pelt. When he pushed the skin away from him, the wardrobe banged against the wall, and Lizzie came to investigate the sound.
Lizzie looked up as Danny began to descend the stairs, and she was blocking his path to freedom. Refusing to back down, Lizzie spat, "What you doing, you little bugger?" In order to get past her, Danny placed his hands on the banisters and kicked her in the chest. Lizzie fell backwards, according to Danny, "ever so slowly."

Danny looked down upon Lizzie; all her blood had drained down into her face, and she appeared unconscious. Without realising what he'd been doing, Danny collected a cushion from the living room and pressed it against her face until she was dead.

[edit] Quotes About Danny

  • "You didn't know who or what he was."
  • "Danny didn't do feelings."
  • "He was an arrogant little bastard."
  • "The forensic evidence for Danny's guilt was overwhelming, but he was a good liar."
  • "Danny was a bottomless pit. He wanted other people to fill him, only in the process the other people ended up drained."
  • "I think he hated anything he couldn't control."
  • "...the horror of the images impossible to connect with the child he'd just left."
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