In Irvine Welsh's disturbing and tragic novel 'Trainspotting' one of the most poignant yet controversial themes is the friendship between the central characters. This comes to crisis point as the desperation of their heroin addiction increases. The novel 'Trainspotting' is a story of addiction and betrayal and for characters in the novel life is simply focused on where the next fix will come from.

Set in the underworld of Scotland's capital, it tells of a wild, freeform, rabelaisian trip through the darkest recesses of Edinburgh lowlife. Where a group of disaffected Scottish youths turn to heroin to escape the banalities of modern day existence. Then they begin to discover that there are no easy solutions to inherent loneliness and pain of life. Where for the characters all sense of normal behaviour disintegrates once they find themselves trapped, a prime example of victims caught in today's viscous cycle of drugs.

Selfishness and self-destruction regularly go hand in hand throughout the novel. A prime example of this is portrayed through a mother 'Lesley'. Who had become so addicted

"It wis easy tae lie, as we all did with Begbie in our circle. A whole Begbie mythology had been created by oor lies, tae each other n oorsels, like us Begbie believed that bullshit. We played a big part in making Begbie what he was."

Welsh's highly stylised agnonistic poetry compares Renton's friendship with Francis Begbie to his junk habit, and as the novel develops it becomes easy to see how such a comparison can be made. As it is increasingly obvious what they have isn't a friendship just a long list of shared experiences and mutual acquaintances. If Begbie truly was a friend, the betrayals that occur as the plot continues would concern Renton more than they do and it is clear to see that their relationship is frontal and based on association.

Another friendship, which appears to be completely based upon association in the novel, is demonstrated through the character of the villainous and choleric 'Francis Begbie'.

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Approximate Word count = 1800
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)