Aus Lit Essays

Aus Lit Essays Aus Lit Essay Aus Lit Essay The Great World souses on the heart of war as a human experience which allows Mulatto go beyond these traditional notions of brutality and futility that characterize many texts about war (Rhodes, 2014, p. 3). The major military failure at Singapore highlights the nations feelings of isolation, abandonment, insecurity and describes the age of terror in which Australia found itself. Mallow notes, in a 2009 interview, that growing up in Australia during the sis, sis and sis was difficult due to the fact that war had become a way of life (Mooney, p. 84). Mallow notes that the manhood of young men was ultimately questioned on a daily basis: You will be going to war one day. How will you deal with that? What sort of man, basically, are you? (Mooney, 2009, p. 84). With this premise in mind, Mallow created the POP situation in which the central characters Vic and Diggers state of mind and sense of self and difference in identity is explored. Prior to Vic and Diggers capture by the Japanese in Changing, both men live very different lives. Vic has been brought up in a hostile and violent environment which has left him to become defensive of the world around him. This ultimately left Vic feeling as if the roll owes him for the happy, loving environment which he missed through his impoverished, unjust and unfair childhood (Rhodes, 2014). In juxtaposition to Vic, Digger is open to and accepting of the world, with a desire to get to the bottom of things (Griffith University, 2014, p. 56). It is this difference in character, fundamental makeup and varied responses to life, during and after their POP experience, that demonstrate Mallows aim of interrogating human nature in order to foster understanding (Rhodes, 2014, p 1). Mallow commences his representation of the POP experience with Digger in Changing. It becomes clear that we are thrust into an existence removed from fighting. Digger is finding it difficult to deal with the despondency of his experience its worse than anything (Mallow, 1990, p. 1 1 1 The description reveals that the Saps caught out by the sudden inundation of prisoners, do not have the knowledge or resources to effectively run the camp. As the days went by slowly, Digger and his fellow soldiers begin to form a normal routine. Digger clings to Mac and Doug more than ever but is finding it difficult to get on with Vic who he couldnt stand (Mallow, 1990, p. 13). As these two very different representations of masculinity continue their POP journey, their relationship shifts as they experience the realistic and less than glamorous loss of their mutual friend Mac and Diggers near death experience in Thailand. It is clear that growth in the relationship between Digger and Vic takes place and they are connected spiritually over their mutual experiences (Rhodes, 2014). It is noted by Taylor (1994), that Mallow persists in communicating this closeness as mysterious. Perhaps, Mallow is commenting that even though Vic and Digger have been wrought the same experience and ultimately survived, What is essential in their character and identity remains ultimately unchanged (Rhodes, 2014, p. 5). Mallows representation of Digger and Vic during their POP experience is far removed from the traditional notions of brutality and futility which are so reminiscent of movies and texts about war (Rhodes, 2014). Mallow is also careful not to romanticism or rely on traditional nationalistic cliches of heroism or imitates in his representation of this central event. One example of Mallow steering clear of these established traditions, is during Diggers ear-death experience in Thailand due to a tropical ulcer. A concerned Vic visits Digger in hospital where he is in a state of delusion: he had begun a light-hearted descent towards a place of light, and had decided to go with it (Mallow, 1990, p. 58). Upon seeing Diggers condition, Vic bravely carries Digger to the edge of a river to allow the fish to digest his rotting flesh and decontaminate his putrid wound. Mallow realistically expresses Diggers realization of his condition and continuation of life: it was the news of his own corruption, the smell, still as yet a little way off, of his own death. It has sickened him. Now, slowly he felt the smell recede (Mallow, 1 990, p. 161). Mallows frank and grotesque imagery dehumidifies his character and enables readers to understand that, by looking at the place of war in the human experience, we can go beyond the concept of lifes continuity, after such catastrophes, to accept them as consistent with and part of the fabric of human life (Rhodes, 2014, p. 1). David Mallows representation of Australian Prisoners of War in Singapore and Thailand during World War II is realistic and careful not to evaluate their horrific experience in a romanticists and traditional manner. Mallow wants his readers to understand the place of war as part of the human experience, which during his childhood was simply part of the fabric of human life (Rhodes, 2014, p. 1). The different version of masculinity and character, presented through the characters of Vic and Digger, serve to demonstrate Mallows point that even though the two unlikely friends have been through similar experiences, their identities remain ultimately unchanged (Taylor, 1994, p. 48). Vic continues to seek the life he missed as a child and continues the view that the world still owes him something (Rhodes, 2014). In contrast, Digger continues to live in the moment, always with a better, bigger future (Rhodes, 2014, p. 3). Mallows representation of the POP experience in The Great World does not solely exist to highlight the experiences of POSS. in Singapore and Thailand, but the mysterious complexity of living people, and the way in which they respond to particular experiences in their lives based upon their individual natures (Rhodes, 2014). Reference List: Bickering, Patrick, 1 994, Astonished by Everything: The Functions of Sublime Discourse in David Mallows Fiction, in Amanda Intellect (des), Provisional Maps: Critical Essays on David Mallow, COAL, Midlands, Western Australia, up. 35-50. Griffith University, 2014, LACKS Australian Literature and History B Study Guide, Griffith University, Nathan, SLD. Mallow, D. 1999, The Great World, Random House, Great Britain. Mooney, B. 2009, Interview with David Mallow. Rhodes, C. 2014, Only we humans can know: David Mallow and war. Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature, volt. 39, no. 1, up. 1-10. Taylor, Andrew 1994, The Great World, History, and Two or One Other Things, in Amanda Intellect (des), Provisional Maps: Critical Essays on David Mallow, COAL, Midlands, Western Australia, up. 35-50. Question Two Focus: Ifs Raining in Mango In Its Raining in Mango, Indigenous Australian family history ends in the sass as it began in the sass; with oppression, exclusion, violence and injustice. Discuss tragedy and satire in Styles representation of race relations in tropical Queensland. Thee Styles 1987 novel, Its Raining in Mango, takes a critical approach to Tropical Queensland history and politics from the late 1 sass to the sass (Griffith University. 2014). Readers are confronted with a satirical and tragic presentation of colonial history and Indigenous relations in Queensland. Less Raining in Mango works to emphasis the devastation caused by colonization on Indigenous people and the lasting refusal of colonial regimes to recognize the cause of effects of this devastation (Dale, 1999, p. 21). Throughout the Leafless family history, spanning over one hundred years, readers are confronted with many instances of Indigenous mistreatment and general injustice. The Leafless are respectful of Aboriginals and despise their oppressive and racial treatment. The story commences with Young George ND Biddings relationship and concludes with Wills friendship with Charley and Billy Mumbled. Throughout the novel, we are informed of the slaughter of Aboriginal people, the forcible removal of children from their families and, later, the unfair treatment of Aboriginal people by different members of society. Some of these instances, and their portrayal, will be examined in order to examine Styles bitter satire and overall message that, whilst relations between Indigenous peoples may have improved over the years, damaging racist attitudes still exist in our society. Styles tragic presentation of the treatment of Indigenous people in Tropical Queensland in 1861 begins with the proclamation of the clearance of black land-owners (Style, 2010, p. 19). Style is asking us to envision the traditional owners of the land as individuals with no autonomy, dehumidified because of their difference in appearance and culture (Genii, 2009). This representation turns somewhat satirical when we see Cornelius and George discover a dozen decomposing Indigenous men during their travels. This vision sickens Cornelius and the young George. We see Cornelius liberal attitudes surface after George asks his father whether blacks are worthless: One would think so, Cornelius replies we are trained to believe so. Hope you wont (Style, 201 0, p. 30). This proclamation of Cornelius liberal beliefs, highlights and accentuates the absolute tragedy and disgusting deeds of the miners, whilst satirically positioning the brutally murdered Indigenous men as being of less worth than an animal. Style positions her readers to ponder upon how different the settlement of Australia would have been if it were filled with the Cornelius Leafless of the world. The tragic representation of Indigenous people is continued with the next generation of Leafless and their Indigenous counterparts around the year 191 5 in the form Of Jackie and Newly Mumbled and George and Magma, with the forcible removal of Knells baby, Charley. This scene is tragic, particularly when Jackie pronounces: we make kids for whites now. Cant they make their own kids, eh? Take everything. Land. Kids. Dont give nothing, only take (Style, 2010, p. 84). This tragedy demonstrates the evolution of Indigenous oppression and injustice through the form of a new generation. Pond the forcible removal of the young Charley by police, it is heartwarming to see the protection of the child by George and Magma. This again is a continuation of what could have been if more individuals were as accepting and respectful of the Indigenous culture. During this scene Style employs facets of satire, particularly during the policemans pushy and forceful interrogation of George and Magma. When asked as to whether he and his wife are aware Newly has any children, he responds ironically and sarcastically: Youre wasting your time here, let me tell you. Youre wasting mine as well. But thats what governments for isnt it? (Style, 2010, p. 87). Similarly to George, Magma also pipes in with language reminiscent of sarcasm and mockery: l told you that. Perhaps the cat has your ears as well. If you shout and nag and humiliate her, youll never get an answer. Cant you understand something as basic as that? (Style, 201 0, p. 88). Again, Styles employment of blatant satirical statements exaggerate the tragedy and unfair treatment of Aboriginal people (Dale 1999). Furthermore, the use of satire forces the reader to question the reason why Style had such an interest in his alienated and outcast group of people and the sardonic eye she casts on the racist attitudes of the residents of Tropical Queensland (Sheridan, 2003). Styles use of satire when examining the tragic and shameful parts of our history, demonstrate her lack of interest in nationalist themes and highlight her focus on modernism (Sheridan, 2003, p. 61). This exaggerated agenda presented in Its Raining in Mango, also ignites and invites the reader to ponder the extent to which the brutal injustices described are after all literary exaggerations (Griffith University, 2014, p. 43). The emergence of the next generation of Leafless appears in the form of Will, Georges son and his friend Billy and father Charley, direct descendents of Biding. Again, Style presents to her readers the various forms of oppression, violence and injustice against Indigenous people in the sass. The event where Billy is jailed for six weeks with hard labor for tax evasion is a tragedy and disgrace. This event is a tragedy because Billy had never been educated about what a tax form actually was: but the tax people were charging him provisional tax and he didnt understand (Style, 2010, p. 89). If someone had educated Billy, then the situation could have been avoided. Billy is forced to travel the long journey back to Mango from the jail and experiences a myriad of injustices. The most prolific injustice is his treatment by a barman who cheats him out of his change: l said what about me change? l put it there mate, right in front of you (Style, 2010, p. 193). Upon close examination and the tragedy of Billys oppression, there are underlying features of satirical musings. Through Billy s experiences, see begin to see a sense of fight in Billy in the face of adversity. He tries to explain his situation to the arresting cop and fights for his right to his change in the bar, to no avail. This is contrasted to his realization as he walks in the pouring rain on his way back to Mango that he has not actually fought to keep his language: the nobility of the forward line his great- grandfather Biding had advised in the tribal language he had almost forgotten now except as sounds that picked at his dreams (Style, 2010, p. 194). This tragic realization culminates into more oppression where no matter what he did there was only a paralyzing sense of effort in an imprecise landscape (Style, 201 0, p. 94). The saturation of Sergeant Perrys lack of reaction to the brutal fight: full of the realization of his own irony and unfairness (Style, 201 0, p. 203) demonstrates that the haphazard and violent means by which Europeans penetrated the Australian wilderness is a cycle which cannot be easily broken (Genii, 2009, p. 20). Thee Styles Its Raining in Mango, serves as a tool to challenge the simple-minded celebratory narratives of the colonization of Australia (Dale, 1999). According to Style, he racist attitudes of Australian people in Tropical Queensland may have seemingly improved over the years, but racist attitudes and mistreatment continue to exist. The selfless, respectful attitudes of the Leafless is refreshing and somewhat saddening in its portrayal, as it forces the reader to ponder upon what could have been if racist attitudes had not become so prevalent.