Away By Michael Gow Analysis

In Michael Gow’s play ‘Away’, a story of families in the 1960’s and how they come to embrace each other’s differences through gaining self-knowledge. Through identifying the context of act 3 scene 2, as well as the relationships between characters and the reasons behind them, as well as the stylistic devices used by Gow to share a message with his audiences that, even today, an audience can relate too. By analysing quotes from the scene to support conclusions, the purpose of this scene will be identified and a greater understanding the theme of self-knowledge in this scene will be formed.

Last Man Out, written by Mike Lupica, was published by Philomel Books in 2016, and has 245 pages. Last Man Out, a realistic fiction book, is not part of a series, but it does show similar qualities to Mike Lupica’s books. Many of his books have athletes that struggle through challenging situations. His books motivate many teen athletes and children. Written in third person limited, Last Man Out provides a limited view on Tommy Gallaghers actions. Tommy is an 8th grade boy from Brighton, and shares a love of football with his dad, Patrick Gallagher. Unfortunately, Patrick dies when a burning building collapses ontop of him.

Set in the Australian summer of 1967, Michael Gow’s Away is an elaborate play which explores the ideas of self- discovery and change. Through the war affected nation, three families, each from different social classes, depart on an iconic Australian holiday to the beach. In the play, Gow utilises the characters to demonstrate that going away physically is intrinsically linked to their mental developments. With the help of references to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer night’s Dream, Away uses Gwen and Coral to show the significant psychological changes made by the characters during holidays to the coast. Tom throughout the play acts as a catalyst for the change in other characters and is associated with Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

From the year eighteen sixty nine to the year nineteen sixty nine Aboriginal children were taken from their homes. The play ‘Stolen’ by Jane Harrison tells the story of five Aboriginal children who were forcibly extracted form their families. The children: Anne, Jimmy, Ruby, Sandy and Shirley all demonstrated the devastating impact that the removal from their families and subsequent institutionalisation had on each of their lives. Furthermore, some of the main characters maintained their hopes and dreams under different circumstances whilst a few displayed a lack of hope.

“Away” is a play written in 1988 by Michael Gow. Away refers to the central ideas of Australia in 1967-68. The central ideas embrace the outsiders, family conflicts and grief and loss which affected families in the play. Gow uses three main families to convey the message of the play. The use of language and stylistic devices influence the way Gow has been able to speak to the modern Australian audience. In the play “Away” Gow is able to speak to the modern Australian audience with the use of allusion. Gow alludes to two of Shakespeare’s plays; Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear, two well-known actors in the 1960’s; Chips Rafferty and Laurance Olivier and the Vietnam War. The modern audience would have to do research to

“Away” is a historical play written in 1988 by Michael Gow. Away reflects to the central ideas, values and conflicts of Australia in 1967-68. The central ideas embrace outsiders, family conflicts and grief and loss which affected families in the play and in the time. Gow uses three main families to convey the message of the play. The use of language and stylistic devices influence the way Gow has been able to speak to the modern Australian audience. In the play, Gow is able to speak to the modern Australian audience with the clever, complex use of allusion. The modern audience would have to do research to understand the allusions in the play however on a superficial level the audience is still able to enjoy the central themes and ideas of the play.

Explanation: This made me feel very uneasy and uncomfortable as a reader, as the only picture the reader has gotten of Tom for the past 140 pages is this hypermasculine man, and to see him cry completely juxtaposes with the rest of his character and makes me, as a reader, confused and impacted, because I know how much this really affected him if he happens to be showing sadness. Especially because in this scene Tom is crying in an exaggerated manner, as the tears were, “overflowing down his face.” Even though Tom is a bad person, I can feel bad for him and feel the full impact of Myrtle’s death on him.

feel as though they have to stay strong for Tom and remain positive and protective, but all he really needs is to know how they truly feel about his terminal illness, and to be able to support each other like a family

She is hoping to depend on Tom, that he will change her life around for her. She is a child with to big of an ego to see that not everything will fall into the path she wants it

Not only does this show Ma’s love for Tom but it also shows the courage that it gives her. All in all, Ma used her love for her family to fuel her resolve to stick together as a family regardless of the cost.

The two dramatic texts, the drama Away by Michael Gow and the film stand by me directed by Rob Reiner explore many types of discoveries were presented and explored by the author and director. Discovery in these texts is the action or process of finding or being found. Stand by me is about four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordy, Vern, Chris and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives. Whereas away is a play written by the Australian playwright Michael Gow. First performed by the Griffin Theatre Company in 1986, it tells the story of three internally conflicted families holidaying on the coast for Christmas, 1968. This play focuses on three families embarking on their summer holiday at the end of the year. The families are seen a cross section of the Australian community at the time and they aspirations and attitudes.

The 1960’s were a time of drastic social change, with the next generation questioning their parent’s ideals and a cataclysm of political adjustment. Away, by Michael Gow, under the direction of Michael Beh and performed by heartBeast on the 12th of February 2015 at the Holy Trinity Anglican church, formed a powerful idea of the Australian identity during these turbulent times. Issues of the Australian identity were explored through symbol, and roles and relationships used examined the Australian stereotypes of the time. The character’s goals and intentions towards other characters accentuated the Australian identity at the time, especially those of Coral and Gwen.

　　　　People from all backgrounds also appreciate the way the movie shows a family with having good times and bad times, especially in relation to the relationship between the family members. As Tom grew up, he had a good time with the mother and his brother mike as he shared in the warmth of the family. However, his life became the source of bad times when he decided to engage in

David Williamson’s, The Removalists, is an Australian play that recognises the “bottled-up aggression” present in the 1970’s. Williamson highlights violence, sexism, abuse of power, corruption and the role of a bystander in a violent situation that sees a confrontation between the sexes. The Removalists highlights different Australian personas, which are accurate representations of Australian society in the 1970’s. Several clashes of personalities take place throughout the play as each character represents a different quality of life.

Away was first published and produced in 1986, yet the actual play was set in the 60s, during the summer of 1967-1968. The play is set during the time of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, during a period where there was significant, social and political criticism and dissent between communities. The ‘baby boom’ generation had become the ‘teenage market’ and lowered the average age of the Australian community. The essence of youthful optimism helped to force an end to the Australians involvement in the Vietnam War by rallies and ongoing protests. For many Australians, ‘the mining boom’ which followed after the Vietnam War, was their first experience of financial haven. This demonstrated in the play by the annual holiday ‘away’. Each holiday resembles precious time with family and enjoying a week or two of leisure.