Search For Meaning In Cloudstreet

In ‘Neighbours’, Winton conveys the idea of how the lack of mutual understanding within a community may result to one's seclusion. This is displayed when we are introduced to the couple feeling ‘like sojourners in a foreign land’. The use of simile expresses their unfamiliarity and detachment to the surrounding environment as this is also shown by their ‘wary’ and ‘cautious’ behaviour. Their inability to understand their European neighbours is further established by their shocked reaction to the ‘sounds of spitting’, ‘washing’ and the

The first portion of the novel deals mostly with Hewes life and why he lived the life that he did. Young’s portrayal of a young Hewes, ever defiant, immediately causes a reader to reminisce of his or her own childhood. It soon becomes evidently clear that “where one ended up in life depended

The novel begins with a journey, both physical and emotional; the Brennans are physically moving houses and towns, but also moving into new, unfamiliar territory. The leaving of ‘home’ is synonymous with the leaving of what id known, familiar and comfortable, in a literal and metaphorical sense.

A challenge that Jamie has to face and overcome is when he tries to have some sense of belonging to the community of Port Barren. Archie, his guardian throughout the novel, tells him his version of a dreamtime story called ‘The wanderers and the lost ones’. This story challenges Jamie to think whether he is lost or a wanderer. This makes him feel responsible for finding out who is disturbing the balance and it is up to him to try and restore it. This is shown to the reader when Jamie thinks, “It was weird, no beginning, no middle, no end, no plot. And yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something important behind the strange words. He pondered it but couldn’t make anything of it” [page 126]. The story makes Jamie wonder who he is and how he belongs in the community. This challenges him to think more about himself and what he needs to do to change and become a better person. This also made him change the way he thought about himself, it made him to thrive to do the best he can.

In addition to this, belonging to a family is a key concept in this novel. The novel opens with an alluring introduction to the family; a blissful atmosphere is created through the picturesque icons of their family life. The composer uses small photograph like icons to allude towards the widely acknowledged contentment that is readily associated with the memories in a picture album. Tan introduces the motif of the paper crane which he carries through the length of his novel as a symbol of affection and belonging between the family members. The next pages signify the break in contentment as the man begins his journey and a salient image of the couple with their hands grasping the other’s parallels the anxiety and despair in their downcast facial expressions. Although the gloomy atmosphere, the light sepia tones in the picture allow an insight into the tender and loving relationship that the family members share. Upon the man’s departure the paper crane motif returns and he hands it to his daughter as a token of his undying love for her. His migratory experience is studded by the comfort and ease that he obtains from a picture of his family. In paralleled scenes on the boat and the new apartment, the

     As he grew even older he began to notice other gangs tendencies of carrying knives. He realized that this fact changed the code of conduct. No longer would be a good fist fighter keep you from confrontation. Even the most unskilled fighter could win a fight and be on top if they knew how to swing a blade. One day Geoffrey lucked out, because he found an old rusted up knife in the gutter. It was his pride and joy. He could never afford one, so he went to many lengths to get it in working condition again. Once he returned it to its original shine, he perfected his techniques of swinging it. The gun gave him a new sense of protection. He walked with a sense of certainty that if anyone were to mess with him, they would be sorry. One day however, he realized the realities of what a knife could

The title of the novel, Crow Lake, is significant relative to the dilemma of the story. The title of the novel is such a strong and meaningful title as Crow Lake is the beginning point and end of the story. In terms of the characters and plot, the title Crow Lake connects well as the characters try to elucidate all misunderstandings and resolve the problems that once began in the locality of Crow Lake. Crow Lake as a setting plays a significant position in Kate and others’ lives and similarly, the location influenced the tragedy of the death of her parents which brought a succession of tragedies along with it, affecting the lives of the

The main theme of this novel work is a powerful journey that lead unknown strangers on this dull island where each one of them life is at stake between survival and fate. The author’s overall message to society is far the intended audience to know how justice needs to be served. The way the author Christie use each element such as characterization, conflict, and style to enhance the theme with the characterization she pin out points from the begging of the novel to let the beginning of the novel to let the audience know that this vacation trip that each of the strangers think they getting is going to turn out to be something more than what they all expect. The conflict again are within each character their self’s and the author make sure that in this novel there’s pin points that the

The Lambs are the “Lambs of God” (Winton, 1998, page 41) as “they set up a light in the darkness” (Winton, 1998, page 26). The Lambs faith is built through the almost biblical language which describes them. Another source of religion in the text is the character Fish, who’s persona and name is complexly interlinked with faith. Fish’s Christian name Samson is synonymous with the bible where a warrior named Samson is undone by treachery as he breaks a promise to God.

There is strong symbolism throughout Cloud Street that parallels this idea of segregation. The end of the novel signifies the overcoming of these symbols, in order to unite. The divided backyard is achieved through "old signs patched together," symbolizing the patching together' of lives after the previous hardships faced. The families of Cloudstreet are very different, one who

Firstly how does the novel show the theme of family in the novel. An example from the novel is when Ada wants to move to the city to find a job in the city. But she can’t because she has to stay at home and look after her family because her mum has died and her dad is always drunk, so if she leaves things might go badly. Also, family is shown in the novel when Willand Murray don’t talk much anymore because after what happened

The theme and social issue that relates to Crow Lake is the isolation, which the characters face after the death of their parents, especially Kate. The painful experience shaped Kate to whom she is today. She was injured by the loss of her parents, which made her introvert and she never conveyed her feelings to anyone, as she had no one to talk to. The brothers were always busy fighting or either having a lot of stress on their minds, which gave no time for Kate to express herself. They live in such a small town where not many places are located nearby and for Kate to easily go somewhere to play. The town they lived in, itself was so isolated. Kate expresses her childhood to Daniel as, “ It wasn’t miserable. Lonely, but not miserable.”

Living in England during World War II had an impact on her life because it coincided with the time that she was moving around, making it symbolic of her life at that time. She would be lured into a false sense of security in a new home (think of the times in between bombings) and then her world would be turned upside again as she was moved away from her father, and into beaten down homes, and then again to a somewhat

The primary theme in Home is that of good versus evil within man. Also how man react to different situations that involve good and evil choices. There are many different examples within the text that talk about the good and evil choices of man. The time period that this novel takes place is very racist because African Americans haven’t learn the civil rights that they have today. Many examples of racist and evil acts

The novel carries the recurring theme of loneliness throughout. The loneliness in the, foreshadows the loneliness in the characters of the novel.