These chosen texts reveal the influence of Australian society on the formation of masculine values. The respective authors use characterisation to establish the importance of mateship in this context. However, these relationships often use this ideal in a coercive manner. Due to this, men in these texts often have issues with social or legal boundaries, which stem from male friendships. Conversely, men may draw a distinct Australian identity from their relationships with both women and the land. This emphasises anxieties over a shared colonial history, as European masculinity must meet with a new continent. The authors also present the similar influence of these connections over the development of positive masculine traits, such as hard work …show more content…
The selected authors represent this through sexual deviance, alcoholism, and gambling. In particular, this is apparent through the narrative struggle in ‘The Sentimental Bloke’. Bill’s place in a “larrikin” gang establishes anti-social behaviour, which inhibits his upward social mobility within the text (Thompson 178). This results in several incidents, which impact his relationship with Doreen. For example, this includes Bill’s coarse behaviour at the theatre, his relapse into gambling, and his attempts to fight her suitors (Longford 1918). These actions mirror those of Grant’s “brutality” during the “kangaroo hunt”, as they subvert his metropolitan social values (McFarlane 35). The effect of the imposition of these negative masculine values is clear. Authoritative characters, such as Ginger Mick and Crawford, encourage behaviour that excludes men from wider society. The authors symbolise this through the prospect of marriage. In ‘Coonardoo’, Hugh’s refusal to marry for love is the result of his mother’s boundaries. Hugh may only fulfil the role of protector of his station, and by extension, Coonardoo, due to the “sublimation of his sexual desire” (Thomas 238). This suggests that the masculine roles drawn from mateship disregard the possibility of emotional fulfilment. Comparably, Kotcheff also represents this through his depiction of women. …show more content…
The juxtaposition between male and female characters in ‘The Sentimental Bloke’ highlights this. Notably, Longford employs Doreen as a foil to the Mick. Doreen’s firm social values clash with the overt criminality of the larrikins (Boyd 9). However, this serves to highlight the sentimental aspect of Bill’s character, rather than impose other values on it. Accordingly the same “comic tension” also exists between Bill’s “harsh street argot” in the inter-titles, and his “tender sentiment” to Doreen (Murray 8). Conversely, Prichard uses similarities between her characters, rather than differences, to allow her protagonist to form a positive relationship. While the relationship between Coonardoo and Hugh is unequal, they “take pride” in each other as workers (Ellis 70). Hugh maintains comparable, reciprocal relationships, with his “right-hand” daughter Phyllis, and his “workmate” mother (Corbould 419). This suggests that these relationships reinforce values of resilience and hard work, in contrast to male friendships. These friendships, such as those in ‘Wake in Fright’, force “drinking” to take “precedence” over “everything else”, as they encourage anti-social behaviour (Kent 38). Likewise, Sam Geary encourages similar behaviour, through his actions and recommendation that Hugh should get drunk in a moment of crisis (Johnson and Johnson 57). This emphasises the positive masculine
For example, in Paper 1, I discussed how the police were used to illustrate the detective. It seems that The Long Goodbye presents a story about “love and loss,” but in fact, what Chandler tries to depict is the friendships between Detective Marlowe and the mysterious Terry Lennox. In other words, the story is not about love, but about masculinity. For example, Plain points out that even Roger Wade shows his masculinity by “drinking himself into an easily killable stupor” after he feels disappointed and is “refusing to complete a debased cultural product” (p. 81). The main theme of masculinity thus forms the female characters in the novel. The female characters could also be regarded as significant elements for building the traits of the detective and/or the novel, and to differentiate the masculinity that Chandler wishes to illustrate in the
Australian’s have a unique proud culture. This culture differentiates them from the British motherland. Through many decades Australia has formed a unique, which at its foundation is made from mateship. Mateship or friendship is the core of Australian identity as this was instilled into them through events such as war. WWII in particular demonstrates the level of mateship shown by Australians as many made the ultimate sacrifice in order to save a mate. The stories of ‘The Magic Pudding’ by Gary Crew & Shaun Tan and ‘Memorial’ by Norman Lindsay will demonstrate how mateship is a significant part of how Australians see
Lyle, Girlie and Farley openly voice their opinion about those who do not measure up to their own and society’s expectations. Individuals who do not comply are overtly ostracised and discriminated against. Rayson exposes homosexual discrimination present in rural towns through the character of William. Farley’s built up bitterness towards his son William illustrates a common rural discontent for homosexuals as his resentment is driven by his belief that William made no effort to ‘overcome’ his ‘weakness’. This attitude towards having an open opinion is reflected by Lyle who repeatedly discriminates Nugget referring to him as a ‘bloody boong’ a ‘coon’ and a ‘black bastard’ whilst claiming that Aboriginals are not good farmers. Girlie blatantly adds to the discriminative theme by saying ‘bugger the vegetarians’ when creating the menu for her birthday. Her judgmental attitude is continued with reference to Felix as being ‘a weedy-looking bloke…he does look life a fairy’. Girlie’s comments highlight the stereotypical view of men and masculinity that is present in rural
Australia’s identity has always been a complicated one. Starting with Aboriginal genocide, 1800’s cowboys and villains, two world wars and a bunch of poems describing them, it makes it difficult to conclude on what being an ‘Aussie’ really is. Thankfully, the two thought-provoking poems Nobody Calls Me a Wog Anymore by Komninos Zervos, and My Country by Dorothea Mackellar both use their discerning selection of themes to reflect modern attitudes in some extent. Along with their themes, Nobody Calls Me a Wog Anymore and My Country both use their story to capture the attributes modern Australians possess to some degree.
In a recent course of events, the last two members of the Usher family passed away in a rather peculiar manner; “I fled aghast”, says our still terror-stricken source who was at the scene. According to the only eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous, Roderick Usher, a shut-in, had been suffering from hypersensitivity and anxiety for a while. His sister, Madeline Usher, suffered from catalepsy. However, these diseases did not directly cause their deaths or the mysterious disappearance of their house.
The central theme of Pride and Prejudice is one of class. In a world where the lines of class are strictly drawn, the dignity
Many of Tim Winton’s fictional texts mirror moments in his own life, and with an understanding of Winton’s personal context, we can begin to discover the importance of these events and an understanding into why many of his text orbit around similar ideas. Through the insight given in his landscape memoirs, Lands Edge and Island Home, a more considered reading of his fictional texts; Breath, A Blow, A Kiss and Sand can be found. Specifically, these texts explore the role that landscape and place have had in shaping his perspectives and distaste of the expectations of Australian males. These texts each explore certain aspects of the expectations that men all over Australia are subjected to that Winton strongly opposes. Winton grew up in the 1960’s middle-class suburb of Karrinyup, WA, his working class Christian family’s beliefs and values, and events in his early life have evolved to form many of his present-day values towards landscape and masculinity.
John Collier’s ‘The Chaser’, a short story that follows Alan Austen, a character who shows typically feminine or androgynous traits, displaying Alan being timid, easily manipulated, cowardly, and inevitably, the harbinger of his own destruction. ‘The Chaser’ features Alan seeking out an old man for a love potion to make Diana fall in love with him. From a sophisticated gender perspective, ‘the Chaser’ is shown to be patriarchal to start, with androgynous areas that end with the story being heavily androgynous. Based on text in the story and underlying themes, ‘The Chaser’ is Feminine and Androgynous, and Austen displays Feminine androgynous traits heavily by the end of the story.
“Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that,” Lady Bracknell, the aunt of the frisky cast in The Importance of Being Earnest, warned. Ironically, Oscar Wilde wrote this witty play in order to disrespect the “Society”of the late 19th century, and to point out its many flaws. His boisterous characters romp about, causing trouble as they socialize in their upper-middle class world. He uses different Similarly, John Galsworthy’s The Man of Property disrespects and carps on the upper-middle class world inhabited by the conceited Forsyte family living in the Victorian Era. Oscar Wilde and John Galsworthy satirize the antiquated and superficial 19th century attitudes of marriage for economic or social gain, of men’s preferable position over women, and of the superiority of the middle class in their respective works.
In the anonymously written ballads “Barbara Allan” and “Fair Margaret and Sweet William”, the male characters refuse to marry the women they love due to differences in social status, making the women unfit brides. Sympathy arises as the men face a choice between love and duty. Although William seems more honourable than Graeme, the portrayal of these characters is deceptive as compassion ultimately lies with Graeme, while William is revealed to be the least sympathetic man.
Australia is filled with many different aspects in which makes it the country it is today. I believe it is important to study texts that explore aspects of Australia by studying texts such as ‘The Club’, by David Williamson, a play written in 1977 about an Australian football club and movies such as “The Castle”, directed by Rob Stitch in 1997, about the daily life of an Australian family when their happiness is threatened when developers attempt to buy their house to expand the neighboring airport. Both these texts show us what Australian life was like in the past. By us looking at themes such as language, tradition and the mateship shown we are able to explore different aspects of Australia that make it what it is today.
After accepting guardianship of Miss Milner, Dorriforth’s apprehensions towards his new position as protectorate manifest the conflicting models of masculinity available for him to emulate. Although he lives in the city, Dorriforth’s Catholic vocation granted his character a degree of separation from society and the vices associated with a life of fashion. This estrangement quickly dissolves once he assumes charge of Miss Milner; consequently, Dorriforth “feared he had undertaken a task he was too weak to execute—the protection of a young woman of fashion.” (6) Dorriforth becomes “forcibly possessed” by his concerns leading up to his meeting with the orphaned ward, resulting in his enquiries into her manner and disposition from acquaintances.
Wendy’s father, Mr. Darling, sets the prime example for adult male stereotype. Barrie characterizes him as the breadwinner of the Darling family and a proud businessman. Throughout Barrie’s insight into his character, the reader observes him insist upon respect and obedience from his children and wife; and even the family dog. In one instance, Mr. Darling even boasts to Wendy that his wife, Mrs. Darling, not only loves him, but more importantly, respects him. This attitude as displayed by the character of Mr. Darling as the most prominent adult male influence can be argued to be associated with the male stereotype in many ways. Mr. Darling’s character in the text supports the culturally stereotypical view of the male gender as the
Mis-en-scene shows Viven matching Marlowe in wit and power. You're not very tall are you?' represents the higher standing' in society as a woman in late war America.
The paper deals with the issue of Marital Discord in the novels of Margaret Drabble, one of the most significant contemporary British women novelists. For the purpose of analysis, I will look at earliernovels of Drabble like A Summer Bird Cage (1963), The Garrick Year (1964) and the Millstone (1965) which are popularly known as an early “trio”. All the three novelscentreprimarily round intelligent female protagonists struggling to search out their own “identity” within the class structure of twentieth century England – a class structure that strictly follows the “patriarchal” norms and values. And one of the major thematic concerns in these threeis the internal struggle or conflict in the mind of blooming hearts – which in turn becomes the cause of conjugal disharmony. A woman undergoes sufferings, particularly because she is