ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: asdf on July 13, 2008, 05:03:38 pm
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my friend sent me the following essay and asked me what i thought of it, yet i dont know what i think of it lol im wondering what you guys think... (i originally thought a D?)
Conflict can only produce unhappiness when encountered.
In this essay I will be concentrating on “The Secret River” as I believe an extended essay on that text can provide a better response. However I am also mindful that “the Crucible” had many instances of great unhappiness and even disaster when those in Salem where confronted with conflict.
Throughout Kate Grenville’s “The Secret River” we witness conflict in a plethora of ways. As we see in numerous instances in the text, conflict is often the turning point in one’s life and always brings about unhappiness. Several situations where conflict results in unhappiness is evident in Will and Dick’s relationship, the conflict between the aborigines and the emancipists, and also in Sal and Will’s relationship. The unhappiness is not necessarily felt by both sides yet we ultimately see that unhappiness of some description in inevitable.
The conflict between Will and Dick is evident from very early on in Dick’s life as we see him disobey his father when he plays with the aboriginal children. Will looks down upon the aboriginals and dislikes Dick very much for playing with them. But as the conflict grows between the two of them, Dick refuses to think of the Aboriginals as second class and he treats them with respect. He is disgusted with what Will had done to them and what he thinks of them. The fact that Dick was born in Australia shows how he is more connected to the land and this is why he might feel this way about the aboriginals. Yet Dick and Will’s relationship doesn’t reconciliate and we in fact see Will take out his frustration with Dick when he viciously beats him. ”Thornhill felt the rage burst in him... he pulled off his heavy leather belt and beat Dick with it.” We later see how this conflict results in unhappiness when Dick moves out from the family home and Dick loses his relationship with his father and similarly Will loses the relationship with his son. We know that especially Will is traumatized by their conflict as he gazes at the end of the text into the mountains perhaps wondering how he could have lost his son.
The conflict between the Aboriginals and the emancipists is perhaps the most overwhelming and obvious conflict in the text as it is the most graphic and occurs almost throughout the entire text. The conflict between the two classes is immediately evident as Will confronts Scabby Bill almost immediately he arrives in Sydney. The constant bickering from all the neighbours of Will and Sal also indicates the constant conflict and unhappiness between the Aboriginals and the emancipists but also that felt by those emancipists with differing views. “Smasher was still fiddling with the ears on his belt when Tom Blackwood burst across the room at him... and punched him...” It is apparent that all parties involved are not only unhappy with the situation; they are also frustrated and confused about what to do. The aborigines are losing more and more land every day. The aborigines feel it’s their right to take the food on the land which the emancipists have claimed as their own. This dilemma continues to fuel anger and unhappiness on both sides. This unhappiness and frustration finally climaxed and resulted in the slaughter of many aboriginals and some of the emancipists when they attacked each other. Although finally causing some peace to those who wanted the aborigines gone, the price to pay was severe unhappiness as those families of the aborigines who were killed obviously would have felt the pain and suffering and we also see that the unhappiness and regret is felt at the end of the attack: “a great shocked silence hanging over everything” .
Another way in which conflict results in unhappiness is the conflict between Sal and Will. Both with differing views on where they should live and both married and in love with each other, their struggle is hard. Grenville cleverly shows both Will and Sal’s point of view and we also see their telling story as one which lasts an entire lifetime. One instance where they have differing views is when they are in Sydney and Will wishes to own Thornhill’s point and call something his own. Yet Sal is content to stay where they are as she only dreams of returning to England and any other move would put that dream in danger of ever becoming reality.”I ain’t coming at it, Will, and that’s flat”. However eventually they compromise as Sal finally agrees to move as long as Will promises that they return to England after 5 years. Yet Sal is unhappy with her life and she and Will both know that the chances of actually returning to England are extremely small and they both suffer and struggle to comprehend their new life as they continue to argue over the aboriginals and their home. Each is consumed with their own emotions and is unhappy with their situation.
Ultimately “The Secret River” illustrates how conflict brings unhappiness to those who encounter it. Will and Dick eventually cause each other to become unhappy through their disagreements about the treatment of the aboriginals. The emancipists and the aboriginals also end up causing immense unhappiness as the slaughter of many people from both sides causes regret and suffering on both sides. Sal and Will’s conflict also causes disagreements and causes them to suffer unhappiness as they disagree on numerous things.
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Ok... firstly I'm here to give advice not to make you all 'warm and fuzzy'. SO, you're friend is retelling the story too much- whereas there needs to be an analysis- moreso looking at the intention behind the book- eg. Kate Grenville's intentions- eg. the consolidation day in Sydney... the implications of conlflict she recognised even at the age of 10.
Furthermore you are required to create your own twist on the prompt- it isn't as creative as it could be.. eg. Conflict can only produce unhappiness when encountered. compared to "It is the journey of conflict which determines whether or not we are able to be happy/ unhappy (in simple terms)
However your third paragraph was beginning to do this... starts of shaky but has some good vocab coming through- good job