Hannie Rayson's Inheritance

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Girlie says that “Allendale belongs to Lyle”. Who does Allendale belong to? Hannie Rayson’s “Inheritance”, set in Victoria’s Mallee, introduces many themes from family to prejudice to duty and freedom. However the main focus of the play is on the theme of inheritance. As Dibs and Girlie get ready to celebrate their 80th birthday, and Farley’s death nearing, the question of “who gets the farm” becomes frequently asked. For the two popular candidates, Lyle and Nugget, inheriting Allendale means more than the property and the money that comes with it. It is about keeping Allendale in the family and ensuring it is successful. Out of the two, Nugget has more right to the land. His name is on the will, being an aboriginal he is spiritually connected to the land and morally, he is the best suited. Nugget is trustworthy and sensible. He is there to help out anyone and everyone and fix any problems, one of this being giving Lyle a hand on the farm. Nugget is the most capable and the one who could help the farm thrive, out of the all candidates. Nugget’s reliability and loyalty would ensure Allendale is in the …show more content…

Felix is the only one out of the two families who understand Nuggets right to the land, saying “this is Nugget’s country, he has a spiritual attachment to this place, and his people have already been disposed once”. Felix does not want to hurt Nugget. Because of his ancestors, Nugget’s spiritual attachment gives him a connection to the land, and the right to the farm. Others however, such as Brianna believe that Lyle too has a spiritual attachment. She says this because he Lyle “could tell you every tree, every hill. Every creek”. Lyle is seen as an outcast because he is a loser and failure. Nugget too is seen as an outcast because he is adopted. However Nugget is the one more spiritually attached and deserving of the farm, because of Nugget’s ancestors and their rights to the