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Henry Lawson Drovers Wife Quotes

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Through the textual form of short stories, Henry Lawson shapes the perspectives of Australian culture and identity by revealing the attitudes, beliefs and interactions of individuals and communities in the surroundings of the harsh Australian outback. The drover's wife reaffirms the stoic nature of the inhabitants of the outback . Lawson’s other text ‘shooting the moon’ affirms and challenges common stereotypes through the swagman culture and identity. Throughout Lawson's ‘Drover’s Wife’, the protagonist displays bravery in the face of adversity, amplifying the typical strength of rural citizens. The protagonist, the drover's wife, embodies these qualities as she faces various challenges alone while her husband is away. This idea is evident …show more content…

The symbolism has a double meaning in playing with the common idiom “wearing the pants in the house” indicating that she is in control of the household challenging common stereotypes as women are not known to be in charge of the household as women were stereotypically suppressed by the patriarchy and how she is literally wearing pants. This challenges the common stereotypes as the protagonist picks up masculine traits of being in charge which is unusual for a woman to be doing. The Australian identity is shown by portraying women as strong homemakers who can handle anything thrown their way while men are expected to be brave and fearless in all situations. Therefore Lawson's ‘Drover’s Wife’, displays bravery in the face of adversity, amplifying the typical strength of rural citizens and has the protagonist, the drover's wife, embody these qualities as she faces various challenges alone while her husband is away. Indigenous perspectives are prominent and inform a deeper connection to Australian culture. The idea is evident through the personification of “Alligator still watches the wall from time to time.” This use of personification …show more content…

The story both affirms and challenges common stereotypes about Australian culture and identity. The story affirms stereotypes through highlighting the Australian landscape as a harsh and unforgiving environment, where individuals must rely on their wits and strength to survive. This reinforces the stereotype of Australians as tough and self-reliant individuals. This is evident through, "The stony, waterless ridges, with their stunted trees and patches of thin, coarse grass, stretched away to the horizon all around him, and the smoke of his fire went straight up into the still, dry air." In this quote, Lawson uses vivid imagery to describe the harsh and unforgiving Australian landscape. The use of words such as "stony," "waterless," and "coarse'' convey a sense of barrenness and inhospitality. The lack of water in the landscape is emphasized by the mention of "patches of thin, coarse grass." This portrayal of the Australian landscape as a challenging and hostile environment is effective in affirming stereotypes about Australians as tough and resilient individuals who are able to survive in such conditions through their own resourcefulness and strength. Lawson uses characterization in "He had not seen a living thing for days, and was used to it. He had

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