The Shark Net Historical Context

In literary works, the historical context gives the reader a better understanding of the conditions set during that time period. With historical context, the reader learns about the lifestyle during the time period and, in addition, learning about how people felt and thought during the experience. Historical context aids in showing not only the facts and events that occurred in the literary work but also the preconceived notions that were believed. From this, literary works will tell the reader the taboo and the prejudice that were prevalent and how those living in that time period dealt with the issues. In the novel, The Shark Net, the novel takes place in 1950s West Australia and due to the time period, conservatism and moral uprightness

Due to the time period the novel was set in, the characters had certain social cues that they had to follow or it would be considered taboo by others in the community. Therefore, the author, Robert Drewe’s descriptive details about the living and social situation in West Australia gives a better understanding of the social history in Australia. In the novel, Drewe demonstrates the different aspects of Australian culture by referencing the difference between the rural and urban areas. In 1950s Australia, there was a major shift in culture since the economy was growing and more families moved to suburban areas. In the novel, Drewe discusses the difference between the rural and urban regions through his move from Melbourne to Perth in which the family had to leave the busy city of Melbourne for the isolated relax beach town of Perth. Before the move, the Drewe family worried about the differences because Melbourne is more orderly while Perth is more

Drewe focused mostly on the character progression of his mother. In the beginning of the story, Dorothy Drewe is viewed as superficial since she was concerned with materialism and social class, however, she was overly concerned about the wellbeing of her family. This occurs because Dorothy is restricted due to the gender roles placed on women and the need to submissive in marriage during the 1950s. According to PBS, “although women had other aspirations in life, the dominant theme promoted in the culture and media at the time was that a husband was far more important for a young woman than a college degree"().Even though, Dorothy is miserable in her marriage and her husband is distant in the relationship, Dorothy continues to stay in the relationship since it was considered taboo to leave one’s husband. Until there was a shift in Dorothy’s personality causing her to become more independent and playful with her family members. This change in personality allows Dorothy to leave the miserable marriage that she was in with Roy Drewe. The leaving of her husband signifies a turning point during this decade because women finally became more independent and wanted more social