Comparative Study of Texts

The module comparative content of texts should remain in the Board of Studies syllabus as it end provide a efficacious insight into the human thoughtfulness and social assesss of an era. The melt for ward by Michael Gow and poems published in Sometimes Gladness written by Bruce Dawe atomic number 18 both texts which reflect similar conditions that the typical person carriagetime in suburban Australia between the 1950s and 1960s experienced. There were many an(prenominal) significant pointts that took place during these two decades such as the aftermath of the striking Depression and the countrys military involvement in the Vietnam War.These incidents direct to an disclosebreak in excessive consumerism and rising conflict amongst the Australian race on the subject of bill of exchange. Through the analysis of the above menti adeptd texts, comparisons can be established. The 1950s and 1960s saw the beginning of a very consumerist Australian society where by treasured va lues were replaced with superficiality. In the play extraneous, Gwens obsessive longing for all things materialistic began to take all over her life and affect the relationships she had with her family.The diminishing nousls of the pre-boomer generation are the resultant of the spectacular Depression which occurred in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Many Australians were unexpendedover unemployed which gave them the inability to support themselves with a home or even a decent meal. On the left hand side, you can follow finished two men walking down feather the streets with signs hung around their neck on the lookout for a job so they are able-bodied to expeditiously provide for their family. In Gwens confrontation with daughter Meg whilst existence acc utilise of purposely leaving Jims cardboard carton underside containing Christmas presents, she explains how she has SacrificedGone without. Gone with hardship so what happened to us pull up stakes n incessantly happen to you. So youll never know what we saw never, never, never. The short sentences followed by the repetition of the word never give emphasis to Gwens devastating situation as she recalls the difficult stage in her life that unless you were in the same circumstances, will never be able to understand. On the in effect(p) hand side of the slide shows a house form by Australian currency. This represents both Gwen and Jims desire to live the Australian Dream of home ownership.Gwens money-oriented nature often causes her to look down on others who she believes are non entitled to the privileges she is as they have not worked for it. While in discussion with Meg about Toms family and their upcoming pass she says They both work dont they? In a factory, isnt it? Im sure thats what I heard. A lean-to. They shouldnt be going on a holiday if they cant afford one. Gwen generalizes their family in contrast to the hardships she financially struggled with in her adolescence that she persisted t hrough to earn what she has today.These past experiences have made her appreciate the value of money to which she vows to never have to live so miserably ever again. Likewise, similar ideals regarding increased consumerism in this particular time period can be seen in Dawes Enter Without So Much as Knocking. This poem follows stages of a man whose life since birth is reinforced on consumerism. The 1950s were a time where social values regarding consumerism were considerably changing, especially as a result of the new advances in technology.The television, world one of the major developments alone started to become mainstream in Australia a fewer years before this poem was published. The poem opens with a new born(p) baby being introduced into a hectic fast city paced lifestyle. The rootage language heard when carried into the front door were Bobby Dazzler on Channel 7, Hello, how-do-you-do, hello all you lucky people. The repetition of the word hello gives emphasis on the i rony of the materialistic world the child just has entered into. Although Bobby Dazzler refers to the viewers as lucky, the immoral ethics and lack of human emotion that the child is assailable to would suggest otherwise.The photo on the left shows a person who is meet by materialistic objects along with the word consume to show how the region in the plays whole life revolves around consumerism. Consumerist attitudes are also seen later in to the poem, when the family are defined as a Well-equipped smoothly-run household, utilize labels that would typically be given to commercial convergences when advertising. The hyphenated words create an extended listing effect that would appear when reading product descriptions before considering buying.This dehumanizes the family as if they have been purchased as objects and have not been describe based on personal characteristics thus demonstrating how consumerism has completely ruined our lives. This idea is represented in the deceptive picture on the right, with the phrase Consumerism is cleanup spot us all, however with few letters blurred out leaves the words Consumerism is in us all. The Vietnam War was another indigenous concern which had a massive impact on both the veteran soldiers and their love ones during the 1960s. Specifically, the introduction of conscription laws within Australia were very ontroversial as the public felt that they should not be forcefully sent overseas, but instead used for home defence only. In Away, it is learnt that Roy and precious coral have wooly their son at war after he was randomly selected through the conscription method of recruiting troops. Both Coral and Roy have different approaches to deal with the loss of their son which begins to threaten their relationship. Roy sees his sons involvement in the war as a contribution to a country with one of the highest living standards on earth. leaving his wife Coral who is compose understandably distraught from the outcome, without any emotional support.After the school play, Coral awaits her husband only if outside where through monologue, is able to address her exact thoughts out audacious to the audience. Coral has been moved by A Midsummer Nights Dream, in particular Toms role who she cannot helper but think of her young and innocent son who was taken out-of-door far too early. She makes a direct reference to her son Is it demote for them to die like that? Through the soliloquy it is evident that Coral is unable(predicate) of dealing with the pain and despair the world has to offer, leaving her in an tipsy state.The image on the left is of a young Australian veteran who was called up in the first intake of national servicemen under the conscription scheme, who would have been placed in the exact situation as Roy and Corals son. after on in the play, Roy confronts Coral about her inability to control her low behaviour around people when she is at school functions and that Roy is also still suffering but doesnt feel included in the trouble of their son. Roy attempts to reassure Coral that at that place are other families out there who have been victimised by the repercussions of the war with the lines But.But. We are not the only ones. The uses of short sentences are far more powerful in meat as they are straight to the point in his efforts to comfort Coral from the tragedy. Coral is only one of a few mothers who were outraged out-of-pocket to conscription. On the right, you can see an anti-conscription protest by a sort of women called Save Our Sons who formed to counter conscription and in general the war. like themes with regards to the nations involvement in the Vietnam War and the negative answer from the Australian public can be seen in Bruce Dawes return key.The poem is about the process of bringing home deceased bodies from the war who were originally conscripted to fight on behalf of their country. The title itself Homecoming is used in such a sarcasti c manner, drawing all attention to the irony. The concept of a homecoming would generally call for a celebration and general give us a warm sensation, however that is not the end for the return of the dead soldiers stripped of their dignity. In the first opening lines of the poem, the use of how the bodies are collected for their arrival home are described using graphic terms.Through the use of visual imagery, the mistreatment of the corpses is shown in lines theyre zipping them up in green plastic bags which dehumanize the veterans by their absence of individuality. On the left shows luggage on the tarmac at Vung Tau, a few long time before the Vietnam veterans returned home. The enormity of the war is represented towards the end of the poem through the metaphorical the wanderer grief swings in his bitter geometry. Dawe refers to a spiders web to portray the widespread affect the war had on the family and friends within the community who are still grieving.The image on the rig ht shows a soldier being greeted by his young children, who was fortunate adequacy to arrive home unscathed, unlike many of his fellow war mates. As you can see, exploring related themes of consumerism and conscription in Bruce Dawes poems Enter Without So Much as Knocking and Homecoming along with Michael Gows play Away allow us to gain an insight into the human condition and social values of an era that we would otherwise not be able to understand on such scale through a study of one of them individually. In saying so, the Board of Studies should reconsider removing the module from the syllabus.