Australian Outback Experiences: A Literary Exploration
The Harsh Australian Outback
The two short stories, “The Drover’s Wife” and “In a Dry Season” portray two distinctive experiences revolving around the harsh lifestyle in the rugged Australian outback. “The Drover’s Wife” represents the struggles of families living close to the wild facets of nature, like snakes and thunderstorms. The story indirectly compares the tensions of an ordinary family as opposed to a wealthier family. In “In a Dry Season,” Lawson explores similar ideas of hardship in the bush, while also explaining the typical characteristics of bush people. Similarly, Dorothea Mackellar’s iconic poem “My Country” shows the pride of many Australians who love their “sunburnt country” for its beauty and resilience. All these texts convey distinctive ideas of the Australian landscape.
The Struggles of Outback Women
The struggles of Australian women can be overlooked, and their efforts to care for their families taken for granted. “The Drover’s Wife” demonstrates the heroic actions of a mother, son, and dog who do everything in their power to kill a snake that has intruded on their property. Lawson creates a strong image of a rural home isolated near the bush, away from society. The family lives in poor conditions, making them vulnerable to external threats from nature. Lawson demonstrates this through personification: “A thunderstorm comes on, and the wind, rushing through the cracks in the slab wall, threatens to blow out her candle.” The mother’s perceived helplessness creates empathy and demonstrates a sense of loneliness and hardship.
Capturing the Essence of Bush Culture
Lawson excellently captures the extreme nature of Australian bush culture. He places great emphasis on describing the Australian outback, mentioning: “Draw a wire fence and a few ragged gums, and add some scattered sheep running away from the train.” As the audience, we effortlessly create a detailed image of the Australian landscape because Lawson uses abundant imagery, such as: “There is sometimes a small, oblong weatherboard building, generally leaning in one of the eight possible directions.” Lawson’s colloquial language, like in the quote “Yer wanter go out back, young man, if yer wanter see the country,” displays the language used by the Lorrains, hard workers, and the general population. This quote confirms stereotypes about how Australians converse. Throughout the story, we learn that the Australian outback is old, dry, plain, and unsophisticated, with many difficulties for its inhabitants.
Contrasting Perspectives of the Outback
Although “My Country” doesn’t tell a story in a distinctively visual manner, Dorothea Mackellar conveys her appreciation for the Australian outback and wilderness. She uses simple words that are easy to understand and visualize. She portrays her love for the country through emotive language, such as “I love her jewel-sea.” Such phrases make it simple for the reader to imagine the picture she is trying to create. While the two short stories focus on the intense Australian outback and its lack of sympathy for its inhabitants, Mackellar offers a contrasting perspective, focusing on the outback’s beauty and sophistication.
Pride and Resilience in the Face of Hardship
Furthermore, Mackellar appeals to Australian readers’ emotions with phrases like “My heart, my country.” She acknowledges that the experience isn’t always positive, suggesting hardships exist: “When sick at heart, around us, the cattle die,” and “Of droughts and flooding rains.” However, her pride doesn’t waver for long, as she proudly describes Australia’s ability to bounce back: “But then the grey clouds gather, and we can see blessing again.”
Conclusion: Diverse Experiences of the Outback
In conclusion, “The Drover’s Wife,” “In a Dry Season,” and “My Country” play important and distinctive roles in describing the Australian outback and the experiences associated with living there. “The Drover’s Wife” focuses on the typical hardships for families, especially single mothers, who constantly look out for their children’s safety. “In a Dry Season” and “My Country” explore similar themes of hardship and resilience in the face of a challenging environment.