Australian literature to 1950 includes a large number of different works that cover many different issues, values and attitudes of the Australian Culture. These include such topics as colonisation and interaction with native aboriginals. Three central themes that recur are comparisons between city and bush life, the rich versus the poor and life of males compared to females. Writers have employed these themes as a way of making a comment on Australian society and the attitudes towards national identity, race and gender.
The differences between daily lives in the city compared to that of those in the bush was a theme that became common in Australian literature. Letters written by women in the 1800’s describe the life in the bush as a “more rustic …show more content…
The Bulletin debate, for example, was a series of poems between the two writers that put forward their differing views of bush life and the merits of the city versus the country. Patterson writes in his poem “In Defence of the Bush”,
“So you're back from up the country, Mister Lawson, where you went, And you're cursing all the business in a bitter discontent; Well, we grieve to disappoint you, and it makes us sad to hear That it wasn't cool and shady - and there wasn't plenty beer, And the loony bullock snorted when you first came into view; Well, you know it's not so often that he sees a swell like you; And the roads were hot and dusty, and the plains were burnt and brown, And no doubt you're better suited drinking lemon squash in town.” (Patterson)
Patterson takes almost a mocking tone with Lawson by insinuating he is just not suited to bush life. He goes on to describe how the mood of the Bush changes with the seasons and if only he could see this he would learn to appreciate the bush. Patterson continues by describing the ever certain dullness of the city. He …show more content…
Although this story is also told from a males point of view, we are given an insight into women’s life by characters like Mrs Yabsley, H.M.Green in A History of Australian Literature describes her as One of the most real and memorable characters in Australian fiction (The Text Publishing Company, n.d.).Unlike Louis Stone, Baynton and Franklin made more of a point to illustrate gender roles and stereotypes. The main character Jonah starts as a street larrikin and later becomes a wealthy successful business owner in a society where opportunities are arising for urban capitalists. Stone used his first-hand experiences of living in the Sydney suburbs to create a realistic setting for the novel. Jonah’s story is centred on his rise from “the Push”, the struggle to marry and make one's way in the world alongside his friend “chook”. The novel ends with Jonah succeeding in his business life but prompts one to think about the cost. His mate Chook has a strong relationship with his wife Pinkey despite their lack of financial certainty, “Meanwhile, Chook consoled himself with the presence of a sturdy son, the image of Pinkey, with a mop of curls the colour of a new penny.” (168) Jonah leads a life fuelled by ambition compared to Chook, who is driven by love, prompting once again a comparison to the rich versus the poor. Tennants’
The differences between daily lives in the city compared to that of those in the bush was a theme that became common in Australian literature. Letters written by women in the 1800’s describe the life in the bush as a “more rustic …show more content…
The Bulletin debate, for example, was a series of poems between the two writers that put forward their differing views of bush life and the merits of the city versus the country. Patterson writes in his poem “In Defence of the Bush”,
“So you're back from up the country, Mister Lawson, where you went, And you're cursing all the business in a bitter discontent; Well, we grieve to disappoint you, and it makes us sad to hear That it wasn't cool and shady - and there wasn't plenty beer, And the loony bullock snorted when you first came into view; Well, you know it's not so often that he sees a swell like you; And the roads were hot and dusty, and the plains were burnt and brown, And no doubt you're better suited drinking lemon squash in town.” (Patterson)
Patterson takes almost a mocking tone with Lawson by insinuating he is just not suited to bush life. He goes on to describe how the mood of the Bush changes with the seasons and if only he could see this he would learn to appreciate the bush. Patterson continues by describing the ever certain dullness of the city. He …show more content…
Although this story is also told from a males point of view, we are given an insight into women’s life by characters like Mrs Yabsley, H.M.Green in A History of Australian Literature describes her as One of the most real and memorable characters in Australian fiction (The Text Publishing Company, n.d.).Unlike Louis Stone, Baynton and Franklin made more of a point to illustrate gender roles and stereotypes. The main character Jonah starts as a street larrikin and later becomes a wealthy successful business owner in a society where opportunities are arising for urban capitalists. Stone used his first-hand experiences of living in the Sydney suburbs to create a realistic setting for the novel. Jonah’s story is centred on his rise from “the Push”, the struggle to marry and make one's way in the world alongside his friend “chook”. The novel ends with Jonah succeeding in his business life but prompts one to think about the cost. His mate Chook has a strong relationship with his wife Pinkey despite their lack of financial certainty, “Meanwhile, Chook consoled himself with the presence of a sturdy son, the image of Pinkey, with a mop of curls the colour of a new penny.” (168) Jonah leads a life fuelled by ambition compared to Chook, who is driven by love, prompting once again a comparison to the rich versus the poor. Tennants’