To begin, I will explore how Worgan’s second letter utilises literary devices, allusions and symbolism to validate the noteworthy juxtaposition between the Europeans and Australians attitude towards the native landscape. This private letter, titled “From the Journal of a First Fleet Surgeon,” was written by an English naval surgeon George Bouchier Worgan, who accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. Written on the 12th June 1788, Worgan’s journal takes the form of a letter, addressed to his brother, Richard, covering the early months of European settlement in New South Wales describing his first impressions of the Australian landscape, their initial encounter with Indigenous Australian’s and the European’s suitability to their new lifestyle. The text has a
…show more content…
However, it is written in a subjective and personal way with Worgan interweaves his own personal responses with more objective, ‘factual’ writing. In the forward of the journal, upon contact with Sydney Cove, Worgan adopts an informative and romanticised tone towards the topographical features of the native land being “one of the many beautiful coves in which [Australia] contains.” Worgan believed the description of Botany Bay given by those on the Endeavour in 1770 "wore the air of Exaggeration" and is “much luxuriant quote” depicting the beauty of the untouched land. Worgan powerfully manipulates adjectives like beautiful and luxuriant to create imagery for the reader Worgan describes the flora and fauna in his journal as “covered with trees and a variety or herbage all which appears to be evergreens” as the Indigenous Australians had taken care of the precious land. Worgan he is unable to confine his description to short, succinct phrases; rather, this outpouring of emotive language implies he is overwhelmed by these strange people and the beauty of the
However, it is written in a subjective and personal way with Worgan interweaves his own personal responses with more objective, ‘factual’ writing. In the forward of the journal, upon contact with Sydney Cove, Worgan adopts an informative and romanticised tone towards the topographical features of the native land being “one of the many beautiful coves in which [Australia] contains.” Worgan believed the description of Botany Bay given by those on the Endeavour in 1770 "wore the air of Exaggeration" and is “much luxuriant quote” depicting the beauty of the untouched land. Worgan powerfully manipulates adjectives like beautiful and luxuriant to create imagery for the reader Worgan describes the flora and fauna in his journal as “covered with trees and a variety or herbage all which appears to be evergreens” as the Indigenous Australians had taken care of the precious land. Worgan he is unable to confine his description to short, succinct phrases; rather, this outpouring of emotive language implies he is overwhelmed by these strange people and the beauty of the