Rainbows End Essay Summary Points
Rainbows End Essay Summary Points
Discovering your own individuality, finding oneself, is simply a discovery that is found through the journey of life. Jane Harrison produced the contemporary play Rainbows End. Set during the 1950’s on the river ‘flats’ between the towns of Shepparton and Mooroopna, Victoria, Harrison shows how discovery has been altered by the past experiences of the three Aboriginal women, Nan Dear, Gladys and Dolly. The family portrays a sense of ‘loyalty, love and support for both, each other and the wider Aboriginal community.’ A sense of self-discovery is important within their culture as they are isolated and left out of the white society.
Harrison uses a variety of techniques to explore the concept of discovery within the lives of the Dear family.
- Nan represents ‘the old ways’. She is the voice for traditional Aboriginal customs and beliefs.
- The door is a dual metaphor, as it represents what restricts us as well as a doorway for new prospects. It also implores readers to take a chance and change as a result of exposing themselves to the outside world. The italicised word ‘maybe’ however, cautions individuals that change may be challenging. It also suggests that what lies beyond the door will be different to everyone.
- Cultural Narrative = ‘They forced us to leave, forced us to leave cummeragunja. our home’
- Gladys represents passive Aboriginal discontent. She wants to be part of white society and will not act against it to bring change for her people
- The door symbolises new opportunities and emphasises that individuals need to take action to expand their horizons. The repetition of the imperative command, ‘Go and open the door’. This makes the reader consider what the opened door would reveal to us
- Metaphor = “That valve, where’s my white gloves” > It reinforces the status of difference between the aboriginals and the white community. Gladys feels as if she's not accepted in the community, therefore she's finding it hard
Discovering your own individuality, finding oneself, is simply a discovery that is found through the journey of life. Jane Harrison produced the contemporary play Rainbows End. Set during the 1950’s on the river ‘flats’ between the towns of Shepparton and Mooroopna, Victoria, Harrison shows how discovery has been altered by the past experiences of the three Aboriginal women, Nan Dear, Gladys and Dolly. The family portrays a sense of ‘loyalty, love and support for both, each other and the wider Aboriginal community.’ A sense of self-discovery is important within their culture as they are isolated and left out of the white society.
Harrison uses a variety of techniques to explore the concept of discovery within the lives of the Dear family.
- Nan represents ‘the old ways’. She is the voice for traditional Aboriginal customs and beliefs.
- The door is a dual metaphor, as it represents what restricts us as well as a doorway for new prospects. It also implores readers to take a chance and change as a result of exposing themselves to the outside world. The italicised word ‘maybe’ however, cautions individuals that change may be challenging. It also suggests that what lies beyond the door will be different to everyone.
- Cultural Narrative = ‘They forced us to leave, forced us to leave cummeragunja. our home’
- Gladys represents passive Aboriginal discontent. She wants to be part of white society and will not act against it to bring change for her people
- The door symbolises new opportunities and emphasises that individuals need to take action to expand their horizons. The repetition of the imperative command, ‘Go and open the door’. This makes the reader consider what the opened door would reveal to us
- Metaphor = “That valve, where’s my white gloves” > It reinforces the status of difference between the aboriginals and the white community. Gladys feels as if she's not accepted in the community, therefore she's finding it hard