'Away' by Michael Gow

Life is merely a journey. On a journey, an individual experiences a range of obstacles, either expected or unexpected, which shapes their life. Such obstacles initiate the process of change and transformation. Clearly, through a close study of the play ‘Away’ by Michael Gow, the poem ‘Whither will I Wander’ by William Shakespeare and the picture book ‘I had trouble in getting to Solla Sollew’ by Dr Seuss, the characters experience various degrees of change and transformation. Factors that impact on the degree a character changes and transforms include: support networks and the ability or inability to accept reality. Through the use of language and visual techniques, each composer conveys how each character faces a degree of change within their journey.
The ability to take on board the help of others and to maintain strong support networks to accept the present and move on to a seemingly better future has been convey through the character of Coral. In the play ‘Away’ by Michael Gow, Coral’s journey is derailed when she abandons her husband on the Gold Coast and travels down the North Coast of New South Wales. During her short stay, she participates in the re-enactment of ‘Stranger by the Shore’ with Tom. On page 54, Gow states in a stage direction, ‘He removes the towel…He lifts her and holds her as she takes a step forward’. Here, Gow has utilised the behaviour of characters, which is a central feature of mise-en-scene, to symbolically illustrate how Tom assists Coral in working towards overcoming her emotional and social insecurities. Unlike Roy, whose insincere approach to Coral reinforced her emotional and social alienation, Tom’s approach to Coral, which is guided by his own tragedy, is empathetic. By displaying an empathetic approach by actively assisting Coral rather than belittling and insulting her, Tom was able to positively assist Coral in changing and transforming both emotionally and socially.

In contrast, the lack of assistance in the poem