“Bush is a term which probably derives from the Dutch word ‚bosch’ and was used as early as 1800. By the 1820s it was in common use to denote the unsettled areas of the Colony and, more specifically, as the Australian equivalent of the English words ‘woods’ and ‘forest’. Although many early settlers disliked and feared the bush, it did not go completely unpraised” (Wilde et. al. 1994: 128f.). However, “early complaints about the sombreness of the bush were strengthened by the many tragedies that befell the explorers and pioneers in their efforts to chart and settle it” (ibid. 129). The loneliness of the bush was mentioned also. When Adam Lindsay Gordon describes, in his preface to Sea Spray and Smoke Drift, “the dominant note of the Australian bush as one of ‘weird melancholy’ and the bush itself as ‘funereal, secret, stern’, he is reflecting the view that persisted for most of the first century of white settlement” (ibid. 129). With the 1890s and the upsurge of nationalism and, through works of writers such as Henry Lawson (1867 – 1922), the bush “comes to be viewed as a major shaping instrument of the Australian national spirit and outlook” (ibid. 129). This notion of the bush was developed further. Literature was now eager to show the “mystique of the bush, a sense that it was a sa-cred, inspiring power, influencing for good, both individual and nation” (ibid. 129). But the focus was not only on the things mentioned so far but also on the bush people and their lives. “[T]he bushman stereotype emerges as a rugged, versatile individualist, cheerful, laconic, philosophical in the face of hardship, independent in his own troubles but generous and loyal to his mates and others who need help” (ibid. 129f.). Life of the bush women became a matter of interest even though it was mentioned less frequently than that of men. Henry Lawson – “the voice of the bush” (Hermes 2007: 303) – was one of the authors who was interested in showing sketches from bush life to the readers of his short stories (Webby 2000: 65). His famous character sketches “The Drover’s Wife” and “The Bush Undertaker” and “A Day on a Selection”, all published in Lawson’s first major collection While the Billy Boils (1896), are examined more closely in this paper. A special focus will be on the forms in which the bush is represented to the reader and their functions with regard to the context of the story. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Henry Lawson – the voice of the bush and the bush is the heart of Australia
3. The Drover’s Wife
4. The Bush Undertaker
5. A Day on a Selection
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
7.1. Primary Literature
7.2. Secondary Literature
Objectives and Core Themes
This academic paper explores how Henry Lawson utilizes the Australian bush as a setting and thematic device in his early short stories "The Drover’s Wife," "The Bush Undertaker," and "A Day on a Selection." The research question examines how the representation of the bush serves to challenge traditional gender roles, identity, and the romanticized national image of Australia during the colonial period.
- The construction of national identity vs. the reality of life in the bush.
- Examination of gender roles and the "masculine" and "feminine" dichotomies within colonial literature.
- The role of "mateship" and how characters (human and animal) fill the void of social isolation.
- The intersection of "weirdness" and madness as consequences of the harsh bush environment.
Excerpt from the Book
3. The Drover’s Wife
This short story is one of Lawson’s earliest, first published in the Bulletin in 1892 and has been interpreted in various ways since this time which shows the richness of this text. On the surface, the story seems to be simple. Set in the Australian Bush, the story covers a night from early evening to sunrise the following day. A mother of four children whose husband is away droving sheep tries to protect her children from a snake which is seen as a danger to them. She stays awake the whole night. Early the next morning, she manages with the help of the dog, Alligator, to kill the snake.
The story is not that simple. Right from the start, we get a glimpse of how national and personal identity are realised. The title itself is telling. It shows that Lawson sees women as appendages to men (Schaffer 1988: 118). He does not want to individualize the title character and give her a self. It seems that he wants her to be seen as object of and dependent on her husband (Liesel 2007: 307). However, in my opinion, it could be possible that Lawson did not want to individualize her because he did not have a certain woman in mind but wanted to present the fate of bush women in general to the reader.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the "bush" as a cultural term and introduces Henry Lawson as a crucial voice in shifting the literary focus toward the realities and hardships of bush life.
2. Henry Lawson – the voice of the bush and the bush is the heart of Australia: This section examines Lawson’s background and his stylistic commitment to "philosophic realism," arguing that his personal experience allows for an authentic depiction of the Australian environment.
3. The Drover’s Wife: The analysis of this story focuses on the dichotomy of presence and absence, exploring the woman's struggle against nature and the symbolic role of the snake in the colonial consciousness.
4. The Bush Undertaker: This chapter explores the themes of madness and the "weird" as experienced by an isolated shepherd, emphasizing the significance of his relationship with his dog and the desiccated remains of his friend.
5. A Day on a Selection: This part investigates the socio-economic backdrop of land selection in New South Wales and how the failure of the "yeoman ideal" impacts the gendered division of labor within a struggling family unit.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that Lawson’s work deconstructs the romanticized bush image to reveal the underlying anxieties regarding gender, identity, and the dehumanizing effects of isolation.
Keywords
Henry Lawson, Australian Bush, Colonial Literature, Identity, Gender Roles, Mateship, Realism, The Drover’s Wife, The Bush Undertaker, A Day on a Selection, Madness, Isolation, Otherness, National Identity, Symbolism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper analyzes how Henry Lawson depicts the Australian bush and its inhabitants in three specific short stories to investigate colonial perceptions of identity and gender.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The research covers the construction of national identity, the gendered dynamics of bush survival, the psychological impact of isolation, and the role of "mateship" in the Australian outback.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to move beyond the surface-level narratives of Lawson’s stories to show how he depicts the bush as a transformative force that challenges colonial myths and rigid gender norms.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author employs literary analysis and critical evaluation, applying cultural studies frameworks—such as Lacanian concepts of identity and definitions of the "other"—to interpret the texts.
What is discussed in the main body?
The main body performs a detailed reading of three specific stories, exploring how symbols like the snake, the goanna, and the role of domestic labor illustrate the characters' precarious existence in the bush.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Henry Lawson, Australian Bush, Identity, Gender Roles, Mateship, Colonial Literature, and the "Other," which summarize the scope of the literary investigation.
How does the author define the "weird" in "The Bush Undertaker"?
The "weird" is presented as a result of the shepherd's isolation and his deteriorating mental state, where the boundary between human, animal, and dead matter becomes dangerously blurred.
What distinguishes "A Day on a Selection" from the other two stories?
Unlike the other stories, this work depicts a complete family unit and highlights the failure of the Australian government's land reform policies, leading to a breakdown of patriarchal domesticity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Karolin Büttner (Autor:in), 2008, Der australische 'bush' in Henry Lawsons “The Drover’s Wife”, “The Bush Undertaker” und “A Day on a Selection”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/139667
