The present paper contains reflections about the writing style, setting and main characters of the novel titled "Sorry" by Gail Jones.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. STYLE
3. SETTING
4. MAIN CHARACTERS
4.1. PERDITA KEENE
4.2. NICHOLAS KEENE
4.3. STELLA KEENE
4.4. MARY
4.5. THE TREVORS
4.6. ABORIGINES AND "HALF-CASTES"
4.7. TED AND FLORA RAMSAY
4.8. DR VICTOR OBLOV
Objectives & Core Topics
This seminar paper explores the literary construction of Gail Jones' novel "Sorry," focusing on how the author employs specific narrative styles, setting descriptions, and character developments to weave a story of trauma, memory, and colonial history.
- The impact of non-linear narrative modes and experimental storytelling on character depth.
- The significance of the remote Australian outback and its historical context in the narrative.
- Psychological character analysis regarding trauma, family dysfunction, and memory loss.
- The representation of cultural and colonial tensions between white settlers and Indigenous communities.
- The role of communication, speech therapy, and the usage of Shakespearean references.
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4.1. Perdita Keene
Perdita Keene, the protagonist of "Sorry", was born in 1930 as the daughter of Nicholas and Stella Keene. She was not a planned child and her parents regarded her as "a mistake, a slightly embarrassing intervention" (Jones, Sorry 4). Her father wanted to abort her (see Jones, Sorry 22) and after birth hoped that she would die (see Jones, Sorry 25). Both Nicholas and Stella almost totally neglected her. Fortunately, the half-caste house helpers Sal and Daff took on a motherly role towards Perdita, raised her lovingly and showed her "what it is like to lie against a breast […]" (Jones, Sorry 4). When Perdita reached school age, Sal and Daff "disappeared with no warning" (Jones, Sorry 32). Instead of being sent away to school, she was home-schooled by her psychologically unstable mother. Perdita would later find out that a lot of what was taught to her was actually false and distorted by Stella's "addled vision of the world" (Jones, Sorry 35). During those years, Perdita learned many quotes taken from the works of Shakespeare by heart (see Jones, Sorry 37), because Stella had a strange obsession with Shakespeare and would recite whole paragraphs of his works.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the scope of the paper, specifically the analysis of style, setting, and characters within Gail Jones' novel "Sorry".
2. STYLE: Examines Jones' non-linear narrative techniques, the use of flashbacks, and the experimental switching between first-person and third-person perspectives.
3. SETTING: Discusses the geographical and historical importance of Broome and the Australian outback as the desolate background for the story.
4. MAIN CHARACTERS: Provides detailed biographical and psychological profiles of the primary and supporting figures, including their motivations and traumas.
4.1. PERDITA KEENE: Analyzes the protagonist's development from a neglected child to a traumatized woman seeking to reconcile her memories.
4.2. NICHOLAS KEENE: Details the misanthropic and aggressive nature of the father figure and his colonialist anthropological ambitions.
4.3. STELLA KEENE: Explores the mother's mental instability, her obsession with Shakespeare, and her withdrawal from reality.
4.4. MARY: Describes the life of the half-caste girl caught between cultural worlds and her role as a protective figure for Perdita.
4.5. THE TREVORS: Discusses the neighbor family, focusing on Billy's role as a companion and his silent intelligence.
4.6. ABORIGINES AND "HALF-CASTES": Analyzes the representation of Indigenous characters and their systemic marginalization in the novel.
4.7. TED AND FLORA RAMSAY: Examines the role of the foster parents who provided Perdita with the stability and love missing in her upbringing.
4.8. DR VICTOR OBLOV: Explains the therapeutic relationship between Perdita and the speech doctor, crucial for her healing and memory recovery.
Keywords
Gail Jones, Sorry, Perdita Keene, Australian Literature, Trauma, Memory, Postcolonialism, Shakespeare, Identity, Narrative Style, Broome, Dysfunctional Family, Speech Therapy, Aboriginal Culture, Stolen Generation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this seminar paper?
The paper provides a comprehensive literary analysis of Gail Jones' novel "Sorry," focusing specifically on the author's writing style, the setting of the narrative, and the complex characterizations of the individuals involved.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
Central themes include the impact of family trauma, the psychological effects of upbringing, the role of cultural identity, the history of colonial relations in Australia, and the restorative power of language and memory.
What is the primary objective of the analysis?
The objective is to interpret how the novel uses narrative devices—such as non-linear storytelling and shifting perspectives—to represent the fragmented identities of its protagonists.
Which academic approach is used in this work?
The author uses a literary-analytical approach, drawing on textual evidence from the novel, scholarly reviews, and historical context to support interpretations of character behavior and plot structure.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body systematically analyzes the characters, providing dedicated sections for each, alongside a discussion on the novel's stylistic experiments and the symbolic significance of the setting.
Which key terms best describe this work?
The paper is best characterized by terms such as Australian literature, postcolonialism, trauma studies, memory, identity, and the specific narrative techniques employed by Gail Jones.
How does the novel's style influence the perception of Perdita as a narrator?
The shifting narrative mode—alternating between first-person and third-person—suggests a fragmented sense of self, potentially marking Perdita as an unreliable narrator due to her repressed traumatic memories.
What role does Shakespeare play in the characters' lives?
Shakespeare serves both as an obsession that symbolizes cultural displacement for the mother, Stella, and as a therapeutic tool used by Dr. Oblov to help Perdita regain her fluency and access repressed memories.
Why is the role of the Indigenous characters significant to the plot?
The Indigenous and mixed-descent characters represent the marginalized voices of the era, offering the protagonist, Perdita, an alternative, more compassionate perspective compared to the rigid white settler community.
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- Christoph Burger (Autor:in), 2013, Gail Jones' "Sorry". Writing Style, Setting and Characters, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/267882
