This paper discusses the question in how far Barbara Baynton challenges bush romanticism and the legendary bushman myth by playing with gender roles and stereotypes with a strong focus on the real hard bush life of women. After a theoretical introduction to the whole topic, the realistic depiction of the bush itself as well as the bushwomen and the interaction between both are discussed in Chapter 2.
Thereafter, Chapter 3 focusses on the social factors of bush life, on how Baynton describes the relationship between men and women in the bush and how all this influences the female bush inhabitants. The analysis is based on an online version of Bush Studies from 1997.
The Australian bush – a mythical and fascinating space that has been the setting of many films and all kinds of literature, and which is an interesting field for literary scholars, especially from the late 19th century, the time of national writing, onwards. During this time, the outback used to be described as a hostile, but also romantic environment, loved and feared by the people who lived there. People, who were perfectly assimilated and happy with their lives in the bush.
The legendary bushman myth was born; a myth that described the outward appearance and character of the typical Australian bushman, explaining why he adapted so properly to the hard environment. All these stories, including the origin of the bushman myth itself, were however made up and written down by male authors, who did not intend to include important female characters to their stories. The typical bushman was simply a man. Women and their lives in the bush did not play a big role in the literature of that time.
One of the few female writers, who focused on the harshness of bush life, especially for women, was Barbara Baynton. She is said to depict the real bush life of pioneer women at the end of the 19th century instead of presenting a romantic male-centered myth. After Baynton's first published short story "The Chosen Vessel" had appeared in the national paper 'The Sydney Bulletin' under the title "The Tramp", the author was unable to find a publisher in Sydney for a collection of several short stories. It was said that she being a female writer does not know how to control her emotions, which was claimed to be obvious in her writing. In the end, this collection was published far away from Australia, in London, under the title "Bush Studies".
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Important theoretical concepts
- 2.1 The concept of gender
- 2.2 The Australian bush legend – A myth of pride, romanticism and mateship
- 3 Women and the bush – the outback as a space for a female?
- 3.1 Baynton's bush - gothic vs. romanticism
- 3.2 Baynton's women
- 3.3 Shared suffering – analogies between women and animals
- 4 Women and men – psychosocial factors of bush life
- 4.1 Threatening and disloyal – interpersonal relationships in the bush
- 4.2 Muted and dehumanised - what does the bush make out of women?
- 5 Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes Barbara Baynton's "Bush Studies," examining how she challenges the romanticized, male-centric "bushman myth" prevalent in late 19th-century Australian literature. The paper focuses on Baynton's depiction of women's lives in the harsh Australian outback, contrasting her realistic portrayal with the prevailing idealized narratives.
- The contrast between the romanticized "bushman myth" and the realities of bush life for women.
- Baynton's use of gender roles and stereotypes to critique societal expectations.
- The portrayal of the Australian bush as a space that is either hostile or romantic for women.
- The exploration of psychosocial factors influencing relationships between men and women in the bush.
- The depiction of women's suffering and their resilience in the face of hardship.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Barbara Baynton's "Bush Studies." It establishes the context of late 19th-century Australian literature, highlighting the dominant "bushman myth" and its exclusion of women's experiences. The chapter introduces Baynton as a female writer who offered a starkly contrasting perspective, depicting the harsh realities of bush life for women. The chapter then outlines the paper's approach, focusing on how Baynton challenges the established myths through her portrayal of gender roles and the women's experiences in the Australian outback. The chapter concludes by briefly previewing the structure of the analysis, outlining which topics will be covered in subsequent chapters.
2 Important theoretical concepts: This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding Baynton's work by introducing key theoretical concepts. It distinguishes between sex and gender, emphasizing gender as a social construct shaped by cultural and societal norms. The chapter then discusses the "Australian bush legend," a romanticized and male-dominated myth that idealized the life of the Australian bushman, largely neglecting the experiences of women. This discussion frames the analysis of Baynton’s work by highlighting the dominant narratives she was challenging.
Barbara Baynton's "Bush Studies": Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes Barbara Baynton's "Bush Studies," examining how she challenges the romanticized, male-centric "bushman myth" prevalent in late 19th-century Australian literature. The paper focuses on Baynton's depiction of women's lives in the harsh Australian outback, contrasting her realistic portrayal with the prevailing idealized narratives. It explores the contrast between romantic ideals and the realities of bush life for women, Baynton's use of gender to critique society, and the portrayal of the bush as a space for women (hostile or romantic). Psychosocial factors influencing relationships between men and women in the bush and the depiction of women's suffering and resilience are also key themes.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the contrast between the romanticized "bushman myth" and the realities of bush life for women; Baynton's use of gender roles and stereotypes to critique societal expectations; the portrayal of the Australian bush as a space that is either hostile or romantic for women; the exploration of psychosocial factors influencing relationships between men and women in the bush; and the depiction of women's suffering and their resilience in the face of hardship.
What theoretical concepts are discussed?
The paper introduces key theoretical concepts such as the distinction between sex and gender (emphasizing gender as a social construct), and a detailed examination of the "Australian bush legend"—a romanticized and male-dominated myth that idealized the life of the Australian bushman, largely neglecting the experiences of women. This sets the stage for understanding Baynton’s challenge to dominant narratives.
How is the paper structured?
The paper is structured into five chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction, setting the context and outlining the paper's approach. Chapter 2 introduces key theoretical concepts, including the "Australian bush legend." Chapter 3 analyzes Baynton's depiction of women and the bush, contrasting gothic and romantic elements in her work. Chapter 4 explores the psychosocial factors influencing relationships between men and women in the bush. Chapter 5 presents the conclusion.
What specific aspects of Baynton's "Bush Studies" are analyzed?
The analysis focuses on Baynton's portrayal of women's lives in the Australian outback, her critique of the "bushman myth," her use of gender roles and stereotypes, and the depiction of the bush as a space that is both hostile and potentially romantic for women. The paper also examines the shared suffering between women and animals in her stories and analyzes the interpersonal relationships in the harsh outback environment.
What is the significance of Barbara Baynton's work in the context of 19th-century Australian literature?
Baynton's work is significant because it provides a stark contrast to the dominant "bushman myth" prevalent in late 19th-century Australian literature. Her realistic portrayal of women's experiences in the Australian outback challenges the idealized narratives and offers a more nuanced understanding of life in the bush.
- Quote paper
- BA Nicole Eismann (Author), 2015, Women's life and suffering in the Australian Bush. Challenging bush romanticism and the bushman myth in Barbara Baynton's "Bush Studies", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/319158
