Away By Michael Gow Analysis

An understanding of humanity and existence, is gained through personal discoveries and the experiences that lead one there. The Australian play ‘Away’, written by Michael Gow in 1986, utilises a 1967 setting and the characters preparation for, and the events from, their summer holidays to highlight the significance of personal discoveries.. The American film published in 1989 and directed by Australian Peter Weir, ‘Dead Poets Society’, both contrasts and relates to ‘Away’ as it explores an all boys preparatory school, in 1959. During this time there was a pressure on families to be untarnished, and understanding this ideology can improve familial relationships. People around an individual have the power to shape these discoveries. Those discoveries
While no family at this time was actually ‘perfect’, parents put pressure on their children to uphold the appearance that represents this ideology. For this reason, Gwen, in the play ‘Away’, is very controlling over her and her families life. When Meg shows a liking for the character, Tom, who represents a lower class, Gwen’s instant disdain for him is recognised by her daughter. The derogatory pronoun and demanding tone, ‘I will not have you hanging around with that kind of life’, repels Meg away from her and exhibits her controlling behaviour to the audience. This is used to display the desire for a utopian family in the 1960’s. Later in the play in a discussion between Meg and Jim, Meg discovers why her mother acts this way. Coinciding this, Gwen realises her actions when she discovers Tom’s terminal illness and its effect on Vic and Harry; she realises the universal nature of human emotion and this transcends her prejudice of social class. The American film ‘Dead Poets Society’, juxtaposes ‘Away’ by the absence of this discovery. The main character, Neil, is forced to conform his own personal decisions to his father’s
One spends a large amount of time with friends and family and as a result their influences and own discoveries can affect an individual’s view. In ‘Away’, Coral is the wife of the local school’s principal and mother of their deceased son. Tom, a student at the school, brings her attention to the beauty of life. During a conversation between Meg and Tom, they discuss Coral’s mental issues and when asked if she’s “a real lunatic” Tom responds with the colloquial dialogue, “She might have been for a minute or two”. This is used to highlight Tom’s laid back attitude and awareness of Coral’s situation. While he is aware of her hardship he does not treat her as if she is crazy, he treats her like she is grieving. This treatment helped Coral realise there is life after the death of her son. Similarly, in ‘Dead Poets Society’ John Keating, the school’s new English teacher, played by Robin Williams, helps his class discover the true meaning of literature. The close-up, tracking shot at an eye-level angle, displays the cohort’s faces with a focus on Keating behind them, as he explains the meaning of the term ‘carpe diem’ otherwise known as ‘seize the day’. Weir has chosen this direction to reveal the student’s’ discovery while also acknowledging who is influencing it. Through his teaching he explores the meaning of life and