Cloudstreet Critical Analysis

Q. “Comment on the ways in which understanding a texts context of production would help readers make meaning from it”

A. Cloudstreet, written by Tim Winton in the 1980’s and published in 1991, is a novel born out of its historical context. It agrees and affirms many of the key ideas of the time; that national pride is crucial towards Australian national identity, and the evolving acceptance of the Indigenous having rights to their own land. However, the text rejects more notions of the time than it affirms, rejecting ideas of individualism and higher education for all. Instead, it offers an idealized representation of an Australian society that has long passed, giving a nostalgic view of the simplicity Australia had at the time. Understanding
this context of production helps I, as a reader, to understand the characters actions and development, and shapes how I read and understand the novel.

Cloudstreet represents Australia as a monoculture, and depicts the struggle of the Anglo-Celtic’s to reconcile with the indigenous. Knowing that at the time, there were vigorous immigration policies and that migrants, who were defined as “disadvantaged”, were made a priority, helps the reader to understand that the text is suggesting that despite all of this Australia remained a monoculture at the time, and allows us to see the tension within the novel, that its almost turning its back on multiculturalism.

The text sees ownership of land as unproblematic and simple, yet at the time the Mabo decision of 1992 took 10 years to expose the myth of “terra nullius” (that land belongs to nobody), to finally give indigenous people rights to their own land.
Understanding that at the time, such a decision was very complicated, helps us as readers to understand that the novel is trying to suggest that perhaps it shouldn’t have been as problematic as it was, and is nostalgic towards a time that maybe never existed; where races lived in harmony and resolved their problems at ease with one another, in typical Australian backyard
settings.

Cloudstreet suggests that women find more pleasure and contentment in the domestic world, then they can find outside that area. Knowing that at the time, between the early 1980s and the mid 1990’s, financial independence among Australian women increased, and changes to public policies in fields of childcare and social security promoted the idea of working, helps I, as a reader, to understand that the novel is turning its back on this almost radical idea for the time period, and portrays women as happiest in their domestic roles. Dolly, Oriel and Rose all explore areas of partying, excessive ambition, doing regular work, all without happiness, but the resolution of the novel represents them as most happy in lives of domesticity, as mothers and grandmothers. Dolly particularly, has a huge shift in character, she goes from being the typical “Dolly bird” of the time, questioning her motherhood; “bad mother, or no mother at all?” to reconciling with herself as she takes on the role of being a good Grandmother. Rose’s abandonment of her dreams of being independent, and having a house Is naturalized, and is perfectly accepted by the novel, that she should abandon work for a baby, and return to her family. When she is independent she goes “skinny and puke” but when she has her domestic role, she feels fulfillment. Understanding the context of production about women and their advancements at the time is crucial to understanding the novels traditional representations and ideologies.

The text rejects the notion of the time period that there is a need for higher education for all, and that the middle classes were more intellectual.
Winton uses the Toby’s character as a vehicle for the idea that the middle classes are inept physically and psychologically, compared to working classes. This is particularly shown through Toby’s lack of ability to drive; “… he couldn’t exactly drive”, whilst Quick shoots, fishes, drives trucks and boats. Toby is represented as pretentious, and he uses other people’s stories because he lacks his own creativity to be his own writer. Through positioning Toby in a negative light, readers see the middle class stereotype of intellect as false, and Quick, who represents the working classes, is positioned in a positive light, to make readers realize that they could be more capable physically and psychologically. To understand this completely, the context of production is crucial; at the time there was an ever increasing participation rate in tertiary education, and education was seen as a status and glory, whilst Winton, through his characters, neglects this idea and suggest that being closely amongst your family and in tune with nature is more important to self-realization and improvement than formal
education.

The novel also focuses on cultural identity, and understanding that at the time Australia was becoming increasingly nationalistic and creation their identity is important to understanding Winton’s writing and the pride the characters embody. The text forms part of a movement towards national pride that coincided with the Bicentennial in 1988, bringing to the surface of national consciousness many of the anxieties’ and contradictions of a post colonial society. This is greatly reflected through the characters search for home, identity and place that consumes the journeys and lives of the characters. Oriel retreats to the tent to find herself. “Who was she to argue with a living breathing house?”, showing that is was as if she was pushed out of the house because she didn’t belong; understanding Australia’s past allows readers to see this as reflecting the colonization of Australia, and how the tent is symbolic of an army tent, and Oriel is engaged in an emotional battle towards identity. Understanding that in the 1980s Australia was becoming more united, and formed a strong identity, is important to understanding the way the characters have been constructed in exploring their own identities and reconciling with themselves.

Having knowledge of a texts context of production is crucial in understanding why an author, such as Winton, has constructed his characters and chosen to neglect certain notions, and idealize others. Knowing Australia’s history from the 80’s helps I, as a reader, to realize that there’s a strong sense of nostalgia in Winton’s writing, and that he’s portrayed a more simplistic, traditional, and older version of Australia.