Deadly Unna Essay
Deadly Unna Essay by Dominic Mccrossen (703 Words)
In Australia there is much controversy surrounding racism between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. Phillip Gwynne’s novel Deadly Unna is an example of the relationships between the two cultures. Deadly Unna is based on a 14-year-old character named Blacky who lives in ‘the Port’ where the Non-Indigenous Australians or the ‘goongas’ live. On the outskirts of the township there is ‘the Point’ and this is where the Indigenous Australians or ‘nungas’ live. Blacky is an archetypal teenager, he plays football, and experiences the same anxiety in relation to girls and growing up. The theme of racism is of great importance throughout the novel so to the necessity for reconciliation and the hope that this brings. Gwynne cleverly incorporates dialogue and imagery to reveal these themes.
The relationship between Blacky and Dumby shows the responder that they do not conform to the standard of racism. Dumby Red is a footy star from the Point, to Blacky he is the perfect guy “This Dumby Red was trendy, he was talented, he was up himself, he wore Jezza’s number 25, and he had that smile.” - Blacky. Blacky was not always friends with Dumby, earlier in the novel he ranted on about how he hated his guts because he is a Non-Indigenous Australian. But later on Dumby stood up for Blacky in a fight; this changed his view of Indigenous Australians. The use of football as a reoccurring metaphor connects the two characters. “The footy was the only place for us and the nungas to be together”. This quote shows how the relationship between Dumby and Blacky can exist through a social barrier of racism. Gwynne uses descriptive language when Blacky is attending Dumbys’ funeral to demonstrate to the responder that Blacky lacks understanding of Indigenous Australians and racism in the town. “Most of the houses were fibro, there were some brick ones as well. I thought that’s not right, they all had doors and windows. I had been told
In Australia there is much controversy surrounding racism between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. Phillip Gwynne’s novel Deadly Unna is an example of the relationships between the two cultures. Deadly Unna is based on a 14-year-old character named Blacky who lives in ‘the Port’ where the Non-Indigenous Australians or the ‘goongas’ live. On the outskirts of the township there is ‘the Point’ and this is where the Indigenous Australians or ‘nungas’ live. Blacky is an archetypal teenager, he plays football, and experiences the same anxiety in relation to girls and growing up. The theme of racism is of great importance throughout the novel so to the necessity for reconciliation and the hope that this brings. Gwynne cleverly incorporates dialogue and imagery to reveal these themes.
The relationship between Blacky and Dumby shows the responder that they do not conform to the standard of racism. Dumby Red is a footy star from the Point, to Blacky he is the perfect guy “This Dumby Red was trendy, he was talented, he was up himself, he wore Jezza’s number 25, and he had that smile.” - Blacky. Blacky was not always friends with Dumby, earlier in the novel he ranted on about how he hated his guts because he is a Non-Indigenous Australian. But later on Dumby stood up for Blacky in a fight; this changed his view of Indigenous Australians. The use of football as a reoccurring metaphor connects the two characters. “The footy was the only place for us and the nungas to be together”. This quote shows how the relationship between Dumby and Blacky can exist through a social barrier of racism. Gwynne uses descriptive language when Blacky is attending Dumbys’ funeral to demonstrate to the responder that Blacky lacks understanding of Indigenous Australians and racism in the town. “Most of the houses were fibro, there were some brick ones as well. I thought that’s not right, they all had doors and windows. I had been told