Figurative Language Chapter 6 Summary
Throughout chapter six there are many themes and language features which help to convey the narrative in order to enhance the readers understanding.
Themes which are dealt with in chapter six are; aboriginal identity, malefemale relationships, and the psychological impact of gaol. These themes are shown through language features; such as; diologue, colloquial language, lyrics, and imagery.
Firstly, the theme of identity is important because it helps the reader understand the attitudes and appearance of the characters .In this chapter, there are two settings. The first one is at the milk-bar while the second is in the narrator's bedroom. The milk-bar is known as a 'bodgie' hangout place. The narrator feels that he is back to a place where …show more content…
he is accepted, "....the familiar surroundings glow a "welcome home" to me" (page 55).
The milk-bar is described as,
...jukebox, a mass of metal, lights and glass, commands the room, squat god worshipped and fed by footloose youth to fill their empty world with the drug delusion of romance... (Page 55)
This quote shows the meeting place of the bodgie groups and the atmosphere which is carried out through these types of places during the early sixties.
The fashion during the sixties of the bodgie gang is described as, "...boys peacock-gaudy long coats and narrow pants, the girls casual in dowdy dark jeans and sloppy sweaters." (Page 55). This type of fashion was "cool" during the sixties and was mainly worn by the bodgie's.
Throughout the chapter the narrator and several of his bodgie friends are always drinking. The main reason which may encourage them to drink is the sense of no hope in life and that drinking is "cool" and helps healing your broken feelings.
Music is a major factor which contributed to identity. Throughout the novel there are many instances where music is written in lyrics, however in chapter six the narrator uses lyrics to give the reader a better understanding of the atmosphere. The type of music which is listened to during this period in time is called blues.
You can get rid of loneliness
if you can fall in love.... (Page 56)
These lyrics are from a theme song for kids. It shows the sadness in the atmosphere of the milk-bar and the feelings which are conveyed through music.
The bell-hop's tears keep flowing,
The desk clerks dressed in black.
They've been so long down lonely street
That they'll never, oh never, come back.
'Cause they're so lonely, oh so lonely,
They're so lonely they could die (Page 58)
The sad tune of the music elaborates on the mood throughout the milk-bar and spreads a feeling of loneliness among the people.
Identity is also shown through language. In chapter six there are language features such as colloquial language, jargon and dialogue. Colloquial language and jargon is mainly used through dialogue which is an example of the way bodgie's talk to each other. "I'm drunk, doll" (page 56), "...prison dough" (page 57), "...breasts jut under her jumper..." (Page 59).
Secondly, the narrator reveals his attitudes toward male/female relationships. This is shown towards the last few pages in the chapter where he describes his relationship with Denise. The narrator first met Denise at a dance where he paid her to have sex the first time but never after that.
The narrator describes Denise as "...dig eyes glow, lips nature-red are parted.... slightly stained teeth. Dark hair is alive...she still attracts me..." (Page 56). This is evident that Denise was more than just a "flick" which he paid to sleep with; she was someone he had feelings for but was afraid to express …show more content…
them.
"When I get drunk I usually end up with a chick, but why should this girl mean something to me? I want to be unmoved by everything like a god" (page59)
The narrator feels he is unable to have satisfying relationships because throughout his life he has never been able to express himself in a relationship or been shown that he is loved by anyone as shown with his mother and a girl in chapter two.
The narrator expresses himself through dialogue. Dialogue is a language feature which was mostly used on page 57 throughout the chapter.
"I've got a bottle of wine under the table," I say
"Wasting your prison dough."
"Why not?"
The narrator feels he has nothing in life to look forward to. He shows this in the conversation he is having with Denise on page 57. Instead of using his money which he gained from prison to help him up onto his feet he is wasting it on wine.
The narrator feel pressured that he has to have sex with Denise, "...I want to be alone, but she's here and I suppose I have to sleep with her-oh damn." (Page 59). This gives the reader the impression that the narrator is not in the mood to have sex because he feels disconnected from this world due to not knowing where he belongs in life.
While having sex the narrator shows he is not interested in having sex at this moment but Denise makes him enjoy it.
"I pull of her clothes and take her violently, like it was rape. Hate her. Hate her. Love her. It is finished." (Page 59).
Furthermore, the last theme which is included in chapter six is the psychological impact of gaol. In the first scene, at the milk-bar, the narrator is happy when he meets his bodgie gang again for the first time after gaol.
"I drift away to a vacant table, order sandwiches and cigarettes and whisper for a cup of wine." (Page 56). This narrator is used to being in a gaol cell all alone especially when he was moved to solitary confinement. This has impacted on his social and psychological skills because he doesn't know how to express himself anymore when around people.
This issue of isolation is also expressed in the same chapter but in a different incident. "...I want to be alone..." (Page 59). This shows that gaol has made the narrator want to be alone and deal with his feelings by drinking rather than find hope or meaning in his life.
Throughout the chapter there are no flashbacks. This point is important because it highlights that the narrator does not feel a connection with his childhood
past.
In conclusion, chapter six of Wild Cat Falling, by Mudrooroo outlines issues and personal experiences in life It focuses on the feelings and views of the narrator and reveals the attitude the narrator has towards life.
Themes which are dealt with in chapter six are; aboriginal identity, malefemale relationships, and the psychological impact of gaol. These themes are shown through language features; such as; diologue, colloquial language, lyrics, and imagery.
Firstly, the theme of identity is important because it helps the reader understand the attitudes and appearance of the characters .In this chapter, there are two settings. The first one is at the milk-bar while the second is in the narrator's bedroom. The milk-bar is known as a 'bodgie' hangout place. The narrator feels that he is back to a place where …show more content…
he is accepted, "....the familiar surroundings glow a "welcome home" to me" (page 55).
The milk-bar is described as,
...jukebox, a mass of metal, lights and glass, commands the room, squat god worshipped and fed by footloose youth to fill their empty world with the drug delusion of romance... (Page 55)
This quote shows the meeting place of the bodgie groups and the atmosphere which is carried out through these types of places during the early sixties.
The fashion during the sixties of the bodgie gang is described as, "...boys peacock-gaudy long coats and narrow pants, the girls casual in dowdy dark jeans and sloppy sweaters." (Page 55). This type of fashion was "cool" during the sixties and was mainly worn by the bodgie's.
Throughout the chapter the narrator and several of his bodgie friends are always drinking. The main reason which may encourage them to drink is the sense of no hope in life and that drinking is "cool" and helps healing your broken feelings.
Music is a major factor which contributed to identity. Throughout the novel there are many instances where music is written in lyrics, however in chapter six the narrator uses lyrics to give the reader a better understanding of the atmosphere. The type of music which is listened to during this period in time is called blues.
You can get rid of loneliness
if you can fall in love.... (Page 56)
These lyrics are from a theme song for kids. It shows the sadness in the atmosphere of the milk-bar and the feelings which are conveyed through music.
The bell-hop's tears keep flowing,
The desk clerks dressed in black.
They've been so long down lonely street
That they'll never, oh never, come back.
'Cause they're so lonely, oh so lonely,
They're so lonely they could die (Page 58)
The sad tune of the music elaborates on the mood throughout the milk-bar and spreads a feeling of loneliness among the people.
Identity is also shown through language. In chapter six there are language features such as colloquial language, jargon and dialogue. Colloquial language and jargon is mainly used through dialogue which is an example of the way bodgie's talk to each other. "I'm drunk, doll" (page 56), "...prison dough" (page 57), "...breasts jut under her jumper..." (Page 59).
Secondly, the narrator reveals his attitudes toward male/female relationships. This is shown towards the last few pages in the chapter where he describes his relationship with Denise. The narrator first met Denise at a dance where he paid her to have sex the first time but never after that.
The narrator describes Denise as "...dig eyes glow, lips nature-red are parted.... slightly stained teeth. Dark hair is alive...she still attracts me..." (Page 56). This is evident that Denise was more than just a "flick" which he paid to sleep with; she was someone he had feelings for but was afraid to express …show more content…
them.
"When I get drunk I usually end up with a chick, but why should this girl mean something to me? I want to be unmoved by everything like a god" (page59)
The narrator feels he is unable to have satisfying relationships because throughout his life he has never been able to express himself in a relationship or been shown that he is loved by anyone as shown with his mother and a girl in chapter two.
The narrator expresses himself through dialogue. Dialogue is a language feature which was mostly used on page 57 throughout the chapter.
"I've got a bottle of wine under the table," I say
"Wasting your prison dough."
"Why not?"
The narrator feels he has nothing in life to look forward to. He shows this in the conversation he is having with Denise on page 57. Instead of using his money which he gained from prison to help him up onto his feet he is wasting it on wine.
The narrator feel pressured that he has to have sex with Denise, "...I want to be alone, but she's here and I suppose I have to sleep with her-oh damn." (Page 59). This gives the reader the impression that the narrator is not in the mood to have sex because he feels disconnected from this world due to not knowing where he belongs in life.
While having sex the narrator shows he is not interested in having sex at this moment but Denise makes him enjoy it.
"I pull of her clothes and take her violently, like it was rape. Hate her. Hate her. Love her. It is finished." (Page 59).
Furthermore, the last theme which is included in chapter six is the psychological impact of gaol. In the first scene, at the milk-bar, the narrator is happy when he meets his bodgie gang again for the first time after gaol.
"I drift away to a vacant table, order sandwiches and cigarettes and whisper for a cup of wine." (Page 56). This narrator is used to being in a gaol cell all alone especially when he was moved to solitary confinement. This has impacted on his social and psychological skills because he doesn't know how to express himself anymore when around people.
This issue of isolation is also expressed in the same chapter but in a different incident. "...I want to be alone..." (Page 59). This shows that gaol has made the narrator want to be alone and deal with his feelings by drinking rather than find hope or meaning in his life.
Throughout the chapter there are no flashbacks. This point is important because it highlights that the narrator does not feel a connection with his childhood
past.
In conclusion, chapter six of Wild Cat Falling, by Mudrooroo outlines issues and personal experiences in life It focuses on the feelings and views of the narrator and reveals the attitude the narrator has towards life.