Identifying Values in the Novel Crow Country
Crow Country
Examining Australian values, this blog will reflect Kate Constable’s Crow Country with aspects of what defines us as Australians.
Constable’s novel gives the readers varying points on the attributes that make us Australian. Instead of only showing the good or only the bad, Constable develops characters that show a mixture of both through their actions, beliefs and relationships with others.
Constable has developed characters that demonstrate the best of what makes us Australian. One of these positive values is tolerance. For example, Clarry shows respect for Jimmy Raven. Even though none of Clarry’s peers acknowledge Jimmy as a human, Clarry is brave enough to go out of his way to make Jimmy feel comfortable. This is shown where Clarry brings out his best tea set for Jimmy even though “there was no one in the whole district who would bring out the best china to serve a black stockman”(p53). Another value shown in the novel is integrity. This value is shown where Sadie saves Lachie’s life. By doing this, Sadie risks her friend Walter being accused of killing Lachie and going to jail. She does this even thought Walter tells her to “get out of here”(p198). Not all of Constable’s characters however show positive values.
Constable has also developed characters that exhibit the worst of what makes us Australian. A negative trait that is exhibited in the novel is irresponsibility. One example of this is where Gerald bursts into Clarry’s shop and demands he bury Jimmy’s body for him. Gerald is responsible for Jimmy’s death yet decides to exploit Clarry’s poor financial situation by forcing him to cover up the murder. “If it wasn’t for Gerald Mortlock, we’d be in the gutter”, (p136).Anothernegative trait that is prominent in the novel is discrimination. Discrimination is demonstrated numerous times throughout the novel; one example of this is when Sadie is talking to Lachie. Lachiepatronizes Sadie and discriminating her because of her age, drawling
Examining Australian values, this blog will reflect Kate Constable’s Crow Country with aspects of what defines us as Australians.
Constable’s novel gives the readers varying points on the attributes that make us Australian. Instead of only showing the good or only the bad, Constable develops characters that show a mixture of both through their actions, beliefs and relationships with others.
Constable has developed characters that demonstrate the best of what makes us Australian. One of these positive values is tolerance. For example, Clarry shows respect for Jimmy Raven. Even though none of Clarry’s peers acknowledge Jimmy as a human, Clarry is brave enough to go out of his way to make Jimmy feel comfortable. This is shown where Clarry brings out his best tea set for Jimmy even though “there was no one in the whole district who would bring out the best china to serve a black stockman”(p53). Another value shown in the novel is integrity. This value is shown where Sadie saves Lachie’s life. By doing this, Sadie risks her friend Walter being accused of killing Lachie and going to jail. She does this even thought Walter tells her to “get out of here”(p198). Not all of Constable’s characters however show positive values.
Constable has also developed characters that exhibit the worst of what makes us Australian. A negative trait that is exhibited in the novel is irresponsibility. One example of this is where Gerald bursts into Clarry’s shop and demands he bury Jimmy’s body for him. Gerald is responsible for Jimmy’s death yet decides to exploit Clarry’s poor financial situation by forcing him to cover up the murder. “If it wasn’t for Gerald Mortlock, we’d be in the gutter”, (p136).Anothernegative trait that is prominent in the novel is discrimination. Discrimination is demonstrated numerous times throughout the novel; one example of this is when Sadie is talking to Lachie. Lachiepatronizes Sadie and discriminating her because of her age, drawling