Jasper Jones
* Jasper’s voice is far more colloquial than Charlie’s. He uses a range of ‘Australianisms’ that Charlie does not have: ‘carn’, ‘fersure’, ‘unnerstand’, ‘nuthin’, ‘somethink’, ‘orright’.
On the surface, Silvey constructs Jasper through symbols which represent him as poor and rugged. His description of his clothes which are too small for him and his hair which he has hacked at himself position the reader to respond to him as an unwell off character in comparison to the protagonist, Charlie. By looking deeper into social contexts of the time however, and Australia, Silvey implies a more sophisticated stereotype which he leaves open for us. As his novel has been likened to To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, and racial discrimination of aboriginals is a key purpose of his text, the author puts forth a mob-mentality construction of an aboriginal, in other words a white man’s stereotype. I think through this construction, Silvey is laughing at the reader as he knows that’s exactly what the reader is thinking when reading it, and implying a deeper meaning about racism.
Jasper Jones is constructed to be a rebellious, mixed-race and ambiguous figure of danger and intrigue for Charlie. I found Jasper a fascinating character as he would present himself as being tough and walk around town as the “towns menace”, however deep down he is compassionate, altruistic, quiet and thoughtful as well as being independent and rebellious through conflict within community, within himself and within his father. Jasper’s complex personality makes him an interestingly humane character with a strong heart but just brought up in a troubled home.
Jasper Jones has to deal with Laura’s death in a way that makes him not only regretful, but also makes him somewhat blame himself for it. His admirable traits, being his compassion and fire, show that he is willing to walk with his head held high and carry on with his life despite the conflict he has within. Conflict within in the community
On the surface, Silvey constructs Jasper through symbols which represent him as poor and rugged. His description of his clothes which are too small for him and his hair which he has hacked at himself position the reader to respond to him as an unwell off character in comparison to the protagonist, Charlie. By looking deeper into social contexts of the time however, and Australia, Silvey implies a more sophisticated stereotype which he leaves open for us. As his novel has been likened to To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, and racial discrimination of aboriginals is a key purpose of his text, the author puts forth a mob-mentality construction of an aboriginal, in other words a white man’s stereotype. I think through this construction, Silvey is laughing at the reader as he knows that’s exactly what the reader is thinking when reading it, and implying a deeper meaning about racism.
Jasper Jones is constructed to be a rebellious, mixed-race and ambiguous figure of danger and intrigue for Charlie. I found Jasper a fascinating character as he would present himself as being tough and walk around town as the “towns menace”, however deep down he is compassionate, altruistic, quiet and thoughtful as well as being independent and rebellious through conflict within community, within himself and within his father. Jasper’s complex personality makes him an interestingly humane character with a strong heart but just brought up in a troubled home.
Jasper Jones has to deal with Laura’s death in a way that makes him not only regretful, but also makes him somewhat blame himself for it. His admirable traits, being his compassion and fire, show that he is willing to walk with his head held high and carry on with his life despite the conflict he has within. Conflict within in the community