‘in the Park’ – Gwen Harwood

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‘In the park’ – Gwen Harwood (page 151)
Initial impressions: * First and last lines rhyme, middle two lines rhyme. * Generates compelling rhythm * About meeting someone form past – comparing life with past * Sense of how hard her life with children is – husbands’ decision? * Sense of loss of individuality, sacrifice for children especially in comparison to past life.
Line 1: * ‘her clothes are out of date’ connotation – no time for herself – sacrifice her image/identity for children
Line 2: * ‘whine’ ‘bicker’ – onomatopoeia – imagery – understanding of her life difficulties of raising children
Line 3: * ‘aimless patters in the dirt’ - metaphor for her, her feelings
Line 4: * ‘Someone she loved once’ – someone from the past, ‘one that got away’
Line 5: * Enjambment – two meanings ‘too late’ – can’t go back to the past, also can’t hide her feelings – still has feelings, or stuck in the past
Line 6: * Dialogue – putting on a brave face – covering herself through meaningless small talk. * ‘Time holds great surprises’ – look at how much you’ve changed! judgmental
Line 7: * Imagery/juxtaposition (her)/connotation (his life, looks after himself, has no children) – ‘neat’ – very difference existences
Line 8: * ‘small balloon’ thought bubble ’but for the grace of god * Questioning her – her decisions. Portrays his smug happiness, didn’t end up with her (that life) * She leads a more spiritual meaningful life – sacrifice herself for her children – he doesn’t see that superficial
Line 9 – 11: * Rhyming pattern changes –tone of conversation changes * Dialogue –regaining composure, showing pride in her children. * Warm tone – positive aspects of parenting. Telling him this, what he is missing * Reminding herself
Line 12: * ‘departing smile’ – good to see her happy/ perceived sense of superiority * Losing sense of moral high ground – smugness dying
Line 13 – 14: * ‘Nursing’ – breast feeding (sucking the life out of her) connotation. * ‘To the wind’ –connotation – no one to talk to, no one cares * ‘They have eaten me alive’ – internal dialogue – stolen her life, her independence, individuality – nothing left of previous persona.
Narrative techniques * Sonnet - Love poem – capturing lost love-emphasising the cost/sacrifice of love for your children. * Two points of view – woman and the ex * Third person – intimate knowledge of subject ( and ex)
Meaning/themes/ideas:
* Parenting is extremely hard work. * Life revolves around children – exhausting – time consuming – self-sacrifice. * Living through children – pouring love and energy into them that can cause some resentment – normal. * Importance of motherhood in society. * Self-sacrifice and spirituality vs. self-satisfaction, shallowness * Can’t turn back past, have to live with our choices