How is the concept of the physical journey is described in your prescribed texts?
A physical journey consists of the movement from one place to another, whereby the individual undergoes a process of change and development, becomes endowed with experiences, goals are achieved culminating in an overall transformation. Journeys often contain elements such as a lack of choice, uncertainty, danger, and obstacles. Such journeys are explored in Peter Skrzynecki's poems Immigrants at Central station and 'Crossing the Red Sea', Alan Moir's political cartoon MV Cormo Express (SMH 28/10/03), about the stranded sheep in the middle of the ocean, and also the bookcover for Victor Kelleher's Ivory Trail.
Often journeys have an element of a lack of choice. In 'Immigrants at Central station', Skrzynecki uses simile to describe their restricted freedom writing, 'like a word of command'. There is a sense of irony here, that having escaped their oppressive homeland, their destination still limits their freedom. They are forced to endure poor weather conditions, but nonetheless endure it as shown by 'but we ate it all'. The train tracks are also symbolic of this lack of choice. They are set on one course, one destination, and cannot deviate from their journey. 'Crossing the Red Sea also describes their feelings of not being in control, 'Neither masters nor slave'. While their freedom has not been physically restricted, like in the war, they are still being commanded by external bodies, such as the Australian Government. Similarly in 'MV Cormo Express', the sheep are of a journey of the unwilling. Their fate has been decided by external bodies. One sheep says 'Some say Eritrean fields....' This is also suggestive that they are not in control and that they must accept their determined fate. The ship is also surrounded by a vast expanse of water, so there is no escape and they must go where the ship takes them. The immigrants must go where the train takes them. 'Time ran ahead along tracks of glistening steel' suggests that their future lies on this path and there is
Often journeys have an element of a lack of choice. In 'Immigrants at Central station', Skrzynecki uses simile to describe their restricted freedom writing, 'like a word of command'. There is a sense of irony here, that having escaped their oppressive homeland, their destination still limits their freedom. They are forced to endure poor weather conditions, but nonetheless endure it as shown by 'but we ate it all'. The train tracks are also symbolic of this lack of choice. They are set on one course, one destination, and cannot deviate from their journey. 'Crossing the Red Sea also describes their feelings of not being in control, 'Neither masters nor slave'. While their freedom has not been physically restricted, like in the war, they are still being commanded by external bodies, such as the Australian Government. Similarly in 'MV Cormo Express', the sheep are of a journey of the unwilling. Their fate has been decided by external bodies. One sheep says 'Some say Eritrean fields....' This is also suggestive that they are not in control and that they must accept their determined fate. The ship is also surrounded by a vast expanse of water, so there is no escape and they must go where the ship takes them. The immigrants must go where the train takes them. 'Time ran ahead along tracks of glistening steel' suggests that their future lies on this path and there is