the Drover s Wife analysis
the Drover’s Wife In “The Drover’s Wife,” Lawson acknowledges the hardships of Australian women living in the bush. This story was unique in its time, as a female protagonist was uncommon. Stories from this period focused on the men living in the outback; the drovers and their struggle, they dismissed the life of the woman waiting at home suffering in silence during their husbands' long periods of absence.
The Drover’s Wife In The Drover’s Wife, Lawson sheds light on the life of such women, allowing the reader insight into their often heroic actions as he creates authentic depictions of their existence in the bush, and their fight to make it a home. In this story, we learn about one such woman, struggling against all odds to protect her family against the elements and being shaped by the landscape that she inhabits.
Setting: The House • quaint, minimalist, having just the bare necessities of life. “The kitchen has no floor - or, rather, an earthen one - called a "ground floor" •”The two-roomed house is built of round timber, slabs, and stringy-bark, and floored with split slabs. A big bark kitchen standing at one end is larger than the house itself, veranda included” The House
The Drover’s Wife • Protagonist, unnamed The Drover's Wife: • Stoic, protective, heroic, hardened, strong, independent. Descriptive Language: 14. The Drover’s Wife • "gaunt sun-browned bushwoman" •"she is not a coward" •"she is used to being left alone" •As a girl she built the usual castles in the air; but all her girlish hopes and aspirations have long been dead.” Characterisation: 15. The Drover’s Wife •"all days are much the same to her" •"used to the loneliness of it all"
•"she seems contented with her lot" •"she loves her children, but has no time to show it. She seems harsh to them"
•"Sunday afternoon she dresses herself, tidies the children, smartens up baby, and goes for a lonely walk along the bush-track"
Literary Techniques
•The surrounding landscape as described by
The Drover’s Wife In The Drover’s Wife, Lawson sheds light on the life of such women, allowing the reader insight into their often heroic actions as he creates authentic depictions of their existence in the bush, and their fight to make it a home. In this story, we learn about one such woman, struggling against all odds to protect her family against the elements and being shaped by the landscape that she inhabits.
Setting: The House • quaint, minimalist, having just the bare necessities of life. “The kitchen has no floor - or, rather, an earthen one - called a "ground floor" •”The two-roomed house is built of round timber, slabs, and stringy-bark, and floored with split slabs. A big bark kitchen standing at one end is larger than the house itself, veranda included” The House
The Drover’s Wife • Protagonist, unnamed The Drover's Wife: • Stoic, protective, heroic, hardened, strong, independent. Descriptive Language: 14. The Drover’s Wife • "gaunt sun-browned bushwoman" •"she is not a coward" •"she is used to being left alone" •As a girl she built the usual castles in the air; but all her girlish hopes and aspirations have long been dead.” Characterisation: 15. The Drover’s Wife •"all days are much the same to her" •"used to the loneliness of it all"
•"she seems contented with her lot" •"she loves her children, but has no time to show it. She seems harsh to them"
•"Sunday afternoon she dresses herself, tidies the children, smartens up baby, and goes for a lonely walk along the bush-track"
Literary Techniques
•The surrounding landscape as described by