Away

If you order your cheap essays from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on Away. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality Away paper right on time. Out staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in Away, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your Away paper at affordable prices! The ideology of a text is shaped and created by the readers

pre-existing knowledge of the issues presented in it. To fully

understand the values and attitudes towards the female

characters presented in Michael Gows play Away the reader must first have a strong awareness and understanding of

Australian society in the 160s which is the period in which

the play is set. When considering the play Away from a

contemporary, post feminist context, it is recognised that

societies over emphasis on the importance of women

conforming to traditional gender values had a damaging

effect on the growth of individuality within the Australian

female population during the160s. In the patriarchal society

in which the play is set, it becomes evident that womens

worth was based largely on their willingness to conform to

traditional gender roles. The exploration and reflection of

other texts and sources have shaped my understanding of the

female characters in Away and societies attitudes towards them.

The non fiction history text Australia since 180, an interview

with Helen Walsh discussing life as a female teenager in the

160s and the two fiction texts Summer City directed by

Christopher Fraser and The Dish directed by Rob Sitch explore

the different roles women chose to play in the 160s, and through

this exploration reinforce the argument, that the growth of

female individuality in Australia during the 160s was greatly

confined by societies traditional values and expectations.

When considering Away from a contemporary, post

feminist context, the readers values concerning different

issues, in particular the representation of women, are

shaped and influenced by their pre-existing knowledge

of the roles women played and were expected to play in

Australia during the 160s. At the time there were many

social pressures and expectations placed on the way

women should and should not act. Such expectations are

fulfilled by the character Gwen who represents the typical

Australian mother who abides by traditional gender roles,

conforming with the ides and principals of the patriarchal

society in which she lived. The history text Australia since

the 180s, greatly influenced my attitudes towards, and

understanding of the character Gwen, as it clearly outlined

that in the 160s it was expected that women would not

have pre-marital sex, that they would marry, and that they

would have children, and sustain a domestic role consisting

mainly of cooking, cleaning and looking after the children.

This knowledge shaped my understanding of Gwen as I no

longer considered her to be a parent whos strict regime was

to create misery, but was infact for fear that her daughter

Meg would fail to live up to their patriarchal societys

gender expectations and as a consequence face

marginalisation by other members of their society.

This is shown when Meg confronts her mother about purposely

leaving Jims box of presents at home and Gwen reacts out of

concern not spite. Meg I want to know why you did it ?

Gwen You watch your tongue my girl. Meg You knew

what was in that box. You left it behind. I want to know why.

Gwen Where have you picked up these ugly manners?..

Youre developing a nasty, cruel streak. You know what

youre becoming? Snide. A nasty, snide girl. No one likes a

snide girl. Always arguing, always throwing a tantrum, getting

your own way, answering back, correcting people, criticizing,

complaining, no one likes that sort of girl. Unless you count

your foul mouthed little English chum. Youll make a great

pain. Throw your future away. Give it away. Throw what I

have done, we have done in our faces.

When first reading this passage I thought Gwens reaction

was unjustifiable and uncalled for, however after becoming

aware of the social expectation placed on females I realised

that Gwen was merely looking after Megs best interests by

telling her off, as she was telling Meg what aspects of her

character society would reject her for.

Australia since 180 influenced me to create a more positive attitude

towards Gwens character, as I had originally found it

difficult to understand her decision to remain unemployed,

considering her obsession with money. However the text

outlined many of the pressures and events that occurred

during the 160s, including the return of the Vietnam troops,

which lead to the relegation of thousands of females to

traditional roles in the home, after aief liberation during

the Vietnam War and this could be considered a factor in Gwens

decision to remain unemployed. Through the exploration of societys

gender expectations in the 160s with reference to Australia

since 180 it becomes evident that women would give their jobs

up for the sake of male employment , and that they would conform

with the suggested female stereotype, taking on the roles of mother

and wife. By focusing on the expectations Gwen felt Meg needed to

fulfill in order to be accepted by society - for example, being

passive and well mannered, it becomes clear that societys over

emphasis on the importance to conform with these expectations

was damaging to the growth of female individuality and

independence in the 160s. This in seen through Gwens attempted

control of Megs life and constant nagging, and also through

the role in life Gwen has adopted as she is an example of a

female member of society who has been confined by gender

expectations and as a result has limited life choices including

the inability to acquire a job, with the primary concern of her

childs well being.

An interview conducted with Helen Walsh discussing life as a

teenager in Australia during the 160s lead to my understanding

that women were bound tightly by societys immeasurable

value of innocence, purity and conformity which confined

female exploration and expression of self. This is shown in

Away by Gwens inability to express her feelings and reasons

for wanting to leave her mother and father , choosing a life of

her own, rather than taking on the role of carer. The societal

expectations placed on her led to her decision to leave without

an explanation rather than face the consequences of her choice

not to conform with such expectations. Her decision makes it

evident that women in the 160s were often faced with the

decision to work outside social norms and be some what rejected

as Gwen was by her parents or face living a life of boredom and

discontentment.

The two fiction films Summer City and The Dish depict the

different roles women chose to take in the 160s. Summer City

focuses on youth rebellion, the changing attitudes and behaviour

of women and their consequences. In the movie a fifteen year

old girl called ………….. agrees to have sex with a promiscuous

young boy because she believes that she is in love. As a consequence

of her behaviour the small town in which she lives black label her and

treat her like the plague, by gossiping behind her back. It is her

non-conformity and rebellion against societys expectations that

lead to her being labelled loose and being rejected by her society.

The character Meg in Away who is seen as a representation of the

rise of feminism in the 160s also expresses rebellion, through

her opinionated expressions, including her discussion with her

father concerning her contrasting opinions with her mother, in

which he comments that shes a good girl for wanting to go

to bed and she replies Im not, Im only tired, to reaffirm her

stance against her mothers opinions unwillingness to give in to

her ideals. Megs rebellion is on a smaller scale that ……., however

through the exploration of the text Summer City, it is understood

that any form of female rebellion in the 60s would have repercussions.

The Dish explores both the younger and older generations of women

and their opposing stances and opinions concerning topical issues.

Marie McIntyre, a feminist who speaks her mind is constantly

belittled and ignored because she doesnt abide or collude with the

values of the patriarchal society in which she lives. Her character

is likened to Meg in Away, similarites in their characters beliefs and

similarities in the way their societies treat them, choosing to oppress

their opinions, reinforce my argument that Australian society in the 160s

placed an over emphasis on the importance of women conforming with

traditional values and as a result confined the growth of female individuality.

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