Australia has been
always thought as a prison to the British Empire and consequently to the rest
of the world. Almost everyone has heard Australia as “The Prisoner’s Island”.
That assumption is actually true. First people who arrived to that country were
convicts –besides of explorers. All these people settled down and worked the
land or were employed like carpenters, servants and even like nurses. But some
–well educated people, mainly British colonists- decided to write their
experiences. Being Australia a continent where bad people arrived (some
criminals, convicts and soldiers), crime arrived as well. This context was an
inspiration source for these writers that they tried to describe in their
books. Furthermore, this particular context is still a strong influence to new
Australian writers. Now the questions are: can the historical context leave an
indelible influence on Australian literature? Can the social environment give
particular features to it? Is important the geography to understand it?
Within the
characteristic of Australian literature we can find some like its Aboriginal
origins, where many authors referred to how Aborigines were treated by white
men who colonized their lands, this type of literature is more common today
than many years before; another characteristic is its “bush” legacy which
refers to a typical Australian lifestyle that represents it as in literature as
in other branches of the art. This characteristic was very important in
literature because some writers as Banjo Paterson or Henry Lawson expressed in
their works how common people lived in rural zones. This style was very similar
to the “gauchos” of the Argentinian pampa and the “cowboys” of the United
States. However, one of the most important characteristic of Australian
literature is its penitentiary past which left an indelible sign on the history
of this country and at the same time it marked the basis for what would later
become the art of this country.
Australia has
changed since its years as a penal colony for the British Empire. Australia is
now a little bit different. Centuries and decades have passed but some
traditions and customs still remain in their culture. One of the most important
is the “convict legacy”. Therefore, it is necessary to know about the History
of Australia, particularly about the penal colony and the first colonists that
arrived there.
In 1788, the
first ship arrived in Australia. Years ago, in 1770, Australia had been
declared a penal colony. People that arrived were mariners, convicts and
children. Later, in 1793, the first colonists arrived and settled down in this
new land. They worked like workforce to the British Empire contributing in the
construction of the new infrastructure in Australia like bridges or roads. (Australian Government)
Life was not
easy “a convict's life was neither easy nor pleasant. The work was hard,
accommodation rough and ready and the food none too palatable.” (Halliday)
Even a convict said “We have to work
from 14-18 hours a day, sometimes up to our knees in cold water, 'til we are
ready to sink with fatigue... The inhuman driver struck one, John Smith, with a
heavy thong.” (Australian
Government) .
People convicted knew how their lives would chance in this new land.
For that reason, they did tokens. Convicts love tokens are:
Smoothing and
engraving a coin with a message of affection was one of the few ways a convict
transported to Australia could leave a memento behind with loved ones in
England. These small tokens are also known as 'leaden hearts'. They record
personal and emotional responses. (The
National Museum of Australia) .
Here there are
some real examples of the messages recorded in the tokens (Burbury,
1999)
"Dear
Father Mother/ A gift to you / From a friend / Whose love for you / Shall never
end"
"When this
you see / Think on me / When I am in a far country"
"May the
rose of England never bud, the thistle of Scotland never grows, the harp of
Ireland never play till I, poor convict, gain my liberty."
Quintus
Servinton was the first Australian novel which was written by
the British convict Henry Savery, and its significance is mostly due to its
historical value than its literary value. They were not influenced by the
current literary genres due to the isolation; therefore they could create their
own styles which at first, began to be autobiographical, where the prisoners
could tell their cruel experiences by using nicknames or remaining anonymous.
Australia was
consolidated as a country much later than their English - speaking peers and
because of that its literature was formed with parts of many countries of the
world. It is very rich in terms of styles but in the same time it is not
corrupted by others literary trends from the rest of the world.
Australian
literature has been the vehicle Australian identity, a platform to advance the
campaign of cultural independence from Britain, causing that the racial and
multicultural mix of the population is reflected in their literary.
Today, in this
country there is a sort of literary fashion because of the large number of
foreign writers who have settled down there to write their works, considering
themselves as Australians. Finally, some of important features of the
literature of this country are the history of their own land, including the
indigenous situation is dealt with Aboriginal and white authors. Relationships,
broken links and lack of communication are common threads. Many of the writers
have an ability to analyze topics of other countries and other ancient cultures
from a new and revitalized perspective. For instance, the latest novel by David
Malouf, does the same: he remake the passionate scene where Achilles warrior
returning the dead body of his father in a whole new way.
It can be said that
this kind of literary work has a "little originality positive", using
themes and stories from other parts of the western world and projecting upon
them a new and unique perspective. However, the writers have known Australians
also explore the history of their own country.
Does the
Australian literature deserve a place of honor within the world literature?
Yes it does.
Not in vain already won a Nobel Prize in 1973, from the hand of Patrick White.
References
·
Australian
Government. (n.d.). australia.gov.au. Retrieved Octubre 3, 2012, from
http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/convicts-and-the-british-colonies
·
Australian National University.
(n.d.). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved from
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/savery-henry-2632
·
Burbury, D. (1999). Ancestry.com.
Retrieved Octubre 3, 2012, from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~austashs/convicts/contokens.html
·
Halliday, J. (n.d.). Pilot
Guides. Retrieved Octubre 3, 2012, from
http://www.pilotguides.com/destination_guide/pacific/australia/convict_australia/convict_life.php
·
The National Museum of Australia.
(n.d.). National Museum Australia. Retrieved Octubre 3, 2012, from
http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/highlights/convict-tokens
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario