STANDARDISED RESPONSES

PRESCRIBED WRACK (2000): JAMES BRADLEY

Discovery is a gradual and emotionally confronting experience
Wrack explores how the pursuit of the Mahogany ship leads to the protagonists, David and Claire,
rediscovering their relationship through confronting themselves and realising their existing feelings for
one another. Their process of discovery is fragmented, as shown in the non-linear narrative between
Kurts and Davids narrative, to highlight how their discovery is interrupted by other discoveries. Thus
they are gradually confronted with their true feelings, conveyed through the motif of the shifting sands,
which like the sands of time, reveal and obscure certain aspects of the truth. This is paralleled in the
imagery of their flowing bodies, which represent the flow of sand, and depicts how their confrontation
and processing of their love unravels the truth, as she feels him inside of her, moving, moving,
shedding the outer layers of skin. They are confronted with their mutual love for one another, which is
highlighted by the symbolism of their nakedness, which represents their emotional vulnerability as a
result of this discovery. The characterisation of Claire depicts the provoking nature of discovery, as her
character transitions from defensive and hostile, towards a more emotional and expressionistic
individual. Thus Bradley draws upon David and Claires discovery of their love for one another to
discuss how certain discoveries are emotionally confronting experiences, which can provoke individuals
to change themselves.
Discovery of the Mahogany ship is confronting for society, and causes others to be
confronted
Similarly, it also explores how the discovery of the Mahogany ship can have massive repercussions to
society, and confront us with the possibility that the Portuguese discovered Australia first, however it
also serves to instigate individuals own discoveries. The Mahogany ship is integral to the three
narratives that form the non-linear structure of the novel, with its existence serving to prompt radical
discoveries; Kurt discovers his love for Veronica, David and Claire rekindle their love for each other, and
the Portuguese use it to discover Australia. Through this the Mahogany ship is a symbol of the
confrontational and provoking nature of discoveries on all scales, whether they affect the fabric of
history or impact upon an individuals relationships with others. Furthermore, the wider impacts of the
Mahogany ship are legitimised through the differing textual forms; journals, letters, maps, epigraphs,
personal reports, which serve to provide a compelling array of evidence to support its existence, and
thus its potential impact on Australias narrative. Through its discovery it would reshape the
understanding of the historical background of Australian society, which is conveyed through the motif
of maps, which continually change as more aspects of the world are revealed. The maps serve as a
metaphor to Australias history, which can be rewritten due to discoveries made by individuals, and
confront and provoke changes to society. Thus through the symbolism of the Mahogany ship, it depicts
how its existence can have wider impacts to society, as well as to individuals who pursue it, as it
prompts confronting and provoking discoveries in individuals.
Discoveries can be fragmented, causing the process of discovery to be stagnated
Discoveries can be kaleidoscopic experiences, which fragment an individuals process of discovery and
stagnates their process of determining the truth. The non-linear narrative that parallels the narratives
of the Portugueses, Kurts, and Davids journey of discovery, conveys the fragmented nature of Davids
discovery of the Mahogany ship and his relationship with Claire, which is instigated by the discovery of
a Francis corpse, a plot device used to intentionally shift the narrative. It reflects upon Davids
incoherent process of discovery, which transitions rapidly between his exploration of Kurts story, the
revelation of his love for Claire, and his discovery of the Mahogany ships location and prior destruction.
Furthermore, due to the unreliability of sources, such as Kurt and documents regarding the ship, it
causes David to fragment his own process of discovery as he reconsiders the truthfulness of his
information. Kurts statement, How to tell this story, where to begin? Perhaps it begins in a storm,
employs the use of low modality language such as how, where, perhaps, to incite doubt into the
accurate of his recount. It becomes a labyrinth of mirrors, a metaphor for Davids continual reevaluation of his sources, which distorts his process of discovery. As a result, it contributes to more

pieces in a puzzle, which he can never complete, depicting how the abundance of unreliable
information from various sources cannot amount into a coherent form to produce the truth, which
conveys the fragmented discovery undergone by David.

REL ATED JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH (1864): JULES VERNE
Discovery can cause society and individuals to be confronted
This is paralleled in JCE, where the discovery of Earths habitable interior causes a radical shift in
societys understand of the world, and enlightens individual towards their preconceptions. Axel,
Professor Lindenbrocks nephew, is confronted by the surreal nature of their discovery, which is
conveyed through the linear first person narrative that allows the reader to realise how he is confronted
and provoked to accepting the truth of their discovery. He becomes a more enlightened individual as he
questions his own preconceptions, causing Him dreams with his eyes open, which depicts how he can
now appreciate the truth. The symbolism of the proto-human represents the historically confronting and
paradigm shifting nature of their discovery, depicting how it can change the way society perceives its
own history. It reflects on how science is made up of mistake, but they lead little by little to the truth,
depicting how discoveries can confront us with the truth and provoke individuals and society to
reconsider their perception of the world. Crucially it is underpinned by the symbolism of the encrypted
message, which depicts the extremely confronting nature of their discovery. It depicts how a previous
society had silenced the truth, demonstration the enormity to which individuals within society were
confronted, and ultimately unable to accept the truth. Thus through Axels personal enlightenment to
the truth and depiction of the radically impactful discovery of Earths habitable interior, it conveys the
confronting and provocative nature of discoveries to individuals and society.