Distinctively Visual is something outstanding
that is visualised, foreseen or thought of. A
language that shows the similarities visually
and differences between characters, themes
and setting that we get a distinct visual
image from.
In class we studied the Australian writer and
poet Henry Lawson… his short stories use
imagery, symbolism, evocative language and
other techniques that appeal particularly to
the visual senses, audiences can imagine or
envisage what is being represented clearly in
their minds. The way that Lawson creates
visual images in his texts contribute to the
themes, concerns, meaning and overall
impact of his short stories.
The descriptions of the land surrounding her
family house Lawson paints it as a harsh,
isolating, flat, “bush all-round”, and no
horizons. No ranges, stunted rotten native
apple trees, no undergrowth, and no
civilization for nineteen miles and secluded
by loneliness. It isn’t a very flattering
description of somewhere to live but she is
used to this life and its loneliness and would
now feel strange if she was to move away
from it. The house, the main area in which
the Drovers wife has encountered most of
her hardships is not one that you would like
to spend your life in. Although this house is a
mere shelter and offers little protection from
anything that
Circumstances in which people live by in the
bush as a result from social injustice. The
statement that implies that the bush
workers are only differentiated by their hat
or facial expression further supports the
theme of social injustice and its universal
impact amongst bush communities. The
train passes and Lawson only witnesses so
little… a pub and a general store, the main
components of bush towns, yet their maybe
the occasional building which is unique yet
the foundation of the town makes every
town alike. This implies the widespread
effect of the barren landscape and the
hopelessness of the people searching for
The two texts I’ve decided to compare and
contrast together is “The Drovers Wife” and
“In A Dry Season.” The main themes in The
Drovers Wife that I will be touching upon are
loneliness of being in the bush and also the
hardships that the bush presents to the
woman in comparison to “In A Dry Season”
where the main theme being explored is
social injustice.
Firstly, The Drovers Wife shows you the life
conditions and the struggle of a housewife
whose husband is a drover. Being left on her
own the drover’s wife develops resilience as
a result of the hardships she has faced over
the years in her lonely surroundings.
Threatens to take it over or take it away e.g.
snake, fire. The Drovers wife admirers her
house and has accepted what she has been
given and doesn’t dwell on what she hasn’t
got. This relates back to one of the themes
of hardships and how the wife has to adjust
to the aggravating conditions of the Nature
that she is constantly fighting against and
never wins. Whereas in the short story “In A
Dry Season” the main theme explored is
social injustice and it’s evident throughout
his monotonous train journey to Bourke and
the harsh conditions of the outback. The
harsh conditions of the bush conveyed are
metaphorically representing the
Work. In A Dry Season focusses on the
landscape of the bush and the setting in
which the characters are associated with.
Lawson understands and experience of the
bush life allows us to develop an
understanding of the setting as it provides
the opportunity for us readers to gain a Commented [Office1]: Lack of individuality and
visual understanding of every adjective and creativeness in the bush
colloquial language used. To conclude my
speech distinctively visual is interpreted and
portrayed differently in both “The Drovers
Wife” and “In A Dry Season” the drovers
wife we paint an image in our head that is
Dry and blunt because of Lawson’s
description on the environment. On the
other hand “The Drovers Wife “Lawson
perceives distinctively visual differently, he
makes the story very socially isolated, harsh,
writes about the hardships the women has
to face in the bush alone. Thank you.