Change, both physical and emotional is something integral to humans in order

to develop and reach new goals throughout their lives, in fact it’s something
we undergo on a daily basis. While some changes can be invigorating and
promote individuality, others can be isolating and painful. An insight into the
human experience of change, in various forms, and through various
perspectives, can be found in Rosemary Dobson's oeuvre of poetry, in
particular, ‘Young Girl at the Window’ (1944) and ‘Cock Crow’ (1965). ‘Young
Girl at the Window’ hones in on the personal experiences of 20th-century
women and their struggle to prove their worth in a patriarchal society leading
to a lack of confidence for change resulting in a stagnant life while, ‘Cock
Crow’ emphasises the need for women personas in particular, to embrace
change and break away free from the shackles of domestic responsibility.
Similarly, Ernest Hemingway’s 1925 short story ‘Now I Lay Me’ utilises the
unique perspective of an injured war soldier to reveal how past traumas can
prevent change from occurring altogether, leading to a life of unfulfilled
desires.

Rosemary Dobson’s (1944) ekphrastic poem ‘Young Girl at the Window’ was
perhaps inspired by the context of 1940s Australia and may have been
referring to the increased opportunities given to women in the workforce as a
result of WW2. However, the poem appears to place greater emphasis on
them being used to not having any opportunities and thus they are reluctant to
take these new opportunities and lack the confidence to push for change in
their lives. In her poem, Dobson repeatedly portrays change as being daunting
and not always positive, which is outlined by the persona’s lack of action
throughout the poem. This is depicted in the poem when Dobson demands,
“Lift your hand to the window latch/Sighing, turn and move away” whereby
the imperative tone in “Lift your hand” attempts to push the girl to do what she
is reluctant to do, which is to pursue what lies beyond. Furthermore, the
extended metaphor of the window, refers to the barrier between childhood and
adulthood and also the barrier between her comfort zone and what lays
beyond. However, the melancholic verb “sighing” suggests that the persona is
discouraged or has a lack of confidence to pursue the new life that awaits her.
Here, Dobson has expressed a very common paradox that humans want
change their lives but do not want to work to achieve that change. Moreover,
change is also in the poem as a personal journey. Dobson in the poem states
“Since time was killed” and “The fading air is stained with red” which utilises
violent imagery to portray her idea that change is painful and isolating, while
the “stained with red” may be a reference of girls developing into the stage of
menstruation or the “killing of time” with red being a direct and reference to
blood, again highlighting the sense of uncertainty and morbidity connected to
growing up and change. However, Dobson also portrays change as a
necessity for all individuals when she pens “Though grass and sheaves and
lastly, snow” which utilises an extended metaphor to reveal the variety of
experiences that make up life and how there will be both good times and bad
times but we have no option & Even though earlier in the poem she is
reluctant, she realises she must go on the journey. Dobson also tells the
reader that change is inevitable and we must go through it.

While ‘Young Girl at the Window’ explores the human experience of change
as being a daunting but necessary experience, Dobson’s (1965) poem ‘Cock
Crow’ explores the need for change in routine in order to promote self-growth,
however, certain responsibilities cannot be avoided. This is portrayed when
the persona expresses her “wanting to be myself, alone” which employs a first
perso imperative to show the persona admitting and declaring that they desire
a sense of isolation and freedom, to get some time to reflect on and gather
their thoughts. It can later be inferred that the persona is a mother and
attempting to escape the shackles of domestic responsibility, proving how
necessary a change of routine is for mental wellbeing. This is a direct
reflection of Dobson herself as she refers to her own conflict as a writer who
needs time to think and produce art. Dobson also portrays how there is a
balance between ones desire for change but also their current lifestyle and
responsibilities. This is epitomised when Dobson writes “And love that grows
about the bone.” which utilises a metaphor and corporeal imagery to
emphasise the paradoxical nature of the persona’s thoughts as she is free
from the cries and pain but also love, which is something she realises she
does not actually want to let go of. Dobson also pens “Three times I took that
lonely stretch/Three times the dark trees closed me round” which uses a
biblical allusion to express her feeling of betrayal to her family through her
changing her lifestyle whereby the three depicts Jesus predicting Peter’s
betrayal three times. Thus, through the various conflicting emotions, Dobson
teaches how change is necessary but can lead to a feeling of guilt when put
ahead of family responsibilities.

“I myself did not want to sleep because I had been living for a long
time with the knowledge that if I ever shut my eyes in the dark and let myself
go, my soul would go out of my body. “

imagery depicting death

He is reluctant to change as he is reluctant to move on from past traumas

"A man ought to be married. You'll never regret it. Every man ought to be
married."
"All right," I said. "Let's try and sleep a while."
Dialogue

His hesitance in the dialogue as well as him trying to change the topic shows him being reluctant to
move on to the next stage of his life which is marriage