Practice Essay:

In the renowned text ‘The Drover’s Wife’ by Henry Lawson, isolation plays an essential role in
illustrating the hardships faced by the unnamed protagonist- the drover’s wife, who lives alone with
her children in the callous Australian bush. The challenges that she confronts in the outback range
from emotional, social and physical isolation which impact her characteristics and her forthcoming
actions.

To begin with, Lawson depicts the protagonist’s physical peril using descriptive phrases mentioned in
the story. In the text, it is voiced how isolated she is numerous times due to her husband’s absence
in her life, but alongside that, it is cited that the nearest sight of civilization in 19 miles or 34
kilometres. After this bitter history is presented regarding the drover’s wife, Lawson goes on to
address the difficulties that she has encountered. The first one mentioned is “One of her children
died while she was here alone. She rode 19 miles for assistance, carrying the dead child.” As the
child was not named it symbolises how the mother has not gotten over the grief of losing her child.
Furthermore, in the book, it is also mentioned “Now and then, she lays down her work, and watches,
and listens and thinks.” As we infer this, it summarises that there is little to do in the landscape and
she is therefore, physically isolated.

Secondly, Lawson emphasises how the drover’s wife defies the emotional turmoil within her as she
confronts the dangers of the outback. Quoted in the book, it was said “One day she ‘sat down to
have a good cry’...” Once inferred, it is theorised that the protagonist doesn't have time to show her
emotions due to her being the sole parent managing the house and protecting her kids. This creates
an emotional hole within her. Mentioned in the book once more, it says “She is used to being alone.”
The monotony and anguish the author inscribes these words into the text just prove how hollow she
is inside and how she is unfortunately used to being alone, raising the kids alone, protecting them
alone, and caring her family alone. Furthermore, due to her living in the merciless bush, she is bound
to always protect her children, which causes her to develop a harsher version of herself. “She loves
her children, but has no time to show it. She seems harsh to them. Her surroundings are not
favourable to the ‘womanly’ or sentimental side of nature.” Therefore, the brutality of the outback
forces the protagonist to overlook her emotional challenges that she confronts.

In “The Drover’s Wife”, Lawson illustrates the theme of isolation to be significant and influential,
which affects the protagonist’s experiences and forthcoming actions. The character not only
becomes a prey to physical isolation, but she confronts social and emotional hardships also.
Alongside fighting the dangers of the callous, arid wasteland, the drover’s wife also has the liability
of safeguarding her children. The structure of the text revolves around survival and how it supports
her journey upon isolation. We grasp the fact that solitude plays an important role in everyone's
lives, and it impacts our actions considerably. “The Drover’s Wife” encourages us to reflect
determination, resilience and courage through times of isolation.