Comparison Of Wilding's A Blow 'And A Kiss'

Discuss the way language AND stylistic features shape representations of ideas OR groups in the give short stories.

(essay response towards 2nd assessment)

The archetype of men being unafraid, strong and harsh has been repeated throughout history especially by authors. The two short stories, Michael Wilding’s ‘As Boys to Wanton Flies’ and Tim Winton’s ‘A Blow, A Kiss’ challenges the male architype and presents us with a different representation of man which is afraid, nurturing and gentle. Through the use of emotive, descriptive language and symbolism as well as the 3rd person viewpoints, onomatopoeia, repetition and metaphors, the authors offer us a new insight into the male gender, a man’s coming of age and they allow us to compare the

In the short story a man on a motorcycle gets in a crash and when Albie’s father goes to find help, Albie is force to take care of the man. During this period Albie shows a caring and nurturing attitude towards the man and the audience is able to see this when “He bent down and kissed the wet, prickled face. The sobbing stopped”. Through the use of the word ‘kissed’ it further implies Albie’s soft and nurturing side. This moment in the story is extremely important because it completely goes against the male architype of being harsh, by Albie kissing the man it shows that Albie is compassionate. During the entirety of the story Albie is holding the tilly lamp, this is extremely symbolic as it represents his innocence, but also he uses it as comfort. For example, when “the fallen man lashed out at Albie’s father and pulled him down to the ground by the ears and the two men locked limbs, and rolled on the bloody bitumen in the headlights of the truck. Albie did not move. He held the Tilley lamp tight until his thighs ached”. Through Winton’s use of symbolism and emotive language the audience is able to identify that Albie is challenging the male archetype by being nurturing and