Essay On Away By Michael Gow
Contention-As we know, Michael Gow’s ‘Away’ draws heavily from the lives of Australians after the Vietnam War. Coral and her journey to the Gold Coast after the loss of her son to the War is one major example of a transformational journey, physically and emotionally, and can be seen throughout the play as Michael Gow employs an abundant use stage props, movement and actions, and character intent to demonstrate the power of the journey she takes.
The emotional and physical journey undertaken by Coral after the Vietnam war may be evident in her use of props in act 5 of the play, described as “Coral comes in carrying her hat upside down,” followed by “she digs her hands into the crown of the hat and lifts out a handful of shells,” may be perceived
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The intense word choice of “huge” to describe the hat may further be seen as a symbol of grief and the mourning of her son’s death.
Coral and her husband, Roy’s journey to the Gold Coast can also be seen as both a physical and emotional venture as we can see the assumed release of anguish and mourning of Roy and Coral through the use of the beach’s shells. The physical metaphor of the “Shells” and them being placed in her hat may act as an emotional going ‘Away’ of grief and loss. Further the beach is often associated with relaxation and “letting go” of all worries which is also seen as a parallel to coral as her and her husband after the
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Unlike to Coral, Gwen’s character learns on her physical journey the importance of community rather than finding solitude within herself, but with solitude amongst other characters. Before Gwen and her family go on their holiday, at the orientation of the play, the punitive quote “They have no special privileges. No one asked them to come to this country,” may showing that implicitly she is ridding herself of any friendly conversation, detaching herself from any “lower class” citizens or immigrants of the time as she wants to uphold Australia’s pristine capitalist façade.
The (something) quote “no special privileges” highlights that as she is of the higher class, she is trying to reassert this power of her social superiority over Tom and his family, showing that before her holiday away Gwen feels that accepting change in Australia’s nation is a loss of power and rebelling against her baneful
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