Henry Lawson Essay Essay

M any(prenominal) of the short stories by Henry Lawson deal with isolation or mateship, however non many of them deal with a combination of the two. The characters in Lawsons stories have a strong sense of community, but they moldiness still stand solely in order to survive. well-nigh be alone because they must be, some because they want to be, some ar a definite part of a group and still remain alone. Some are non as alone as they may think. every these ideas are shown in Lawsons stories in one form or another, and some are easier to define than others.The type of isolation presented in The drovers Wife is one that is easily defined. She is left at space by her husband because the drought of 18 ruined him. He had to occur up the remnant of his flock and go droving again earning money for a family he ba affirm sees. This forces his wife to fend for herself, battling both the elements and her loneliness on her own. This isolation is one that she does not welcome, but one t hat she accepts because she must. She shows a resilience that is estimable and a strong character. Because she must look after her four ragged, dried-up-looking children she is not lacking of club, but lacking rather in support. She must blaspheme upon her own courage and wits to keep both herself and her children alive. This stops her from world alone in a physical sense but not in an emotional one. She deals with this situation well, and while she does not enjoy her isolation, she manages to continue her sanity.The Bush funeral under manoeuverr contrasts this in that there is a definite tincture of mental instability. The main character is alone out in the supply when he comes across what seems to be the corpse of an old mate, Brummy. He dialog to Brummy even though it is obvious that he knows Brummy is dead. This shows that while the Bush Undertaker is aware of the absurdity of his situation, his isolation has made him more receptive to any form of companionship, even th at of a corpse.He has no real polish that is mentioned in the story, so we assume that a lack of any company has unhinged his mind slightly. make up though he is talking to Brummy as if he were alive he still accepts the reality of Brummys demise, and buries him. He isnt doing this out of sheer practicality however for he makes the comment that Theer oughter be somethin sed Theer oughter be some sort o sarmin. And then proceeds togive the un warmth corpse a sermon at his burial. In this counselling while the bush undertaker is alone, the corpse of Brummy is not, as in death his mate is with him and supports him. While the bush undertaker is alone through demand there are examples within Lawsons stories of characters that actu eachy choose to be alone.In Water Them Geraniums Mrs. Spicer is frequently left alone with her children. She has a husband, who is rarely at home, and several children, but is alone in the sense of she has no support. Joe comments that I sup go underd, t he reason why she hadnt gone mad through hardship and loneliness was that she hadnt either the brains or the memory to go farther than she could see through the trunks of the apple trees. This may be far more accurate than he may think. She adamantly refuses the service of process of the Wilsons and tells her children not to say we was hungry if yer asked but if yer give us anythink to eat, we was to take it an say thenk yerThis passage shows even though Mrs. Spicer is alone by slipway support, her pride stops her from admitting her neediness, but it is enough to stop her from accepting alleviate which is offered. She says to Mary that she has got past carin for anythink now. I felt it a little when Tommy went absentBut Im over that now. Its this assumed pose of strong noble unconcern that makes her able to deal with the hardships, although some would lay out as to whether she deals with them well. She forces herself to stand alone in supporting her children, and in duration t his isolation caused by pride seems to be what kills her, for as Joe Wilson concludes It was some beat before we could believe that she was dead. But she was past carin right enough.Another of Lawsons stories that deals with isolation is Brightens sister-in-law which is also told from the perspective of Joe Wilson. However, at a time when Joe Wilson expects to be on his own, he finds steadfast befriend and caring support. While he and his son, Jim, are out bush Jim has a seizure. Joe panics, but has enough presence of mind to go looking for help. He finds help in the form of Brightens sister-in-law, a woman whose let on we never learn. She aids him, treats Jim and eventually manages to get Jim into a stable condition. throughout the story he hear mention of what seems to be a enormous emotional turmoil within this good Samaritan, asshe is described as both stoic and as crying while Jim is in the house. Even though it seems to cost her dearly, emotionally, she still treats Jim an d this shows how even though some may expect no help, sometimes fate intervenes.The stories of Henry Lawson deal with all these themes of isolation, and the theme that is strongest is that of survival, for even though all his characters seem to be clear alone or in company, most often they are alone in a sense that is an essential part of the power of his stories. They are alone in that they can rely upon, truly constantly rely upon, only one person.