Last thoughts
Posted by Hil on February 14, 1998 at 20:25:05:
In response to Last two days of O&L, written by Kate on February 13, 1998 at 08:33:07
There are three ideas I have meant to discuss, but haven't got my act together, and now the time has run out. Maybe if I just mention them:
The theme of strength and weakness. Its encapsulated by the Prince Rupert's drop, but is echoed throughout the book in the characters, particularly Oscar and Lucinda.
The idea of 'ordinary working people'. I think Carey champions them. Lucinda longs to belong to them, but even among them, feels seperate. Its partly that she is female, but her inheritance is the particular millstone around her neck in this regard, and its why she doesn't mind betting it in the end. And why she is freed by losing it, so that she is forced to become a worker, and then find a place in the labour movement.
The langauge! the beautiful, vivid, amazingly detailed language! The images it gives us are so bright and dazzling, and always makes me think of what its like to return to Australia after being in a rather muted countryside like England.
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