Representations of Aboriginal People in the Novels of Kate Grenville, Doris Pilkington and Kim Scott

Bc. Lucie Lukešová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Tato diplomová práce rozebírá vyobrazení původních domorodých obyvatel Austrálie ve vybraných dílech. Pro srovnání jsem zvolila tři díla: “The Secret River” (2005) od Kate Grenville, “Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence” (1996) od Doris Pilkington a “True Country” (1993) od Kima Scotta. Ve své diplomové práci se snažím dokázat, že ačkoliv se tato díla liší stylem i formou, jejich záměr je velice podobný – všichni tři autoři chtějí přiblížit domorodé obyvatele Austrálie čtenářům. Dalším společným prvkem je snaha zachytit stinné stránky australské historie. V této diplomové práci se snažím poskytnout rozbor postav domorodých obyvatel převážně v souvislosti s jejich vztahy a to nejen co se týče mezilidských vztahů, ale také například pevný vztah k rodné zemi.

Abstract:

The thesis analyzes the representations of Aboriginal people in selected Australian novels. I have chosen three novels to trace and explore various kinds of portraying Indigenous people in literature. I examine and compare portrayal of Aboriginal people in Kate Grenville’s The Secret River (2005), Doris Pilkington’s Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence (1996) and Kim Scott’s True Country (1993). In my thesis I argue that despite the fact that they differentiate in their style and structure, their purpose is very similar – they represent the instrument of bringing Aboriginal people closer to non-Aboriginal readers. The most important thing they have in common is that they describe the dark sides of the history of Aboriginal people in Australia. The thesis provides the analysis of the Aboriginal protagonists mainly in terms of their relationships. Not only interpersonal relationships but also the relation to the land is analyzed.

Keywords

Aboriginal, part-Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal, Aboriginal people, Aboriginal writing, Indigenous inhabitants, white settlers, European settlement, relationship to the land, Australia, clash between cultures, Stolen Generation, storytelling, Kim Scott, Kate Grenville, Doris Pilkington, The Secret River, True Country, Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 1. 2009

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 30. 1. 2009
• Supervisor: Mgr. Martina Horáková, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature