This post is a great read for anybody, but it will be especially intriguing for:
Teachers of Unit Four VCE English, Area of Study One
Students studying these texts as a part of VCE Reading and Comparing Texts
Those who enjoy either of the texts and would like to read something new.
Readers and viewers of The Longest Memory and The Seven Stages of Grieving are confronted with an awful reality when seeing the impacts of power and abuse upon an oppressed people. So, what can be said when comparing these texts that goes beyond the initial reaction of disgust, discomfort and sympathy? How can we inspire students to discuss the far reaching effects of racism rather than just simply pointing out that it exists and that it has a profound impact upon people?
One of our greatest challenges when teaching this pair is having students compare beyond the fundamental injustices experienced by characters and the abhorrent attitudes held by those in power. In order to do this, we can provide students with thought provoking questions which drive them towards thinking of the impacts of racism and the differing ways in which the characters react to such treatment and how they cope within this world.
Certainly similarities exist between Whitechapel and the woman in their pain and grief reaching a point where they “feel nothing”. Whitechapel’s attitude may be perplexing for students and this is definitely a point for in-depth discussion around whether he has accepted his fate as a way of coping or he has been so drastically impacted by those in power that acceptance is the only rational option available to him. Whereas Whitechapel is presented to readers as an old man who has been literally and figuratively beaten and broken by a system that governs his life, the woman from The Seven Stages of Grieving is able to show the audience the process that may lead one to ultimately end up this way. She talks of being “taught to cry quietly” and admits that she is “scared her heart is hardening”. Through this, we can begin to appreciate the effect of power upon an individual and the impact it can have on their sense of self. The woman’s reflection that “to be shamed out like that eats your spirit, your life” is indicative of the process of grief and spiritual degradation that eventually leads to characters such as Whitechapel being so awfully accepting of themselves and their place within the world.
Further to how the characters see themselves, comparisons can also be made through the examination of what various characters across the texts do to cope. The Seven Stages of Grieving moves quickly through a range of scenes, all with their own unique viewpoint of the indigenous Australian experience throughout history. The solemnity of funerals and photographs and the discussion of the “destruction of the cycle” is complemented by scenes such as “Murri Gets a Dress”, which aims to use humour to point out the everyday discrimination and challenges experienced in a more contemporary setting. The experience of being an Aboriginal Australian and the grief and sorrow that comes with that is presented as a constant presence of sadness, annoyance, grief and anger. Even Aunty Grace, who flees from her life, is brought to immense sadness and grief upon emptying her belongings and filling her suitcase with earth. The Longest Memory also examines this manner in which people learn to cope. The“two types of slave” are outlined; "the slave who must experience everything for himself before coming to an understanding” and the “brighter” slave who “lives longer”. Hope becomes a point for discussion, as to whether it is helpful or hurtful for the characters can be debated by students. Ultimately, ensuring that students don’t see purely the similarity of racism being hurtful, or the main point for comparison being that it’s two different countries and different points in time is important. Rather, the experience and the impact of racist attitudes, and the experience of those who were forced to endure a life so heavily impacted by such attitudes, is where the most insightful comparison will come from.
When looking to challenge students to a more thorough comparison of text, analysis of the structure of the novella and play can be vitally important. Having students consider the perspectives given in either text can be a gateway to insightful comparison. That we hear from the white plantation owners and read from "The Virginian” is important in that The Longest Memory provides a harrowing account of the horrors of slavery, whilst highlighting all of the viewpoints and attitudes which contributed to such a world. Where The Seven Stages of Grieving differs is in it being solely the voice and experience of indigenous Australians. The presence of power and exploitation comes through reports and the character reaction to situations throughout. Predominantly, the experience of long held grief is conveyed and the audience are led to consider the situation from a position of empathy. Both D’Aguiar and Enoch & Mailman are able to capture the experience of a group that has been at the mercy of a powerful society that has perpetuated ideas that have seen them oppressed. The way that readers/audience come to understand that does differ and can be a source of rich comparison.
Following the experience of grief and sorrow, and the multiple perspectives from which we come to understand this, the texts both grapple with the idea of a possible resolution. Whilst readers of The Longest Memory are aware that slavery does eventually end, they are left to question the legacy of such a system and the impacts that it still has in a contemporary context. Characters within the novella believe that the practice of slavery will eventually come to an end, perhaps “in the next century” and whilst this can be seen as a sign of hope, the glacial pace of the change further illustrates the strength of the attitudes held by the society and the challenges in changing these. The Seven Stages of Grieving exhibits a stronger sense of hope in that the timeline of history is considered and culminates in the final scene ‘Walking Across Bridges’. Whilst there is definitely not a sense of true reconciliation, there is an atmosphere of hope that it is achievable. Enoch and Mailman’s link between the five stages of dying and the seven phases of aboriginal history allows the audience to view injustices of the past as something which can be learned from and that if people can look to understand each other, then perhaps reconciliation is possible. Our knowledge that slavery was eventually abolished allows us to see The Longest Memory as a period of history, yet one that can still be learnt from. The Seven Stages of Grieving differs in that its ending is still unresolved, and audience members are able to consider the future having now seen the experience of Aboriginal Australia in the past.
Ben Taylor - The English Lab
If you have any comments or queries about this pair or anything else related to VCE English, be sure to contact us at ben@englishlab.com.au
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