Cloudstreet

Cloudstreet

Besides providing an interesting story line, texts may portray

attitudes and values connected with many aspects of the society in

which they were written or represent. This is the case in the novel,

Cloudstreet, in which values and attitudes of Australian life are

presented in the story of two families sharing one house. The author,

Tim Winton, may have directed these attitudes and values at the

Australian society to provide the people involved within, an

understanding of themselves and their culture, and also make an

attempt at pushing his own interpretation of them. In Cloudstreet,

Winton has effectively used the role of the woman and the man to

express more modern attitudes and values of Australian life. Lester

and Oriel Lamb are prime examples of this. Being the man of the house

(or half of the house), it is usually expected that Lester go out and

work hard for his money, to come home to a wife who supports him and

looks after the house and kids. But this is not the role he plays in

Cloudstreet, in fact the complete opposite. Lester is portrayed as a

sensitive man who cooks and cleans regularly, helping out with many of

the household chores. He never seems to have a quarrel with Oriel, his

wife, having most of the control of the family.

Essay 2

Textual integrity requires a composer to be constantly aware of all

the elements of a work, especially the writer’s values. Discuss the

relationship, textual integrity and values in your understanding and

interpretation of Cloudstreet. Textual integrity is important in the

construction of a novel. It makes the readers more aware of the

author, Tim Wintons intentions. A personal interpretation of

Cloudstreet includes the characters values, the...

... middle of paper ...

...ld relive her life in Geraldton as that gave her

an identity and thus a sense of place. Throughout the novel all

characters embark on a journey to reveal their sense of place. This

journey gives the readers a greater insight into Winton’s characters.

Winton portrays a sense of place as having a range of different

qualities to each character in the novel Cloudstreet. A sense of place

can give a character an identity, which alters the way in which other

characters perceive and relate to them. Some characters find that

their sense of place is an escape and comfit to them. A lot of

characters in Cloudstreet search for this sense of place in order to

feel comfort and recognition. In the case of Quick Lamb, he tends to

find comfit in being outdoors. Quick decides to move out of

Cloudstreet and move to the outback where he believes he will have a

sense of place.