Analysis Of Mark O 'Connor's Coming Home Strong' By Henry Morrison

For over 100 years, Australian poetry has reflected many themes that reveal the changing nature of the Australian identity. The values, attitudes and ideas that were developed about Aborigines have helped reflect the changing nature of Australian society. In the poem, ‘The Last of His Tribe’ by Henry Kendall helps reflect the ideas that were first introduced during the early pioneering era. ‘The Coloured Digger’ by Sapper Bert Beros helps the readers understand the changing nature of Indigenous culture, during the war era. ‘Coming Home Strong’ by Mark O’Connor helps reflect the gradual acceptance of Aborigines during the contemporary era.

During the pioneering era, Indigenous Australians were seen as a dying race, with many believing the future

During this era, Aborigines have to work to maintain their cultural identity, while at the same time find a place to fit within the complex multicultural society Australia has become (Aboriginal People Today, 2011). Coming Home Strong by Mark O’Connor offers a very similar representation of the Aborigines as to Bero’s The Coloured Digger. The words that he writes about Cathy Freeman and her historic victory reveals the values, attitudes and ideas that majority of the people were learning to accept. O’Connor influences the readers to understand the suffering that the Aborigines had to endure during The Stolen Generation. The use of metaphor helps demonstrate Freeman overcoming her own challenges and goals, but still struggling to accept what happened to her people: “Running into that ocean roar of welcome – with the face of a hurt child striving”. O’Connor’s words help further the idea, as he reveals society’s values and attitudes in learning to accept Aborigines. Connotative language is used to influence the readers to understand O’Connor’s perspective on been able to give recognition to Aborigines: “Our own corroboree - striped Phantom – ghost who runs in pain – to a lap of honour with a double flag”. Using the words ‘our own’ shows the acknowledgement and positive attitude that white Australians have developed towards Aborigines. The value of O’Connor’s poetry helps reflect the change across all era regarding Aborigines. Connotative language is used to help the people understand how monumental her victory was, and how much impact it will have: ‘…but yours was a victory that meant –and what it meant will grow’. Through his values, attitudes and ideas, the readers are influenced to understand O’Connor’s Coming Home Strong and representation of the