Father And Child Gwen Harwood Analysis

¬¬¬How are contextual shifts in familial relationships and their significance revealed in One Day of the Year and Gwen Harwood’s poetry?
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The nature of familial relationships are ever-changing and can be strongly affected by the societal values and expectations of the time. This is underpinned in Alan Seymour’s One Day of the Year (One Day) and Gwen Harwood’s “Father and Child” as well as “Suburban Sonnet”. These texts explore how differences in ideas due to external influences can cause tension which can either further estrange individuals or bring them closer together. They also delve into how gender roles can greatly impact familial relationships.
An individual’s belief can be impacted by their social context and tension can develop

between people with opposing beliefs. Seymour’s portrayal of Hughie and Alf’s relationship in One Day underpins this idea. Hughie was brought up in the post-war period during which America had great influence on Australia’s pop-culture which thus impacted the ideas and values held by the youth at the time. Seymour’s employment of repetition of “Yank” in Alf’s dialogue “you’re copying the Yanks, wearin’ Yank clothes, singin’ Yank songs, rock an ruddy roll” reflects this notion by emphasising America’s influence but also serves to illustrate Alf’s “conservative” views and his condemnation of the changing society. In contrast, Hughie has adopted progressive views due to his tertiary education. Due to their differing views there is tension in their relationship as witnessed in their argument about ANZAC day. Hughie quotes his encyclopaedia and “[starts to read rapidly]” illustrating how his education has shaped his views. In addition, the stage directions of Hughie’s body language “[He turns away quickly, panting and trembling]” highlights Hughie’s frustration at his father due to his ignorant beliefs. Alf’s “furious” reply “You telling me what I’ve believed in is nothin’?” further amplifies the tense atmosphere highlighting the hostility between Alf and Hughie. This illustrates how relationships can be damaging because all that emerged from their conflict was anger and frustration thus this scene effectively conveys how opposing ideas can impose a strain on familial relationships .
Similarly, Harwood’s “Father and Child” mirrors these circumstances.

Initially, Harwood depicts the father as oppressive and “old no-sayer” which reflects the societal expectations at the time as fathers were supposed to be an authoritarian figure who were overprotective. This causes a strain on the relationship he has with his daughter as witnessed in the undertone of bitterness in “let him dream of a child obedient, angel-mild” which demonstrates the child’s resentment towards her father. Also, the juxtaposition between an “obedient child” which the father believes the child to be and the “horny fiend” the child sees herself as highlights the vastly different views of the child and her father. Harwood employs symbolism through the gun which represents power and authority. In an attempt to rebel, the child takes the gun and shoots an owl believing herself to be “master of life and death.” However, unlike Hughie this child is uneducated and unaware of the consequences of her actions . Harwood’s use of language referring to the owl as a “bundle of stuff” and as a “wrecked thing” underscores the child’s immature mentality. The “fallen gun” is a symbolic motif which illustrates how when faced with the reality of her decisions, the child regrets it. Her naivety highlights how she still needs her father. The use of verbs “I leaned my head upon my father’s, and wept” connotes vulnerability but also underscores a new closeness and understanding between the two. One Day and “Father and Child” both depict how societal influences can contribute to an individual’s view which can differ to others causing a strain on their relationship, however, the result due to this differ in each text. In One Day this causes Hughie and Alf to become more estranged whilst in “Father and Child” they are able to overcome this and come to a new understanding

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