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SKBK 6153 PARAMETERS IN COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
HAPPINESS - KATHARINE SUSANNAH PRICHARD
1) This tale is full of Aboriginal language and observations.
Why are these essential to our
understanding of the story?
This short story is told through the perspective of an old
Aboriginal woman about
things happen in her beloved Nyedee. Quite a number of
Aboriginal words can be seen from
the story, making it more interesting to be read. Through the
provided definitions of the
words, this narrative is understood more deeply. Readers are
able to picture Nyedee vividly,
not only the place, but also Nyedee people and the white people
there. This language helps
readers to be fair to this tale.
In addition, there are also Aboriginal observations portrayed in
this story as it is told
by an Aborigine. From her observations, readers do not only get
fair depictions of the
Aboriginals and their home, but also of the white settlers, John
Gray and his family. Nardadu
has shown us the reality happening in Nyedee especially the
relationship between leadersand followers or people.
2) How are Aboriginals treated by the white landowners?
There is no static treatment towards Aboriginals as the white
landowners sometimes
change ways of treating people. However, readers can conclude
that the Aboriginals are
treated not in a harsh way. John Gray really appreciate Nyedee
and its people, he even feel
hurt when his own sister, Megga talks negatively about Nyedee
(page 17). In addition, JohnGray also provides more and more sheets
of iron and painted wood, flour, sugar, tea, gina-
ginas; trousers, boots and hats for the men who ride together
with him though they are of
a lesser or smaller status.
Though John Gray does love Nyedee and its people, he sometimes
acts cruelly
specifically when he is under Meggas control. He even tells
everyone in the native camp to
not let dogs eat Meggas hens, or he will shoot them. This
incident has instilled hatred and
dissatisfaction in each and every Aboriginals hearts as Megga
only cares about her hens,
and John Gray loves and obeys Megga too much.
AFIFAH MOHAMAD RADZI
P74815
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3) How does Margie, Johns wife, cope with life on the Nyedee
homestead? What is the
source of her discontent?
Margie does not feel very happy living in Nyedee as she feels
small and unimportant
in the house. She stays at home and looks after the children
while waiting for her husband to
come home. Even though is she is the wife of the greatest man on
the Nyedee homestead,
she always has to give in as her sister-in-law holds the utmost
power.
The source of her discontent is Megga, her sister-in-law because
Megga has the
most attention in the house. No one will disagree or object any
instructions given by Megga.
Even her own husband prefers Megga then her. Not only that, if
both of them give
contradicting instructions, Meggas will always be chosen.
4) What does Nardadus comment that Megga had won, and lost
suggest as the end of the
story?
When Nardadu says Megga had won, and lost, she simply means
Megga may have
won something, but she loses something bigger or more important.
Thus, her winning
means nothing at all as it does not give her any sense of
happiness.
Yes, Megga has succeeded to banish Margie from the house, but
her two lovely
nieces whom she loves so much are also taken away from her. She
may feel upset with
situations at home when Margie is around, but the two girls are
her source of happiness. She
gets rid of the one hated person, and she loses her two loved
ones.
Not only that, her beloved brother, John Gray is no longer the
John Gray she knows.
With the fact that his wife and daughters are no longer around,
John Gray cannot be as
happy as he used to. This suggests that Megga has sacrificed her
happiness.
5) What defines happiness in this story?
Having read this story, there are quite a number of things which
indicate happiness
of many characters. The ultimate happiness is of course shown by
Nardadu as she opens the
tale by singing a song happily while watching other people
living their life and reminiscing
the past.
Happiness is defined by love; love towards family, love towards
other people, love
towards other creatures and love towards home. Rea ders can see
love in a family; Nardadu
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and Munga, John Gray and Megga, John Gray and Margie as well as
John Gray with Kinerra
and Minyi.
In addition, the love shown by John Gray to the people of Nyedee
clearly depicts
happiness. Because of this love, people respect John Gray and
always want to be around
him, they are happy doing lots of things together.
To conclude, love is what defines happiness in this story for it
lets people enjoy
every moment with their loved ones.
SIMILAR TEXT:
I have earlier read Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee
Divakaruni. Megga clearly reminds me of
this text as in the story, the women control and decide
everything and they are living life under
matriarchal system.
