The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Olive believes that Pearl's view of the lay off was a mis-judgement caused by the fact that it "was all different" this year. If she could have seen "just somethin'" of the way it normally was, she would have understood.

Do you agree with Olive? Support your view with evidence from the text, including two quotations.

You might consider the following in making your decision:

•In what ways is this year different?

•Is Olive's view of the lay off supported by anyone else?

•Why did Nancy get married?

•What does Johnny Dowd have to say about the house?

Make sure that you provide an argument with evidence. Post to your blog before Monday's lesson.

Based on the play, I think there is some sense in Olive’s argument that Pearl’s view of the lay off was a misjudgment. Unfortunately, Pearl joined Roo, Barney and Olive in the summer when everything seemed to change from previous years. Perhaps the main reason for these changes is the very presence of Pearl. It would not have been possible for the seventeenth lay-off season to have been anything like the past sixteen as Pearl took the place of Nancy for the first time, disrupting the foursome that enjoyed the past sixteen summers together. With Pearl joining the group, Roo, Barney and Olive were unable to continue on traditions of the past years, in particular, that of going to the Morrises’ for New Years Eve. The foursome is unable to attend the party at the Morrises because ‘the Morrises are cousins of Nancy’s’ (p.43). This is only one of a few changes caused by Nancy’s absence and Pearl’s presence.

Furthermore, the increasing age of the foursome has contributed to the change in tradition in the seventeenth summer. Firstly, Roo is unable to complete a full season of cane cutting, due to his older age hindering him from competing with the younger can cutters, which forced him find a job in the lay-off season. Working all day during the summer has left Roo tired and as a result, the group is not able to go out as much as in previous years. This is highlighted when, on New Year’s Eve, Olive reply’s to Barney’s suggestion of a night out, ‘Oh don’t go on, Barney. Can’t you see no one wants to go out? Roo is tired’ (p. 41). 

The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is categorised as modern realism. Write a paragraph explaining the characteristics of this style of drama and giving examples of how language is used in Act 1 Scene 1 in a way that is consistent with this style.  

Categorised as modern realism, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll portrays a very accurate idea of what life was like in Australia doing the 1950s. The play presents ideas on gender roles, social status and social expectations regarding marriage and relationships.

The play is set in an ordinary 1950s Australian home, and follows the lives of four average Australian men and women of the time. Through this setting, the audience is presented with a very typical household, thus allowing the play to be categorized as modern realism. The language used throughout the play further adds to the realistic nature of the piece. The characters also use quite colloquial language with plenty of Australian slang – such as ‘s’pose’ and ‘playn’’  - which further emphasizes the normal, day-to-day nature of the play.

The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Compare this New Year’s Eve to previous ones. How and why is it different? In what ways are the characters trying to make the best of things? What does this scene tell us about the themes of tradition and change?

The New Year’s Eve of the seventeenth summer appears to be quite different to past years. Firstly, instead of going out for New Year’s Eve to the ….  Roo, Barney, Olive and Pearl are at home playing cards. This is quite unsual, because in past years the foursome usually go out for New Year’s Eve and spend it with other friends, counting in the New Year. However, because Nancy has ‘left the group’ – having gotten married – the foursome are no longer able to go to the …. For New Year’s Eve. This change in company has altered the atmosphere of the group as the seventeenth summer is not the same as years of the past. Furthermore, Roo has been working all day and is quite tired, and is therefore not up to going out for the evening. However, the most significant difference to past years is the difference in age. The foursome are older than they were in previous summers, and as a result, they are not the some young couples that go out all evening. Thus, there age also hinders them from continuing the New Year’s Eve tradition of the past sixteen years.

This scene presents the audience with the idea that they do not like the change in tradition. The characters do not want to believe that things have changed and they are no longer the same people they were many years ago. They are almost in denial, blaming the change in tradition to the fact that Nancy is no longer present and thus their invitation for a New Year’s Eve party is no longer available, instead of realizing that they are older and different and not up to a typical New Year’s Eve of the past sixteen summers. 

The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Write a paragraph in which you compare the attitudes of Pearl and Olive to relationships as seen during Act 1.

Do you think the audience is positioned to agree with either character? If so, how is this achieved through the aesthetic features of the play?

Make specific reference to the play and include two quotations, one within a sentence and one which is separate.

Throughout Act 1 of the play, Olive and Pearl are presented as having very different attitudes to relationships. Olive is introduced as a very easy-going woman who is not affected by society’s perceptions or expectations. Olive prefers to ‘laugh every time [people] look down their noses at [her]’ (p.9). Rather, Olive is portrayed as valuing the decency of and individual – regardless of their marital status or occupation - instead of basing her judgments of others on whether they conform to social norms or not. This is clearly conveyed when Olive is defending her lifestyle and relationship with Roo to Pearl stating, ‘I’ve never come across anything more decent in my life’ (p.9). Through this argument, the audience is positioned to view Olive as a woman who does not necessarily conform to society’s expectations regarding marriage and relationships. Olive prefers to have a good relationship with Roo when he can, and does not feel the need to get married.

On the corollary, Pearl is presented as being extremely concerned with society’s perception of her as a woman. Pearl values respectability and following an ‘order’ associated with relationships and marriage. This attitude is conveyed as Pearl finds Olive, Barney and Roo’s relationship with one another  ‘not a decent way of living’ because none of them are married (p.9). Pearl describes their life style as ‘not altogether…decent like marriage’ (p.9). Thus, Pearl is ultimately presented as valuing respectability over a good and loving relationship. She finds it more important to conform to society, rather than appreciate a relationship for what it is.

While it is not completely obvious whether the audience is positioned to agree with either character, in Act 1 in particular, Pearl is introduced as very negative and almost unpleasant in her judgment of Olive and her relationships with Roo and Barney. On the other had, Olive is portrayed as easy-going and independent as she appreciates a person for who they are, rather than whether they are respectable in the eyes of society. Thus, in act 1, readers are positioned to agree with Olive’s attitudes because Pearl is presented as a character that should be disliked, and therefore her views should be disregarded. 

Pride and Prejudice - Mr Collins

How important a character is Mr Collins? Write a paragraph in response, clearly arguing your point of view. In developing your thesis, include a discussion of the way the reader is positioned to respond to him and the importance of this for dealing with at least one of the ideas underpinning the novel. Consider the work we have done in class on satire and irony as you plan your response.

In Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, the character of Mr Collins is very important as he representative of society’s view on love and marriage, however through the use of satire and irony Austen positions readers to respond negatively to Collins causing readers to disregard his opinions on love and marriage, and rather admire those of Elizabeth. Throughout the novel, Mr Collins is portrayed as insensitive and arrogant, particularly through his proposal to Elizabeth.  During his proposal he states ‘it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications’ (p.106). Through this comment Collins argues that he cannot take Elizabeth’s refusal seriously because he cannot believe that Elizabeth would not take this opportunity of marriage because she cannot expect to marry well due to her lack of wealth and connections. Such a comment appears as patronizing and insensitive to readers, and thus readers are positioned to respond negatively to the idea that marriage should be based on wealth and social connections, rather than love. Moreover, readers are further positioned to dislike Mr Collins as his self-regarding nature makes a mockery of his position as a minister. It is commonly expected of a minister to be a humble man of honesty, however Mr Collins’s motives for his role as minister are far from the aforementioned. His true motives are revealed when he describes himself as ‘distinguished’ and highly commendable’ (p.62). Austen uses Mr Collins to satirize the type of clergyman who grovels before the aristocrats on whom his livelihood depends. Thus, the reader is exposed to his sycophancy and his betrayal of his calling as a minister through the use of irony and satire. This portrayal of Mr Collins is crucial in allowing readers to understand society’s expectations regarding love and marriage, as well as positioning readers to disregard Collins’s attitudes and rather agree with those of Elizabeth.