Change_Essay_-__In_the_Park__-_Gwen_Harwood,_and__In_the_Country_of_Men__-_Hisham_Matars

------------------------------------------------- How have composers used texts to explore different concepts of ‘Change’' Change is always present in today’s society. Many composers use change as a basis for their texts. Gwen Harwood’s In The Park, Hannah Roberts Sky High and Hisham Matars In The Country of Men all share concepts of change. These texts all present that there is a change from childhood to adulthood as more responsibilities arise. In In The Park the woman realises her life has changed after marriage and she feels having children has taken her life away. Roberts Sky High tells how the woman has lost her carefree attitude from her childhood and Matars In The Country Of Men tells us the story of a summer where a nine year old boy changes his attitude on life, where his mother was forced into a marriage and to have him as a child. Marriage is a big catalyst for change. Some mothers are forced into a marriage and for some their children have taken over their life. In In the Park the woman sitting in the park is unhappy with her life, and says that her children have taken over. Harwood uses an enjambed line to make you think twice about her lost love, “Someone she loved once passes by – too late to feign indifference”. It’s the pause at the end of ‘too late’ that makes you realize it’s too late for him. Similarly In In The Country Of Men Mama starts telling the story of her childhood where she dated boys unknown to her parents, this was not accepted in Libya. She uses her flashbacks to tell Suleiman her stories. “Your daughter is fourteen, and is already spending her days in cafes with strange men.”(p147). When her father heard about this he immediately condemned her to marriage. Mama had to immediately marry a man nearly double her age, changing her life dramatically. In both these texts marriage has lead to children which has created change. Children can alter and transform a parent’s view on the world. Children can become a hassle and a burden to their parents. In The Park is set in the 1960’s a time when a woman’s main role was to be a good wife and a good mother, however the woman tells us in this poem that her children aren’t fun. Harwood uses figurative language to portray the mother’s view that her children “have eaten [her] alive”. This metaphor is quite harsh and suggests the children have drained her sanity, and thus ruining her life. While Harwood portrays children as a burden, Matar in his text shows that children can be a saviour. In the Country Of Men is set in 1979 Libya, at that time the culture was for women to marry early and bear children, so they could look after the children while the husband grew old. Mama didn’t want to have a child but once she had Suleiman she was glad that she didn’t take the drugs that would’ve prevented her from having children. Mama reveals her inner thoughts through her dialogue. “You are my miracle... I didn’t know you were going to be beautiful, fill my heart” (P12). Parenthood is affected by how your children act and can change your attitude The transition from childhood to adulthood can revolutionize your life. When you are a child, your view on the world is sheltered and you have a carefree attitude. In The Country of Men is told from the eyes of a nine year old. Written as a flashback, and during this flashback Matar slowly builds Suleiman's character, he goes from being a sheltered boy, to learning about his Baba’s role in the revolution to becoming a wise man at the end of the novel. Suleiman’s innocence is taken when his neighbour, Ustath Rashid is taken away, and later when he goes to wake his Mama, “Wake up, Baba’s name is on television” (P115). Robert’s Sky High also is told as a flashback, the woman is looking back on her childhood when she was free to do what she wanted. After her flashback, the woman realises that she can’t swing on the clothesline as “There are too many things tying me to the ground” This figurative language is used to emphasise the change, as literally there is nothing tying her to the ground, only her thoughts, and old body prevent her from swinging on the clothesline. Growing in age and maturity has been shown by the effects of a flashback, they are a way to witness change, as it shows the before and after. In the world today, change is always occurring. Growing up, gaining maturity, getting married and having children are the main basis for change in these texts. These notions of change are present in Gwen Harwood’s In The Park, Hannah Robert’s Sky High and Hisham Matar’s In the Country of Men. In the Park shares a woman saying she has lost her life and her children have taken it away. Sky High is a flashback to childhood while reflecting on a change in age and In the Country of Men tells how marriage and gaining knowledge through maturity changes your view of your country. Different aspects of change are always present in text, but the aspects can cover many different views. Word Count: 873 Bibliography: Matar, Hisham. In the Country of Men. London: Penguin, 2007. Print. Harwood, Gwen. In The Park. 1963 (Poem) Roberts, Hannah. Sky High. From 2001 HSC Stimulus Booklet