Decisions_Made_by_Will_Thornhill_in_the_Secret_River

Major Essay In Kate Grenville’s novel The Secret River Will Thornhill is forced to make many hard decisions which ultimately have concequences, either good or bad, which in turn have a major impact on his life and that of his family. Times were tough and many of Will decisions are made out of nessity rather than greed. Throughout the novel, Will only wants what is best for his family and and at his own risk will see to it that their needs are met. At page 37 in the novel Will Thornhill makes a very substaintial decision that will have a great baring on the rest of his life. The decision to marry Sal. This decision is not made for any other reason other than love. From the moment Sal’s character is introduced into the novel, their connection and fondness for one another is made clear to the reader. Will’s marriage to Sal will eventually save his life with it being her idea ask ‘creeping jesus’ to write the letter that see’s his charge of death reduced to transportation. Will’s marraige to Sal and the children that follow, shape Will’s life to the extent that every decision he makes will affect his family and their future. After doing his time as an apprentice Will is happy making his life on the River Thames, riding the tides and being master of his own vessel. But no matter how hard Will works it is still a daily struggle to meet the needs of his growing family which. The temptation of a quick and easy profit coupled with the desire to provide a better life for his family compels Will to make a decision that almost cost him his life. On page 55 in the novel Will and his accomplices decide to steal a load of Brasil wood. He is caught and finds himself in prison with his only hope, thatt of recieving a quick death. This does not eventuate but being transported to New South Wales as a convict was a direct consequence of his own actions and desire for a better life for him and his family. Although Will and his family were all transported together to New South Wales on the Alexander he did not get to see his wife or new born, son for nine months who was born mid-voyage while stopping over in Cape Town, and this took its toll on Will. His fate was unknown, but had the great fortune of being assigned the convict for his wife Sal. I reversal to the role he was used to playing within the family but was happy just to have his family back together again. Will would serve his time as a convict, alongside Sal in their hut making a decent living selling liqour, but Will would soon be back on the water. He takes up a job with Blackwood shipping supplies between the Hawkesbury and Sydney Cove. Will saw this as a great opportunity for him and his family. And an honest one at that, having no intensions of becoming a convict once again. He takes up a job with Blackwood shipping supplies between the Hawkesbury and Sydney Cove. Will was not to know how much impact the river would later have on him, but ever constant theme throughout the novel, one of his perserverence to provide for his family at any cost, would see him make this decision with not a moments thought. He falls in love with a point of land up the Hawkesbury River with the visceral desire for ownership of someone who has never been allowed to own anything. He dreams of his own hundred acres, of dignity and entitlement. It never crosses his mind, since the land is not settled, that it could already be owned. Will could see the way ahead for his family, and was Encouraged by his wife Sal, having her own motives, of one day returning back to England. At page 109 in the novel Will gradually summons the courage to inform his wife Sal of his idea’s, to take up land on the river like Blackwood had done. Intensions of providing his family with a free and prosperous life and being master of his own destiny inspires Will. The idea of owning his own piece of land was new to Will, and was something that would of never been attainable back in England. Never having been a farmer was of little significance to Will, pending his wife Sal’s approval, he would seize it. This decision would spawn his next, with even grander idea’s for him and his family. The loan of Mr King in order to buy The Queen of Mr Blackwood, would place a burden on Will he had never known. This would only make him strive harder. At page 109 in the novel Will gradually summons the courage to inform his wife Sal of his idea’s to take up land on the river like Blackwood had done, would later in the novel be a decision that he has trouble with, but one that he also comes to learn something from, both of himself, and the ‘savages’ the settlers so greatly feared. Will would over time learnt to respect the so called ‘savages’, appreciating how they live of the land, always having enough food, and plenty of time left over for recreation and general family life. Will envied this, which made him reflect on his own life and decisions he had made. Will learns that he can be supplied with convict labour which leads him to another realisation that bares consequences. Suckling reminds Will of his past on page 173, and on page 175 he comes to the conclusion, no matter what his future holds in New South Wales on The Hawkesbury River, back in England, Will Thornhill will always be a convict and his climb up the social ladder would always be hindered by that fact. If he and his family were to have the life they had always dreamed of, it would have to be right here in New South Wales in the new colony. At page 193 in the novel, Will decides it’s time to create some clear boundaries with the ‘savages’ saying ‘’ I’ll step down and have a word’’. This decision would have a great impact on the up until now, little interaction with the ‘savages’ forging a new relationship with them, through a mutual problem. This new interaction with the ‘savages’, evolves into a new found respect of behalf of The Thornhill’s with Will’s son Dick taking a noticeable interest. Will learns that they are not just ‘dumb savages’, through this new relationship with them. This is a direct concequence of his actions on going to see them that day to ‘have a word’ and forging this new relationship. In conclusion on page 226 Will and his family trade with the natives and they become more and more a part of their lives. This decision to befriend the natives ultimately has dire consequence for the Thornhill’s, one that Will will come to regret.