Inner_Journey-_Alibrandi,_My_Place,_the_Road_Not_Taken

“Journeys always challenge and change the people involved” Inner journey is a reflective journey of the mind and spirit filled with uncertainty, challenges and conflicts as one undergoes development towards a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. The growth we derive from such journeys can present us with an avenue for self-discovery and self-evaluation, leading us to challenge and perhaps even change our ways of thinking. A physical journey accompanies and ignites the inner journey, and is often the catalyst for change in the individual. The concept of journey is prevalent in the prescribed text ‘My Place’, an Australian novel composed by Sally Morgan, ‘The Road Not Taken’, a poem by Robert Frost and in the non-prescribed text ‘Looking For Alibrandi’ written by Melina Marchetta. ‘My Place’ is as a journey of silence to speech for the composer Sally Morgan. From being identified as a ‘grubby five year-old’ in her youth, Sally develops into a mature adult with a distinct awareness of her Aboriginality and heritage. The techniques of symbolism and dramatic irony are used to portray the inner journey of Sally Morgan. Symbolism is found in the preparation for Sally’s wedding, where Mum and Nan attempt to cover the bare earth with fake plastic flowers. The bare soil is representational of the Aboriginal people, their love and respect for even the most arid land. In contrast, the plastic flowers are commonly linked to florists and white society. This conveys to the responder Mum and Nan’s ongoing attempts to conceal their Aboriginality. Dramatic irony is implemented when sally and family decide to name their new dog “Blackie” but then decide to change the name later on. Sally is, at this stage, oblivious to her Aboriginality and the implications the word “Blackie” carries. At this point, the responder is aware of sally’s complete lack of aboriginal identity in her life. ‘My Place’ is a journey of ignorance to self-knowledge and actualization for Sally. Sally’s physical journey to Corunna Downs (Ch. 28) was the catalyst for this change. She discovered many of her previously unknown family members and could now relate to a new identity. • She changes internally and externally by the end of her respective journey. New found Identity as a proud and cultured Aboriginal with a mature outlook. • A desire to effect similar change throughout society and use the individual’s journey as a greater catalyst for widespread change “I’m going to stand up and be counted” • Her impact on others e.g. Gladys- “to think I nearly missed all this. All my life I’ve been only a half person. I don’t think I realized how much of me was missing.” The journeys of Sally Morgan and Josephine Alibrandi in ‘Looking For Alibrandi’ are similar in the sense that they were both individuals who were challenged and changed, internally and externally, by the end of their respective journeys. Interestingly, both are presented in a first person narrator’s tone- Sally Morgan’s newly-found identity as a proud and cultured Aboriginal with a mature outlook, and Josephine Alibrandi’s proud Italian commitment and affection, devoted to its rituals and customs. Josephine Alibrandi, the chief protagonist, embarks on her journey of discovery throughout the novel. The journey reveals much about herself, her family and the many lessons that she is yet to learn in her life. These discoveries not only challenge Josephine, they change her too as she begins to develop her own personality while growing up. She alters her perspective on many issues- including her culture, family, own identity, and the importance of social standing and wealth. Her changes are internal, external and a combination of both. For example, her perspective of her grandmother changes from viewing her as a nagging old woman with her “main objective in life at the moment is to get on my grandmother’s nerves”, to establishing a loving, caring and respectful relationship with her. Another challenge and change in Josie can be witnessed through her relationship with her father, Michael Andretti. Josie’s father coming to live in Sydney was an external cause of change and Josie’s initial reaction was hostile and antagonistic due to her belief that her father had betrayed her mother and reigned on his role as a father. However, the challenge her father brings undoubtedly changes her perspective and their relationship develops into a fun, often jocular one as can be seen when Josie says to her dad, “me, sarcastic' Surely you jest”. Her father’s role in threatening legal action over a fight by his daughter and Carly Bishop, is the very point in Josephine’s inner journey where she has a change of perspective. Even her father has reconsidered his position with his daughter. Initially he thought of Josie as a “complication in his life”. But as their relationship grows he declares, “If I had to choose a daughter, I would have chosen you”. Jospehine grows from “a wog girl” at an exclusive eastern suburbs school full of “blond yuppies or European trendies” to one of the more popular girls in the school. When she discovered from sister Louise that she was voted school captain but was given the role of vice captain instead, this was a great confidence boost for her. “I knew deep down that I was wrong and I think that my emancipation began at that moment” The ‘Road Not Taken’ a poem by Robert Frost is essentially a metaphorical journey reflecting an inner journey where the focus is reflection on the choices made in life. Written again as a first person narration, it forces the responders to question their own life choices by placing them in the same predicament as the persona. The extended metaphor of the two roads diverging becoming significant in representing the various choices and challenges faced in life, with their varying qualities and endless opportunities as often being unknown, while the use of the word “diverged” exemplifies the fact that it is impossible to proceed down both paths. This can be juxtaposed to ‘My Place’ as Sally often has to make decisions and confront challenges such as getting Daisy to talk about her past. Frost adopts a contemplative tone throughout the poem through the use of punctuation and hyphens- as if the persona is pausing in thought. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I…” to accentuate the possible implications of the choice to be made. The first person narration of the poem links closely to Sally Morgan’s my place, allowing the responder to feel engaged and understand the texts on a more personal level. The persona is seen to have reached some sort of understanding and realization as he forges his own destiny by taking “the road less travelled by”, without any hints of regret evident in the imperative statement “And that has made all the difference” Through the use of metaphors, alliteration, symbolism, rhyme, rhythm, and the use of first person, Frost allows the audience to relate to the situation. Lexical chain of ideas essentially involves the character trying to decide on a life decision with difficulty, finally making a decision (taking up the challenge), and eventually realising that it is in the process of making this decision, rather than the result of the decision, that the individual character develops and changes. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the three texts combined reiterate the concept of journey and especially how challenges change people- be it through values, attitudes, beliefs and appearance by the completion of the journey. An inner journey is often accompanied or caused by a physical one, which is the means for change interally. Sally Morgan, Josephine Alibrandi and the persona in “The Road Not Taken”, in their growth and development outlined in each of their respective texts, follow this basic notion and pattern that journeys are always challenging and hence, further convey that journeys indeed change the people involved whether or not the end result is a happy-ending or not. Life is full of challenges. No-one’s life is ever totally free of troubles or struggles. People have to deal with illness, disappointment in love and relationships, natural disasters, war, even death. No one can grow in ‘self knowledge’ and ‘self identity’ without facing up to the challenges of life.