The Journey
by A journey is defined as the movement from one place to another. However, not all journeys are physical; many can be imaginative or within oneself.
Nevertheless, the statement “The journey, not the arrival, matters” applies to each. The journey is considered more important that the arrival as it gives the traveller experience and opportunities which could have otherwise been nonexistent. These opportunities and experiences are what help the traveller develop and better themselves intellectually, psychologically and physically. This statement is supported in the following texts; “My Place” by Sally Morgan, 1987, Margaret Atwood’s “Journey to the Interior” and a cartoon by Golding called “Children on Board.”
‘My Place’ by Sally Morgan, 1987, is a subjective autobiography written in the first person. Within the autobiography are four different stories; Sally, Arthur, Gladys and Daisy. Each story presents an alternate history and intertwines with the other’s. The narrative conveys to the reader that inner journeys can completely change a person’s beliefs and, ultimately, their lives. It also communicates to the reader the importance of grasping to an inner journey in order to glean from it all that you possibly can.
The narrative is about Morgan trying to find her identity and her family’s place in history. Morgan says;
“I want to write the story of my own family… There is almost nothing written from a personal point of view about Aboriginal People. All our history is about the White Man.” [Pg. 161]
The use of first person in the narrative allows Morgan to personalise her story. This allows her to more easily convey her ideas and opinions and so gives the reader a greater understanding into the character’s persona, allowing them to sympathise with Morgan and her family, who were perpetrated by acts of racism. It is vital for the reader to be able to sympathise and understand Morgan’s character, as, without this understanding the book would become confusing and uninteresting. The comprehension of Morgan’s character is critical to understanding how and why she does the things she does, and so as the reader may view the transition of her persona as she passes through her journey.
“I decided that, when I grew up, I would never drink or marry a man who drank” [Pg.53]
Morgan uses selective detail to emphasise certain aspects of her journey. This selective detail allows Morgan to quickly and accurately communicate to the reader things such as the harsh racism against her family, and the joy of finding her roots without having to tell the entire story. The result of this is a short but detailed recount of events which have taken part in Sally’s journey, instead of a lengthy and mostly uneventful one. This gives the reader a richer understanding of her narrative and helps extract emotions from them, such as sympathy, in order to maintain a constant level of awareness as to what is happening in Morgan’s journey.
Liked it
