Henry Lawson Essay Essay

Many of the short stories by Henry Lawson hand with closing off or mateship, however non many of them deal with a combination of the two. The characters in Lawsons stories have a strong sense of community, exactly they must still stand altogether in order to survive. Some are entirely because they must be, some because they want to be, some are a definite part of a group and still remain alone. Some are not as alone as they may think. All these ideas are shown in Lawsons stories in one form or another, and some are easier to fructify than others.The type of closing off presented in The Drovers Wife is one that is easily defined. She is left at home by her husband because the drought of 18 ruined him. He had to sacrifice the remnant of his flock and go droving again earning money for a family he barely sees. This forces his wife to fend for herself, battling both the elements and her solitariness on her own. This isolation is one that she does not welcome, but one that she acce pts because she must. She shows a resilience that is admirable and a strong character. Because she must look after her quad ragged, dried-up-looking children she is not lacking of company, but lacking rather in support. She must rely upon her own courage and wits to keep both herself and her children alive. This softens her from cosmos alone in a physical sense but not in an emotional one. She deals with this situation well, and go she does not enjoy her isolation, she manages to retain her sanity.The provide Undertaker contrasts this in that there is a definite tone of mental instability. The main character is alone out in the bush when he comes across what seems to be the corpse of an old mate, Brummy. He talks to Brummy even though it is obvious that he knows Brummy is dead. This shows that while the Bush Undertaker is aware of the absurdity of his situation, his isolation has made him more receptive to any form of companionship, even that of a corpse.He has no real goal th at is conjure uped in the story, so we assume that a lack of any company has unhinged his mind slightly. Even though he is talking to Brummy as if he were alive he still accepts the creation of Brummys demise, and buries him. He isnt doing this out of sheer practicality however for he makes the comment that Theer oughter be somethin sed Theer oughter be some sort o sarmin. And then harvest-tide togive the uncaring corpse a sermon at his burial. In this way while the bush undertaker is alone, the corpse of Brummy is not, as in cobblers last his mate is with him and supports him. While the bush undertaker is alone done necessity there are examples within Lawsons stories of characters that actually choose to be alone.In Water Them Geraniums Mrs. Spicer is frequently left alone with her children. She has a husband, who is rarely at home, and several children, but is alone in the sense of she has no support. Joe comments that I supposed, the suit why she hadnt gone mad through hard ship and loneliness was that she hadnt either the brains or the memory to go farther than she could see through the trunks of the apple trees. This may be far more accurate than he may think. She adamantly refuses the help of the Wilsons and tells her children not to say we was hungry if yer asked but if yer give us anythink to eat, we was to take it an say thenk yerThis passage shows even though Mrs. Spicer is alone by ways support, her pride stops her from admitting her neediness, but it is enough to stop her from accepting help which is offered. She says to Mary that she has got past carin for anythink now. I felt it a little when Tommy went awayBut Im over that now. Its this faux pose of strong noble unconcern that makes her able to deal with the hardships, although some would argue as to whether she deals with them well. She forces herself to stand alone in supporting her children, and in while this isolation caused by pride seems to be what kills her, for as Joe Wilson concl udes It was some time before we could believe that she was dead. But she was past carin right enough.Another of Lawsons stories that deals with isolation is pull ins sister-in-law which is also told from the perspective of Joe Wilson. However, at a time when Joe Wilson expects to be on his own, he finds steadfast help and caring support. While he and his son, Jim, are out bush Jim has a seizure. Joe panics, but has enough presence of mind to go looking for help. He finds help in the form of Brightens sister-in-law, a woman whose name we never learn. She aids him, treats Jim and eventually manages to get Jim into a stable condition. Throughout the story he hear mention of what seems to be a great emotional turmoil within this good Samaritan, asshe is described as both stoic and as crying while Jim is in the house. Even though it seems to cost her dearly, emotionally, she still treats Jim and this shows how even though some may expect no help, sometimes fate intervenes.The stories of Henry Lawson deal with all these themes of isolation, and the theme that is strongest is that of survival, for even though all his characters seem to be clearly alone or in company, most often they are alone in a sense that is an essential part of the power of his stories. They are alone in that they can rely upon, truly constantly rely upon, tho one person.