Participant 3. In each section, how has the reader been positioned to react to events, characters and issues?

Consider what the reader knows (or doesnt) at any point, what point of view on events is dominant and whose perspective is not considered. Consider why the reader is likely to be more sympathetic to some characters than others. In chapter one, where Nanberry first encounters the Europeans, we feel his confusion on who these strange people were. At this point the reader, assuming they have no other background knowledge on the subject, would assume the white people would leave, just as Nanberry states "life would go on, in its proper seasons, as it always had before. The white ghosts would go away." As we continue the story we learn of Surgeon White, a surgeon aboard the first fleet. The reader positions him as a leading character in this story, and his perspective on the arrival in Sydney Cove leads us to believe he is an intelligent and well respected man. We are led to believe he is disappointed with the convicts, making us believe they have a lack of work ethic and are extremely lazy. We begin to feel sorrow for him as we learn that he longs for a family and was bought here against his will. In chapter three we meet Maria, whom is portrayed as a hard-working, loyal slave to Surgeon White, although he treats her well. She agrees that the convicts are lazy and don't do their fair share of work. We are lead to believe she is quite a positive person as she quotes "but at least she could keep her house clean" when everything else was going wrong. We, the reader, are shocked when we learn of her age (15) and this leads us to wonder how we would feel being in the same situation. Although she is repelled by the o'possum at first, her curiosity about it makes us believe she is becoming fond of it. We feel fear for her when she talks about a possible smallpox epidemic. Finally, the author proposes a possible romance between Maris and Jack. In chapter 8, we feel sympathy for Nanberry. He is completely alone, in a new world he does not understand. The author has given us the perspectives of the natives, a female convict, and a surgeon, yet we have not been given the perspective of a male working convict. In chapter 9, a supply ship arrives. As the author writes the return of the ship with such excitement from Surgeon Whites perspective we feel as though the supplies were greatly needed. This makes me fear the possibility that the rations with be lessened again and the colony may suffer a huge food crisis. When we hear Nanberry's concern of how he could never become a warrior now, in chapter 10, we once again are shown Nanberry's simple lifestyle. Instead of worrying about the white people, or where he would live, his priorities still were based on his traditional aboriginal culture. This reminded me that Nanberry will never conform to the European ways. In this chapter we also learn of Araboos death. Throughout the book we have seen Araboo as a wise elder, yet as Jackie French writes 'his eyes pleaded' I feel pity for him. Even though he was on his death bed, he still worried for the child's safety. "Strange that one of the first English words he heard a native child say should be dead." This statement is very powerful. It causes the reader to consider the horrible consequences the natives have encountered since the arrival of the first fleet. As Surgeon White states "But that is what we have bought them Death." I began to feel disgraced at the Europeans. They had realised what they were doing was wrong, yet still hadn't made an effort to change anything. In chapter 13, Surgeon White brings the newlyadopted Nanberry into his house. When Maria replies with, "But he's a native, sir!" "In my clean house!" I feel shame because of her obliviousness to her racial comments. They are so ignorant to the feelings of the Aborigines. I felt second-hand embarrassment in chapter

15, as Maria is frightened of the o'possum. Things we find common knowledge nowadays were only known by the highest intellectuals. I was quite surprised by the fact that Nanberry knew so much about the English, in the little time he was living with them. I feel it would have been hard for Jackie French to find different ways to express Nanberry's learning of new words, without it becoming repetitive. In chapter 18, Maria talks about the o'possum. By the authors use of words we can tell she is beginning to like it, and would feel sympathy when it dies. The author also displays a tone of blackmail when she is talking to Big Lon, this shows she has power over him. I believe Surgeon White to be homesick and lonely as he states "Were a convict girl and a native boy as close as he would ever come to having children of his own?" Throughout the story Nanberry constantly quoted "although she was only a girl" when speaking of Maria. This reminded me of the different customs they were used to. In chapter 20, he also reminds himself that he will always be Nanberry, not Andrew. I think the author is trying to show us how the Aboriginal Australians were reluctant to succumb to the Europeans ways, and were forced against their will. All natives were considered useless unless under the control of the white men. As a translator, Nanberry described how the 'used' him "he used Nanberry like a... A boat carrying the sentences to and fro" In chapter 26 the Lady Juliana arrives. Surgeon white quotes "We have not forgotten you, tiny colony at the end of the world. You are not to perish here." This line summarises the fear they colony faced. This once again reminds us of the huge challenges they are facing, with their food supply perishing and the lack of motivation the convicts had. I feel that the author was depicting that they had almost given up and accepted that they had been long forgotten. When the ships captain reveals that it was full of convicts, he describes the women as though they were just accessories for the men. As later explained, the women had lost their dignity in the fight to stay alive. They were only granted food in return for sexual favours. I feel the author exemplified these issues as it proved the huge social problems in the era, regarding equality, sexism and stereotyping. As the ill are unloaded from the ship we are shown the sense of community the colony has formed. As illustrated in paragraph 5, page 111, people all walks of life came to help the unwell. This proves a point of progression for the colony, as they knew that they must stick together to survive and eventually built cities and towns. Finally in chapter 28 Rachel Turner is introduced. I feel she is much like Maria, and wishes to one day return to England. He past gives us a clear representation of the horrible injustices the servants faced. England was still run by the feudal system, and those with power used it to their advantage. In chapter 32/33 the natives attacked the Governor. Nanberry was so naive he hadn't expected anything to happen, where I feel Father White was more cautious. As the author states how quickly the Governor arrived, we are lead to believe he puts a lot of trust in Bennalong. As Nanberry states his confusion on why the warriors only speared him through the shoulder, when could have been easily killed. I feel that Jackie French is trying to hint that they used a scare tactic. Trying to frighten away the white men after they ad felted they were not leaving. The kinyani or connectedness of the Aboriginal Australians is expressed on page 148, as Balloonderry tells Nanberry, "But you are still my brother." This shows that even though they are not related the tribes refer to themselves as families and that through all that has happened and the separation they dealt, they would still continue to be brothers. Throughout the chapters Nanberry has been confused on why his fellow

tribe members didn't recognise or acknowledge him. By the way the warriors act around him I believe that they are ashamed of the boy for joining the white men. As he is still a child many of the warriors refuse to speak with him. The Europeans are seen as weak through the eyes of the natives. In chapter 39, after Nanberry returns to Australia from the Supply ship, he strips off his clothing and returns to the bush to help his native brothers. I believe the author was trying to express that Nanberry would always be a native. No matter how well he new the English language, or how polite his manors were, his home would always be with the Aboriginal community. On page 184 Rachel states,"there were more and more children running wild around the colony now, with dribbling noses and thin starved cheeks." This shows the progression of the colony, with the development of towns, cities, farms, houses and families. Once again we are reminded of the feudal system ruling the English households on page 186, as Rachel expresses how herself and Mr White shall never be properly married. The author was explaining how everything was determined by class, regarding the friends you have to the house you live in. Finally Nanberry undergoes his long anticipated initiation to become a warrior. "Why, he thought, his knees trembling, almost beyond pain now, do I still feel empty?" He questioned. I feel this shows how he expected everything to be good once he became a 'man'. Jackie French is explaining how he would never truly fit in, how he would always be part of the Indigenous community, and part of the English community. He would never truly assimilate into the English culture, yet could never return to his tribe. On page 220, we are disgraced by the selling of the women convicts. By the tone of words we know that it is all a game for the sailors and corps. We can tell Rachel is disgraced by the actions and also scared for Maria. In the final chapters, when Andrew returns to his father in England, we can feel the sorrow the in Rachel's voice. We know she is reluctant to send her son away, but hopeful he will return one day. I was disappointed we didn't hear any more from Maria, and felt very proud on Nanberry as he takes care of his younger brother. Summary: Overall the story was very factual and played with my emotions. It made me feel sympathy, sorrow, guilt, pride, fear and joy. It provided the views of European settlement through the eyes of Nanberry (an Indigenous boy), Surgen White (Surgen unwillingly bought to Australia on the first fleet), Maria (house slave), Rachel (another house slave) and Andrew (white boy), giving us a broad and impartial description. The fact the book was based upon real life stories and events made it even more intriguing. The authors frequent translation between the native language and posh, early 20th century, English language helped depict Nanberry's integration into the European culture. Throughout the story Jackie French uses an array of writing techniques, for example, metaphors, similes, and allusion, to create an underlying or hidden meaning. Overall the story was very descriptive portraying the different characteristics and views from all classes of people, specifically regarding racial equality. Georgia Emms