My Question about Section 3
Hey guys! In reading section 3 of the Secret River, something I found interesting were the different attitudes that the visitors display towards the Aboriginal people (for example, Smasher and Blackwood clearly have different strategies). In reading William's reaction to all that his visitors were saying and his attitudes in other places throughout the section (i.e how he treats his new workers), I found it difficult to predict what route he would go. What do you guys think? How do you think William will end up treating and interacting with the Aboriginal people on "his property"?
Hey Cassi! What an interesting question... Since the very first pages of the novel, it seems like one of Will's primary motivations is to feel safe. He feels unsafe during the "Strangers" encounter, unsafe in his precarious living and financial situation in London, and works diligently to acquire his own land where he can be safe from ruin and humiliation. Because of this, I predict that Will will begin to side more and more with Smasher and associate the Aboriginal people with a threat to his and his family's safety. Of course I hope he doesn't fall down this path, but I'm worried that Will will end up treating the Aboriginal people as threats that must be eliminated or at the very least relocated.
ReplyDeleteHi Cassi! From what I've seen, I have a feeling that Will begin treating and interacting with the Aboriginal people with less and less respect. Once Will got the servants (Dan and Ned), he began acting like a master or like the people who used to disrespect him. Will got some type of pleasure or satisfaction from that! With this in mind, I would have to predict that Will not treat the Aboriginal people well since he has already had a taste of power from social structure and it seems difficult to go back from that.
ReplyDeleteHey, Cassi! It is hard to say which direction Will is going in. On one hand, he seems to show little respect or care for them. When he hardly considers the daisies as crops, implying that the Aboriginal people aren't capable of farming because they are less civilized. There is also the contrast between Will's crude and hastily-made square he marks in the land, which to him symbolized ownership. The intricate fish design he finds later does not carry the same meaning in his mind, despite being much more elaborate and permanent. He does seem to be a bit apprehensive towards Sullivan, which indicates he may be less hostile than Sullivan is. I think ultimately, Will become more like Sullivan, but I figure he may realize this and change his ways.
ReplyDeleteHey Cassi! I actually asked a very similar question! I am curious to see how Thornhill will treat the Aborigine people who enter his claimed property, especially given his social interactions with his servants in which he tries to establish his superiority. I think that Thornhill has always had a longing to climb the social ladder as high as he possibly can. He views people higher up the social ladder as more successful and more happy. As a result, I believe he will try to prove his superiority to the Natives. To Thornhill, Australia is an opportunity to climb the social ladder. In England, he will never be able to climb the social ladder after being labeled as a criminal.
ReplyDeleteCassi, this is such an interesting question! I think that, based on what we've seen about Will's treatment of others, he will continue to treat the aboriginals worse and worse. A driving factor behind this argument is his treatment of Dan and Ned. Growing up with such little power, Will milks his power whenever he has it. In the case of Dan and Ned, he emphasized the importance of the power dynamic in their relationship and, in my opinion, his desire for power will continue to overpower his respect for others.
ReplyDeleteHi Cassi, Will seems like someone who is stubborn, so I do not think he will forgo his morals that easily. He does not like the Aboriginals, but I do not think he would go as far as some of the other British people like Smasher and kill them. Will has never really done evil stuff in the past. Yes, he has stolen and abused his power towards Dan, but the degree in which he has done it seems much smaller than almost everybody else in New South Wales we have heard about. Will seems to just be taking in and learning from his surroundings. With how stubborn Will is, I do not think he will let or allow the Aboriginals to take his land and I also do not think he will treat them with respect, but I also do not think he would go out of his way to hurt them or interact with them at all unless he has to.
ReplyDeleteHi Cassi! I think as his attitude of superiority grows, so too will Will's divisive actions towards the Aboriginals. I do know that Will could kill an Aboriginal—I think there is still some sense of morality within him—however, he will continue to push the bounds of what he can take. As he takes more, the Aboriginals will begin to defend themselves more which could lead to a conflict between the Thornhills and the Aboriginals. Due to the narrative of the story, will likely must reckon with the consequences of treating oneself as superior.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really interesting question. The text seems to indicate that he does recognize the truth and wisdom of Blackwell's take a little give a little ideas and respects the knowledge that he has gained by communicating and learning from the Native peoples. However, I don't think that Thornhill has the capability to do this. I think that Thornhill is too self involved and obsessed in his own pursuit of social status to accept that the Native people could be his equals. I don't however, think that he wants violence or will attack or hurt them as they have proven to be non violent themselves. Instead I think that he will continue to think of the Native people as below him and continue to enjoy feeling superior as it seems that social status is a motivating factor for him.
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