Swallow The Air Flashcards
What evidence does Winch provide that May has experienced some sense of belonging before her mother’s death
• Jacaranda Tree – “One year in the Jacaranda’s bleakness Mum had strung a tyre- swing onto its fattest branch.” Sense of home and belonging to the place she lived and with her mother.
• Mother-Daughter Bond: Despite the difficulties in their relationship, May shares moments of closeness and affection with her mother. There are instances where they engage in activities together, such as fishing, cooking, and storytelling. These moments of shared experiences and intimacy can be seen as a source of belonging within their mother-daughter relationship. “They were the best of times, the three of us at the fire, laughing and talking over the top of the things we never talked about.
• Cultural Traditions: May’s mother plays a significant role in passing on cultural traditions and knowledge to her. She teaches May about their Aboriginal heritage, shares Dreamtime stories, and imparts cultural wisdom. By participating in these cultural activities and learning from her mother, May experiences a sense of connection to her heritage and a sense of belonging within her culture. “Mungi was his name, the first turtle ever. They said he was a tribesman who was speared in the neck while protecting himself under a hollowed-out tree. But the ancestor spirit was watching and decided to let him live by reincarnation or something. ‘Anyway, using the empty tree trunk as his shell, he was allowed to live peacefully forever as a turtle.’ Or so Mum would say.”
• Sibling Bond: May’s relationship with her younger brother, Billy, also provides her with a sense of belonging. They share a strong bond and look out for each other. Their sibling connection offers moments of comfort, support, and a shared understanding, fostering a sense of belonging within their family unit. “He’d sometimes tease me and call me a ‘halfie’ and ‘coconut’. We’d be laughing and chasing each other around the yard being racist and not even knowing it.
What/who contributes to May’s loss of a sense of belonging
Family Disconnection: May’s loss of a sense of belonging begins with her dysfunctional family dynamics. Her father’s abandonment and her mother’s death left her feeling disconnected from her immediate family. The absence of a stable family unit and the unresolved issues surrounding her parents contribute to her sense of isolation.
• “They were the best of times, the three of us at the fire, laughing and talking over the top of the things we never talked about. Like that sad in her eyes or Billy’s or mine.”
• “I thought about Mum’s pain being freed from her wrist, leaving her body, or what was left of it.”
• “We get drunk on the salt air and laughter: The ocean we her safe place, a place where she always felt she belonged until she got raped there.”
• Cultural Displacement: May’s mixed heritage (Aboriginal and European) adds another layer to her struggle for belonging. She feels caught between two cultures and doesn’t fully fit into either. The disconnection from her Aboriginal roots and the experiences of racism and discrimination further alienates her from a sense of belonging within her cultural identity. “I felt Aboriginal because Mum had made me proud to be, told me I got magic and courage from Gundyarri, the spirit man. It was then I felt Aboriginal, I felt like I belonged, but when Mum left, I stopped being Aboriginal. I stopped feeling like I belonged. Anywhere.”
• Loss of Indigenous Connection: May’s journey to find her Aboriginal roots takes her to her grandmother’s hometown, Massacre Plains. However, instead of finding a sense of belonging and connection, she discovers the harsh reality of colonization and the historical trauma inflicted upon her people. The loss of cultural heritage and the disintegration of community bonds intensify her feelings of displacement. “‘My mum was Aboriginal.’
‘No shit? You don’t look like an Abo.’
‘My old man isn’t though; his family are from the First Fleet and everything. Rich folk they were, fancy folk from England.’ (May lying about her ancestry to Pete)”
• Negative Relationships: May’s encounters with negative individuals also contribute to her loss of belonging. She faces discrimination and prejudice from some people she meets, leading to feelings of rejection and marginalization. These negative experiences further erode her sense of belonging and reinforce her feelings of being an outsider. “Every night it happened, I began to wake before they’d even come home, my body waiting for the back door to fling open and bang against the wall, for them to be already at each other’s throat, or laughing and chatting before a blue would start. (May about the difficulties of living in her Aunty’s volatile home)”
• Internal Struggles: May’s own internal struggles, such as grief, identity crisis, and self-doubt, play a significant role in her loss of belonging. Her ongoing search for identity and purpose leads her on a journey of self-discovery, but it also brings confusion and uncertainty. May grapples with her place in the world and wrestles with her own sense of self, which affects her ability to feel a sense of belonging. “You got family in the city too girl, gunna show ya where ya don’t belong dumb black bitch, you don’t look abo. When I looked into the mirror I saw a girl, lost and hollow – the same as every other 15-year-old.”
How does May regain some sense of belonging?
Connection with Indigenous Culture: May’s interactions with her Indigenous heritage and culture become a source of healing and belonging. Through her journey to Massacre Plains, she begins to understand the strength and resilience of her ancestors, their cultural practices, and the significance of community. By reconnecting with her Aboriginal roots, May starts to regain a sense of belonging within her cultural identity. “She says that our people are born from quartz crystal, hard water. We are powerful people, strong people. Water people, people of the rivers and the lakes. They [the mining magnets] look at the land and say there is nothing here. (May when she meets Issy at the depleting Lake Cowal) ”
• Positive Relationships: Along her journey, May encounters individuals who offer her support, guidance, and acceptance. These positive relationships provide her with a sense of belonging and foster her personal growth. For example, her encounters with Aunty, Uncle Obadiah, and Billy allow her to form connections based on shared experiences and a sense of belonging to a larger community. “‘Well don’t be shame now, everyone need somewhere to stay. Some people got it and some people doesn’t. Come and stay with the women and me.’”
• Reconciliation and Healing: May’s journey of self-discovery involves confronting the painful aspects of her family’s history and the impact of colonization. Through this process, she begins to acknowledge and address the traumas that have affected her family and her own sense of belonging. The pursuit of reconciliation and healing, both on a personal and collective level, contributes to her regaining a sense of belonging. “You’re just like your grandmother, you know that? But she knew it. She died of hope, you know that. The thing is, we weren’t allowed to be what you’re looking for and we weren’t told what was right, we weren’t taught by anyone.” Speaking to Percy last known Gibson.
• Acceptance of Identity: As May explores her mixed heritage and embraces her Aboriginal and European ancestry, she starts to embrace her unique identity. Accepting and celebrating her cultural background and the diversity within her identity allows her to develop a more grounded sense of belonging. “It all makes sense to me now. Issy’s drawing in the sand, boundaries between the land and the water, us, we come from the sky and the Earth, and we go back to the sky and the Earth, bone and fluid.”
• Self-Acceptance and Empowerment: May’s journey is also about self-acceptance and empowerment. As she confronts her past, embraces her strengths and vulnerabilities, and takes control of her own narrative, she begins to reclaim her sense of self and find her place in the world. This process of self-discovery and empowerment contributes to her regaining a sense of belonging within herself. “I do not cry, my eyes are hardened, like honeycomb… Brittle crumbling sugar. He puts his hand out toward me; we shake hands, a pact that I won’t be here digging up his past when he gets back. And I’m not.”
What devices does Winch use?
Consider stylistic devices:
• Structure
• Narration/narrative viewpoint
• Characterisation, character arc
• Representation of people, concepts, times and places
• Foregrounding
• Repetition
Consider aesthetic features:
• imagery
• figurative language - metaphor, personification, simile,
• symbolism
• motif
