Act 2 Scenes 8-10

Act 2 Scenes 8-10

The scene starts at superintendent's office at Moore river Native settlement, the date set 10 April 1933. It represents an institution of white power-a place of forced confinement and conformity. The importance of the construction of this place is to give a medium for the Aboriginals to resist such conformity, as demonstrated by Joe and Mary escaping from white control. It reinforces the theme of the play -'the refusal of aboriginal people to submit to the ways of European invaders'

The 1930's represented two major political turning points of Western Australia. Firstly, the loss of the James Mitchell's seat as the premier of Northam to the labor government epitomises changing white attitudes by electing a fairer government system. In previous scenes, Mitchell's desperate attempt to win the election by sending the Aboriginals to Moore River as an act of racial segregation reflects his inequality and exploitation of his political hegemony.

The second political concern at this historical point was the success of the secession referendum vote. This secession of the 1930's was led by the organisation Dominion League of Western Australia and in success of secession, Western Australia would break away from federation and the rule of the Commonwealth of Australia, therefore having dominion status similar to that of New Zealand. Despite the favoured votes for the secession referendum, by 1935 the proposition to Parliament was denied and WA still remained part of the federation.

The significance in the context of the play is to illustrate the imperialistic views adopted by Eurocentric culture and how they were always after more power and control. The division of white society into a 'pecking order' becomes evident and

through the play we are able to identify the power relations that exist between the Aboriginals and Europeans. The breaking away from federation in the secession meant that white supremacists would have elevated social hierarchy, which is why it was the only 'good news' for Neal. In contrast Aboriginal culture differs in that they didn't have institutions of power, everyone was of equal status and they lived in harmony.

Neals social status as the superintendent provides him the power to subjugate the aboriginals who were perceived to be at the bottom of the social pecking order.

His frustration of the issue of the election is taken out on Billy Kimberly. He is constantly being disempowered, but passively accepts his position and is even grateful of his acceptance into white society.

[He throws a stick of tobacco onto the floor. Billy picks it up]

Billy: Thanks boss

By positioning Billy to bend down to the floor and acquiescing to Neal's authority signifies his inferiority to Neal. The racist attitudes of white emancipists, such as Neal, gave them the idea of 'social Darwinism'. Despite Billy's loyalty, he still referred to him as a 'bloody incompetent savage'. It is evident that similar ideologies were adopted by white society in the early half of the century, as demonstrated in a school text book(1905): 'A blackfellow is a very low form of a savage. He can not learn as so well as many blacks in other lands'

When Billy returns from the Neal's instruction to search for the runaways, beaten and handcuffed, we see the use of juxtaposition between the way in which Matron and Neal talks to and treats Billy. Matron is portrayed as the caring motherly figure as symbolised by [walking in with an armful of linen]. She is concerned for Billy's well being, while Neal is only concerned of the runaways. The dichotomy is evident, Neal has no