When you get to page 82, you reach the interval in the story where the opening scene, "Strangers" (pages 3-6) would have fit--if the story were told purely chronologically. Why do you think Grenville did this? What effect does pulling that scene out and starting with it have on us as readers?
I believe that Grenville started her story out of chronological order to make the readers pay much more attention to how society operated in the setting of the story. As of the time of writing this blog post, I've only read the first two parts -- the first part with Thornhill in London and the second part with Thornhill in New South Wales -- so my opinion comes from reading only the first third of the text. Now the reason I believe Grenville wanted us to think more carefully of how society operated in the story is through the description the narrator gives of the individuals on the boat with Thornhill in the opening scene.
While on the boat with his family and other individuals, a good chunk of the introduction is Thornhill analyzing the natives on the boat and their circumstances. It is described in the second to last paragraph, "he glanced back at where his wife and infants lay, and when he looked again the man was gone. The darkness in front of him whispered and shifted, but there was only the forest. It could hide a hundred black men with spears, a thousand, a whole continent full of men with spears and that grim line to their mouths.” (17). I believe this portion Grenville wrote is to make readers more aware of the social situation in London and the treatment of people there. It is for that reason that when the first part does occur, that Grenville includes vivid descriptions of the hierarchy in London for the readers to now pay attention to after reading about the social situation with the natives. By giving this opportunity to pay attention to the social implications, readers will have a better understanding of why characters behave the way they do in the story.
I agree that this gives us a better understanding of the story
ReplyDeleteI think that the Strangers passage provided further context for the London section as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your ideas on why Greenville implemented this order. It works to make the book more powerful and helps her ultimate goal of getting her audience to understand what story she is trying to tell better.
ReplyDeleteI think the section also helps us be more critical of our narrator. At least for me, I developed a distaste for Will based on his harsh treatment of the Aboriginal man in the opening scene, which helped me pay more attention to the situations which Will has power and doesn't have power.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good point: we notice different things in the London section *because* of the Strangers prelude.
DeleteIt definitely caught my attention and made me looks for hints of that same conflict and tension in section 1.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. The introduction set me up really well as a reader to pay close attention to the hierarchical aspects of life in 18th century London, as well as how Will grew up to be the man he is on page 82.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree about the need to pay attention to the class dynamics and historical contexts, particularly after the transition to Australia where previously established societal expectations are completely thrown out the window.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Grenville emphasizes social interactions to lay out one of the key bases of her story.
ReplyDeleteWow Marc, this is a great point and connection that I didn't notice at all. I can totally see how the many faces in the darkness that outnumber him can be compared to London's social hierarchy. Great analysis!
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