DOWN AT THE DUMP

byPatrick White

Prepared by:Mark Lim

VicneswaryRoshima

Bibi Nuraqma

Author’s Background

o Patrick White - the first Australian writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature (1973).

o received his school education partly in Australia, partly at Cheltenham College, England.

o The experience of the Australian landscape on the one hand, and European literature and thought on the other were to become two major sources of influence on White's writing.

o White's many novels, short stories and plays explore the nature of good and evil, love and hate, life and death, the material and the spiritual world, suffering and solitude.

o After receiving the Nobel Prize, White became a celebrity in Australia, a role he did not cherish at all.

o With his Nobel Prize money he established the Patrick White Award for Australian writers who have been creative over an extended period.

o His social commitment in speaking out on public matters and his generous support of various charitable causes were remarkable, and he had many friends and admirers (see Patrick White: A Tribute, 1991).

How is social structure presented in “Down at the Dump”?

Social CriticismSocial class, education and lifestyle.

o Counterpoints two different social class

families, Hogbens’(bourgeoisie) and

Whalleys’(lower middle class)- do the

“bits-and-pieces trade”. (p.191)“Myrtle had the liver-coloured brick home- not a single dampmark on the

ceilings – she had the washing machine, ... Les Hogben, the Councillor. A builder

into the bargain.”(p.196)

o Use of language reflects on their social class and education level.

o the Whalley's speak with a distinctly working-class accent.

“pick up a coupla cold bottles, and spend the mornun at the dump”, “eh?

Waddaboutut?” (p.191)o The Hogben's use of speech is much more

educated.“Do you think Ossie will come? ” (p.197)

o This theory was seen through the character of Daise, White’s heroin or mystic seer who has a will to create her own freedom above the social constraints of her her sister’s middle class conformities. (Daise as a symbol of freedom in life).

o Daise – an easy-going character, living in small house, went for work, she didn’t really care about the image/ dignity.

“in summer, when the men went round to read the meters, she’d ask them in for a glass of beer. Daise

knew how to get service” (p.198)

o Opposed with Myrtal Hogben’s life style, believe that “A person must keep to her principles” (p. 199)

 

Formalism Criticism

Marxist criticism

o Conflict between social classes.o For example: a. Mrs. Hogben oppose Daise’s idea to

bring home and look after the pity, sick Osie who suffered meningitis;

“ ~Wherever will you take him? ~ He’s sick.

~ But, you can’t. ... You can’t! You can’t!”

b. forbidden love between Meg Hogben and Lummy Whalley.

o Mrs. Hogben disapprove the relationship that develop between Meg and Lummy due to their different social status.

o Mrs. Hogben was too concerned about her family’s reputation.

“What will they say? What ever will happen to us?” (p. 214)

Feminist Criticism.Shows women’s strenght/ability/contribution

Mrs. Whalley is an independent woman.

“She went on chopping in the yard. Her right arm swung, firm still, muscular,

though parts of her were beginning to sag…She was expert with the axe.” (p.

190)

“Because you had to be. You couldn’t expect all that much from a man.” (p. 190)

Meg Hogben

o Knows how to write poem (esthetic value)“I write poems. ... about the things in a cupboard. I wrote about a dream I

had.” (p.205)

Gender biased/ gender inequality.

o Mrs. Whalley prefer sons than daughter.

“She was glad she hadn’t had girls. Boys turned into men, and you couldn’t do without men, even when they took

you for mug, or got shickered, or bashed you up.” (p. 195)