Presents Change As A Gradual Process example essay topic

Composers use a variety of techniques to explore various concepts of changing self. Changing self is presented positively and negatively, but is an ultimately positive process as it usually results in a gaining of knowledge. Gwen Harwood's "The Glass Jar" presents changing self as a process that may be initially traumatic, but results in maturation and gaining of knowledge. However, Harwood's "In The Park" conveys changing self as being a frustrating process that does not necessarily lead to a development in the self. In Roberts' "Sky High", changing self is presented as inevitable in our lives, but something to reminisce about. Both "On the Grittier Side Of The Street" and "Crossing The Khyber" highlight the initial shock experienced in changing self, but present it as being an overall positive process.

These varied perceptions of changing self are conveyed through the use of language, symbolism, structure, narrative method, and sound effects. "In The Park", a poem depicting a mother who encounters her ex-lover, shows that change can be frustrating and restricting. The controlled sonnet structure and economical form supports a feeling of entrapment and lack of freedom. This is congruous with the life of the mother in this poem- with change leading to a sense of stagnation rather than development of the self. The change of motherhood is shown to have irritating aspects through the onomatopoeia in "whine" and bicker". The bland, truncated language of the poem creates a stark tone, highlighting the isolating effect of change on her life- "She sits in the park.

Her clothes are out of date". This truncation also achieves a degree of theatricality, as it resembles stage directions. The audience is drawn to see the immobility and monotony involved this change- "She sits in the park... A third draws aimless patterns in the dirt."In The Park" presents change as a gradual process but one that does not necessarily result in the development of the self. The man's appearance is a catalyst for the woman's self-awareness, enabling her to realise the gradual change and its effects. The poem shifts from the setting, to the encounter, then to the outcome of the encounter.

This structure reflects the process of self-realisation that the woman has undergone. The dramatic qualities of the language, particularly the direct speech, emphasises that this woman is playing a role of motherhood. The dialogue between the man and the woman consists of clich " es highlighting the lack of real thought - " 'How nice,' et cetera. Time holds great surprises. '. .. rehearsing the children's names and birthdays". It is evident that motherhood has led to a loss of individuality for the woman, subjecting her to social expectations. The irony between her statement to the man "It is so sweet to hear their chatter, watch them grow and thrive" and the hyperbolic statement to herself, "They have eaten me alive" exposes the reality of the situation.

While society expects the woman to embrace motherhood as a process of changing self, she feels that she has lost rather than gained her sense of self from the change. "The Glass Jar" depicts a boy who comes to the beginning of maturity due to an external catalyst. The poem suggests change may be traumatic and may result in loss. Strong monster imagery such as "trident and vampire fang envenomed with his most secret hate" and "ring of skeletons" creates a dark and frightening atmosphere. This dark atmosphere heightens the boy's frightening realisation that there is no sunlight in the glass jar to save him. Consequently, the audience is drawn to view change as a difficult and traumatic process.

The poet's word choice such as "violent", "nightmarish", "sobbing", "hope fell headlong from its eagle height" reinforces the sense of trauma and loss as a result of change. Musical imagery such as "fiddle and bow", "scraped", and "executants played from a score" builds up the atmosphere, evoking the experience of loss more powerfully alongside the visual imagery. "The Glass Jar" illustrates changing self as a process that leads to a gaining of knowledge. Light imagery shows that change may not be an ultimately traumatic process. The sun symbolizes hope at the beginning, having the power to "bless, to exorcise" the boy's fears. Similarly, the sun is "resurrected" at the end, showing that there is still hope in spite of the loss that the child has experienced.

This also creates a sense of beginning for the maturity and knowledge that is to come. Personification of the sun that "came to wink and laugh" emphasises the inevitability of this experience as a part of a child's changing self towards adulthood. The third person point of view allows the composer to explore the gulf of understanding between childhood and adulthood by looking at it from a child's perspective. Consequently, an adult audience is able to recognise change as a part of self-development and maturity, while also realising the frightening effects of it upon a child. In "Sky-High", the washing line is used as a symbol of the poet's life, enabling her to reminisce and indicate the changes that she has experienced.

The "washing line" with "silver skeletal arms" is first referred to as the "proud" and "best climbing tree in the backyard". These descriptions nostalgically remind the reader of childhood ambitions and adventures. As change occurs, the washing line that once supported the narrator in a carefree and "exalted position" becomes "an older, more age-warped washing line" with "sagging wires. Physical changes in age are reinforced as the "smooth, sweat damp hands" that once "fiercely" gripped the "sun warmed metal" are "beginning to accumulate the line-etched story of life in scars and wrinkles". The overall impression is a sense of inevitability and acceptance as the narrator acknowledges her reality and responsibilities as an adult - "The inclination is still there... but it is unlikely the washing line could support me this time. There are too many things tying me to the ground".

The presence of figurative language and a first person-narrator in "Sky-High" reinforces the experiences of changing self over time and evokes nostalgia. Personification of a "struggling sapling", the washing line standing "proud", and an "almond tree stretch [ing] out to [her] beseechingly" intensify the nostalgic atmosphere of childhood but also convey a sense of loss that results from change. This sense of loss is reinforced as the colour imagery from the narrator's "frilly" and "pink" childhood is contrasted with the "age-warped" image and meaning of the washing-line. In the beginning, the writer uses a childish, conversational tone and choice of words- "little boys live there... even been in their house once... vegetables... all they eat, I think" to describe her childhood memories. This highlights the egocentricity and partial understanding of children as the narrator pieces together her own story of the "coloured flags in a secret code" and the "vegetables" next door. However, changing self is suggested to be inevitable, with childhood giving way to maturity and knowledge for the writer who now "writes [her] own semaphore secrets."On the grittier side of the street", is an article from the Sydney Morning Herald on 26th October 2002 interviewing Perri Atkins, who undergoes change in her self as a result of breast cancer.

Change is communicated as a process that may have negative consequences initially. Emotive language is used to heighten the trauma of Perri's initial experience- "disconnected", "difficult", "faltering", "agonized", "scared", "desperate", "awful" and "terrible". By speaking in the 2nd person at times, Perri makes her experience more relevant and real to the reader. Therefore, her statement "you want to die for about three hours" effectively reminds us that the negative consequences of change are only temporary. The positive effects are reinforced by a personal statement by Perri directed at them, that change "can be a really good thing to have happen, that reminder that you " re not going to be here forever". The gaining of knowledge and learning is positively emphasised, enabling Perri to lose interest in materialistic things such as "a nice house and a good car" but to "do something that was more useful to others."Crossing the Khyber" produced by Deb Masters is a documentary that follows the experiences of changing self in three women as they visit Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Changing self is suggested to be an overall positive process, leading to greater knowledge and understanding. Rough, and tense sound effects in the scenes of Afghanistan evoke fear, highlighting the initial effect of change on the self. This is juxtaposed with calm, reflective music that is used to reinforce the gaining of knowledge that the women talk about. The fact that this music is played out longer in the documentary emphasises this positive gaining of knowledge over the initial negative effects.

The composers of "In The Park", "The Glass Jar", "Sky-High", "On The Grittier Side of The Street" and "Crossing the Khyber" explore concepts of changing self by presenting different perceptions through a variety of techniques. Techniques such as language, symbolism, structure and narrative method have not only allowed composers to express different views, but impact upon the reader, heightening their understanding of the complex nature of changing self and its effects.