True Meaning Of Anzac Day example essay topic

How are the main characters in a play constructed to represent the text's underlying values and attitudes? Answer with reference to at least one stage drama that you have seen or studied. The One Day Of The Year explores a family's relationships at the time of Anzac Day. It is the story of a son questioning the validity of Anzac Day as a true commemoration of our soldiers, while his father refuses to accept the changes in his son's attitudes, Alf's wife tries to anchor the family and Wacka, the true Anzac, remembers his experiences in his own way. In contrast, Alf and Dot, his parents, are obviously more traditional. The rest of the house is small, the furniture is dowdy, and their kitchen is primitive.

It is then that the viewer is introduced to Alf's attitudes towards life. He is sitting at the table getting progressively more drunk and whingeing about all those more fortunate than himself. His language is slang, and his vocabulary includes words such as "watcher". He also has a strong 'dink um-di aussie' accent.

He is obviously uneducated and resents those who are. The family then begin to talk about Hughie and we realise that he has modern clothes and a 'sports suit'. These are in contrast with Alf and Dot's old clothes- Dot has just removed a large overcoat. In the next scene, the viewer is introduced to Hughie and Jan. Jan uses upper-class language and condescendingly uses words such as 'marvellous'. Hugie's language is not upper-class, but in comparison to Alf's it is clear that he is educated. He does not use slang and resents Jan's condescending attitude.

On page 15 the stage direction says that he has a 'slight chip on shoulder' after one of Jan's comments. Hughie is clearly uncertain. His youth means that he has not fully developed self-awareness and understanding. Through much of the play he is hesitant in his actions and not sure what to do with himself. Stage direction on page 24 says, 'He is nervous, on edge. ' Alf clearly values Anzac Day and the drinking that accompanies it.

On page 13 he says"I'm a bloody Australian, mate, and it's because I'm a bloody Australia that I'm getting' on the grog. It's Anzac Day this week, that's my day, that's the old diggers day". In comparison Hughie questions the true meaning of Anzac Day. "Do you know what you " re even celebrating today? Do you? Do you even know what it all meant?" (page 81) He is angrily defending his point of view and swings on his father.

He sees Anzac Day as one big day of drinking, and blames his father for his disillusionment". No, Dad. You started it... when you dragged me by the hand through mobs of them like this - just exactly like this. That's all I ever saw on Anzac Day, every year, year after year, a screaming tribe of great, stupid, drunken no-hope rs". (page 95) But at the same time, Hughie still questions if these new opinions are right". Oh, I don't know. Up there - at uni - it seems terrific to be - outspoken and critical and everything.

But... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you". (page 99) The play clearly displays the eternal father-son conflict and the generational shift as the two generations develop different ideas, but at the same time the love and bond of family is prominent. Hughie and Alf may disagree, but at the same time they work to overcome their differences.

On page 99, Alf tells Hughie, "You got your opinion, you stick to it". Class is greatly explored in the text. In a nation where class apparently does not exist, it is glaringly obvious that it does. Jan is a north shore' tart and Hughie is her way of making her parents angry. She is using Hughie, but he is aware of this and perhaps is also using her to escape from his class.

At the end of the play, nothing has changed. Alf is still sitting at the dining table, ranting about being a 'bloody Australian'. Hughie is still stifled by his family, but will not leave. Dot is still holding the family together. Wacka is still the real Anzac; full of simple wisdom, but mostly not talking about the one thing everybody is so interested in. Jan is also still the north-shore snob.

The situation has not changed and there were no major breakthroughs, all there is now is an acceptance that there is no understanding.