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Abstract Hailed as one of the founders of Australian literature, Henry Lawson creates many well-known short stories, of which The Drover’s Wife, depicting a courageous woman always ready to show her mettle when confronted with dangers and hardships in the Australian bush, is widely considered as the most successful one. Indeed, while reading the story, readers can strike a chord with the bush woman, a paragon of courage and perseverance.
Key Words Henry Lawson “The Drover’s Wife”Women’s Role Courage
“Bush all around”---only three simple words present a glimpse of the bleakness and sameness of the bush life. Through a series of decisive actions, Lawson presents readers the courage and fortitude of the bush woman in her dauntless fights against all the dangers, the ferocious snake being but one of them. Mark Twain once said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear not absence of fear.” Truly, in face of dangers, some are beset with complaints, some deterred from taking actions, still some defeated by fear itself. In contrast, the bush woman just collects herself and shows her mettle. We should have the courage to change the things that we can, the serenity to accept the things we can not, and the wisdom to know the differences. When confronted with the bleakness and sameness of the environment, the drover’s wife does not complain about or chafe under the monotony. The bush woman, in face of harsh and lonely life, has to bury her girlish dreams in her heart of hearts.
Truly, harsh is the bush life, yet harsher is the bush woman. She has killed the fierce snake, but many other “snakes” are just to come. Just like the bush woman, no body live in the absence of danger and fear, we may also meet the “snakes” in our own lives. When confronted with such fierce “snakes”, what should we do? Do not give up when there is still something to give---the drover’s wife gives courage and love instead of cowardice and complaint just as the Australia poetess Mary Gilmore expressed “never admit the pain, bury it deep. Only the weak complain, complain is cheap.”
Key Words Henry Lawson “The Drover’s Wife”Women’s Role Courage
“Bush all around”---only three simple words present a glimpse of the bleakness and sameness of the bush life. Through a series of decisive actions, Lawson presents readers the courage and fortitude of the bush woman in her dauntless fights against all the dangers, the ferocious snake being but one of them. Mark Twain once said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear not absence of fear.” Truly, in face of dangers, some are beset with complaints, some deterred from taking actions, still some defeated by fear itself. In contrast, the bush woman just collects herself and shows her mettle. We should have the courage to change the things that we can, the serenity to accept the things we can not, and the wisdom to know the differences. When confronted with the bleakness and sameness of the environment, the drover’s wife does not complain about or chafe under the monotony. The bush woman, in face of harsh and lonely life, has to bury her girlish dreams in her heart of hearts.
Truly, harsh is the bush life, yet harsher is the bush woman. She has killed the fierce snake, but many other “snakes” are just to come. Just like the bush woman, no body live in the absence of danger and fear, we may also meet the “snakes” in our own lives. When confronted with such fierce “snakes”, what should we do? Do not give up when there is still something to give---the drover’s wife gives courage and love instead of cowardice and complaint just as the Australia poetess Mary Gilmore expressed “never admit the pain, bury it deep. Only the weak complain, complain is cheap.”