Student Essay on A Kindness Cup- Thea Astley

BY Rebecca Seth

A Kindness Cup

There is no one quite like each of us in this world. Thus, whenever texts construct an idea of normality, just as when societies do, particular groups and individuals will always be marginalized. The central ideas of normality carefully constructed by authors are unlike those of reality which are formed by dominant ideologies and cultural beliefs. Throughout the cautionary fable A Kindness Cup, Thea Astley deliberately reconstructs the idea of normality held by white colonisers in the nineteenth century. When read using a post colonial reading approach the marginalised indigenous Australian Aborigines' perspective is presented to the reader, along with the opinions of Snoggers Boyd, Thomas Dorahy and Charlie Lunt, who are also marginalised by their white society.

Astley reconstructs the idea of normality during the latter half of the nineteenth century in Queensland as a means to communicate to post colonial readers the injustice any marginalised group must endure. Astley constructs the idea of normality through the application of textual features and characterisation In A Kindness Cup the white colonisers see themselves as right and the model of normality. Therefore all other individuals and groups, including the Aborigines are marginalised by default as the white colonisers assume power. The marginalisation of Aborigines did not only occur socially or politically but also demographically. In the time of colonisation of Australia the British assumed Australia terra nullius by which in regard to law the Aborigines had no claim to the land. White settlers chose their land and forced Aboriginal tribes off their property and out of their towns. Through the description of their `scabby children'`in the dust at the entrances and exits of town' Astley reconstructs these actions historically and gives readers a clear view of the marginalisation of Aborigines

Once the idea of normality is established Astley uses charcterisation to portray to readers the cultural identity of the marginalised and the non-marginalised to question what injustice has occurred and the reparations that are in order. Stereotypes are applied to provide characters that contemporary readers are easily able to recognise. Sweetman is presented as the manipulative political figure, while Dorahy and Boyd play the roles of men with a sense of justice that must be expressed. Junior and Senior Buckmaster the bullish brute police `(men) amongst men' are often purposefully confused in the text by Astley to create a sense of the ongoing preservation of attitudes. Lunt and the Aborigines are presented predominantly as the victims. Being a white woman Thea Astley's A Kindness Cup would lack authenticity if written from an Aboriginal point of view. Instead Astley uses the characters of Dorahy and Boyd to defend the rights and lobby for the equality of Aborigines as people and the character of Lunt to represent the Aborigines emotionally. Astley draws parallels between Lunt and the Aborigines, both are subjected to violence and share a love for the land, shown by Astley's description of Lunt as `he bent down'`took a pinch of dust'`and swallowed'. Lunt's `(roping) to the dead (Aboriginal) man' may also be interpreted by the reader as a symbolic connection forced between Lunt and the Aborigines.

Dorahy and Boyd do not agree with the accepted attitudes that Aborigines are inferior, primitive, sub-human or `like bloody animals'. Although both feel the need to bring to the attention of people the truth about the injustice, Lunt proclaims he `returned for love'. This statement defines Lunt and the Aborigines as loving, despite their endured injustices. Astley also defines the Aborigines in terms of positives, rather than the current society's negative views. Kohowa is described as `gurgling' and giggling', which is perceived by the reader as signs of naivety and child-like behaviour compared to an image of an uncivilized animal. Furthermore her baby's skin becomes a `tender gold' instead of filthy black as seen by the white colonisers. Astley's description of Aborigines, using language features and the characterisation of Lunt, position the readers to feel sympathetic towards such a marginalised group, although through the reaction of Lunt to Dorahy and Boyd's attempts at justice (`Damn you') it is evident that Astley is communicating that the Aborigines do not wish to be pitied.

People who are beneficiaries of colonisation or post colonisation are often less aware of the negative effects of such a colonisation. In A Kindness Cup, Thea Astley aims to give a voice to the marginalised groups and individuals through the reconstruction of the ideas of normality held in the late nineteenth century. These ideas of normality inevitably caused the marginalization of Aborigines and created dominant ideologies that through a cautionary fable reading of A Kindness Cup, Thea Astley warns may still be subtly present today.