The Secret River Analysis

Encountering Conflict Analysis

Thornhills relationship with the natives
While the other settlers are resolute in protecting their families and land, Thornhills
uncertainty at the Maid of the River to involve himself in the proposed slaughter
highlighted an alteration in his view of the natives. Perhaps it was due to Dicks
interaction with the natives, who had accepted Dicks company during their activities.
Through the incident with Dick, Thornhill may have realised how, regardless of their
colour and language, they had families and went about their daily lives in a similar
fashion to the settlers work and play. !urthermore, "als epiphany may have
instilled the idea that the natives had every right to the land, albeit their lack of fences.
The fact that generations after generations had lived on the land illustrated to
Thornhill that the settlers were indeed, intruders who had little to no right to
eliminate the natives.
Sals turning point
"als epiphany was the catalyst for Thornhills agreement to the genocide. #s she had
never moved past the boundary of their own home, her invasion of the natives area
was the stimulus for her realisation that the natives had every right to the land. "he
had noticed that the natives were $uite similar to the settlers in many ways, for they
had set up designated areas much like rooms of a home. "he realised that #ustralia
was their home, much like Thornhill and "als home in %ngland. The natives had
resided in #ustralia far longer than the settlers, &they was here'their grannies and
their great grannies. #ll along (pg )**+. This turning point for "al provided her the final
push to stand her ground against Thornhill. Previously, "al had been persuaded by
Thornhills promises and encouragement for a short,term life at Thornhills Point.
-nstead, she refused to listen to Thornhills consoling words, demanding that they
leave that very day. The conflict between husband and wife reached a complete
divide, with "als epiphany driving a wedge between their relationship.
Key Passages
./ne blue and silver morning a week after the attack on Webb, the 0ope glided past
Darkey 1reek'That was another thing he was going to lock away in the closed room
in his memory, where he could pretend it did not e2ist.3 (pg )45,)4*+
.6e2t morning Dick came running up to the hut, his feet flickering up the dust as he
ran, to tell his father that the blacks were in the corn'7ou shut your lip, Willie, she
said, and there was something in her voice that made Willie obey.3 (pg )4* )*8+
.-n the moment of waking he smelled the smoke'With you or without you, Will, take
your pick.3 (pg )*5,)98+
Important Quotes
Conflict etween natives an! settlers
.-ts like mine, he surprised himself thinking. :ust the same colour as my own.3 (pg )*;+
.'a great shocked silence hanging over everything.3 (pg <;9+
Conflict with social hierarchy
.0is voice was rich with the pleasure of being able to shout to another person.3 (pg )*)+
.!or knowing he was a king, as he would only ever be king in that place.3 (pg )95+
"ear of the natives
.0e heard the false authority in his voice, whipped away by the bree=e.3 (pg )*>+
.That was another thing he was going to lock away in the closed room in his memory,
where he could pretend it did not e2ist.3 (pg )4*+
Conflict can change
.'fear could slip unnoticed into anger, as if they were one and the same.3 (pg )*5+
Thornhills conflict with owning lan!
.!or a moment Thornhill tired to imagine it? turning his back on that clearing carved
out of the wilderness by months of sweat.3 (pg )**+
.'nothing would console him for the loss of that point of land the shape of his
thumb. !or the light in the mornings, slanting in through the trees. !or the radiant
cliffs in the sunset and the simple blue of the sky. !or the feeling of striding out over
ground that was his own.3 (pg )95+
Conflict with Australian environment
.The door would be the first to go, and then the creeping things would move back in?
the snakes, the li=ards, the rats. The corn patch would sprout fresh grass that the
kangaroos would come down and nibble at, knowing the rails of the fences apart. -n
no time at all, it would be as if the Thornhills had never called it theirs.3 (pg )95+
.%very tree, every leaf, every rock seemed to be watching.3 (pg <;*+
Thornhills conflict with his actions
.@ike the old man on his knees he felt he might become something other than a
human, something that did not do things in this sticky clearing that could never be
undone.3 (pg <;*+
.-t seemed impossible that anyone with such a thing in his flesh could go on living.3
Sals turning point
.0e realised that this was further than she had gone before.3 (pg )*A+
.They was here'their grannies and their great grannies. #ll along.3 (pg )**+
.They are'out there now this very minute. Watching us, biding their time.3
.They aint going nowhere'they aint never going. #nd makr my words, Will, theyll
get us in the end if we stop here.3
Conflict etween Thornhill an! Sal
.#ll - know is, better even Butlers bloody Buildings than creep around the rest of our
lives waiting for a spear in the back.3 (pg )9;+
With you or without you, Will, take your pick. (pg )98+
."he would leave the place without a backward glance.3 (pg )95+