Anshika Brijmohun

Journey

In Journey by Patricia Grace we have the theme of change, powerlessness, frustration,

responsibility and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader
realises after reading the story that Grace may be exploring the theme of change. The old man
can remember travelling into the city by steam train. Also when he is on the train to the city he
notices how much the landscape has changed. The difference that time has brought. This may
be important as in many ways it acts as foreshadowing. The old man also wants to change the
small piece of land that he owns and build some houses on it for his nephews and nieces.
However it becomes clear to the reader that the old man is in reality powerless when it comes
to the decision making on the changes that he wishes to make. While in the city talking about
his land with the young man (Paul) it becomes clear to the reader that the city planners intend
to make car parking spaces out of the old man’s land. Something that frustrates the old man
even though he has been promised other housing. The old man’s frustration may be two fold.
Firstly he is unhappy that the city planners will not build on his land for him and secondly his
emotional attachment to the land gets the better of him. Something that is noticeable by the
fact that the old man kicks and damages Paul’s desk.
At no stage of the story is the old man in control of the conversation he is having with Paul. The
decision has been made on how the land will be allocated and the old man has to accept this.
Something he finds difficulty in doing. Though time has progressed and the world around the
old man has changed. The old man himself does not appear to be open to change nor is he
open to the city planners reallocating land to him. This may be important as it suggests that the
old man has difficulty letting go. There are some things he might be able to accept that need
changing. However when it comes to anything which may affect his own life, like the housing
problem, he is not comfortable with this. It is as though the old man is unable to adapt to the
world around him. Something that is further noticeable by his refusal to use the lavatories in
the city. His previous experience having been unpleasant.
It is also self-evident that the old man is under a lot of pressure from his nephews and nieces.
Though they do not say anything to the old man. The sense is that they view it as being his
responsibility to sort out the issue with the land. They themselves have tried and failed. Their
only recourse is to let the old man go into the city to see if he can resolve the issue. Something
which as mentioned he fails to do. What he might have thought would have been a simple issue
turns out to be a bureaucratic headache for the old man. Others are in control of what will
happen and not the old man. Which may be the point that Grace is attempting to make. She
may be suggesting that no matter how simple or easy an individual’s desires may be.
Bureaucracy will inevitable wear the individual down. Something that has happened the old
man. He knows that his battle is lost and there is nothing that he can do about it.
It is also interesting that Grace mentions the old man’s garden as this is the only piece of land
mentioned in the story that the old man has control over. Something he himself seems to
realise. The fact that the old man looks at the palms of his hands while sitting on his bed could
also be important. By looking at his hands he may again realise how physically and symbolically
powerless he actually is. Earlier in the story he wanted to hit Paul with his hands but knew that
he no longer had the power. The old man’s decision not be buried (or to go into the ground)
may also be significant as the old man knows that he has no control over his resting place. His
grave can be dug up and he can be moved. Something that the old man recalls happening to
other graves while he was on his journey to the city. Overall the old man’s experience of change
and bureaucracy has been unpleasant. He has not succeeded in his goal which suggests that he
has become powerless to the changes that are and will occur around him. The only thing the
old man can do is accept the position he finds himself in. Though this may take him some time.
The old man has been beaten by both change and bureaucracy. The drive and determination he
had prior to setting out to the city is no longer. If anything the old man is defeated .

The plot and Sequence of events:

The old man is making his way into town by train to sort out some of his property so that his
family can live on the land. However things don’t go as planned and the council allocate him
some different land. Something which displeases the old man who gets angry and ends up
kicking a desk. If anything it is a story of man versus the system with the man losing. Elements
of it that may appear to be stream of conscious are there to give the reader an insight into how
the old man is thinking. It may not necessarily be sequential which can be confusing. Which in
many ways mirrors the line of thought of people. People don’t necessarily think in a straight
line.

The main character is somewhat lost in time. He doesn’t realize that this land has been
appropriated by the government. Something that upsets him. As for Paul, Paul is a like able
clerk with a difficult job to do.

For me there are three instances which set the mood. Firstly when the old man is setting out
to go to the Council office. He is optimistic and in control. He knows what he has to do. Then
when the old man is in the Council office. Things change when he is talking to the man in the
office. It is as though the old man realizes he is not in control anymore. Something that is
further highlighted by the fact that the old man kicks the desk. Finally when the old man is at
home he is somewhat reflective and when he looks at his hands realizes he is powerless.

The tone shifts from one of being relaxed to angry to bewilderment. The story is set on a
train and then in a government officials office before switching back to the home of the main
protagonist.
I would say the title of the story is important. It can take on two meanings. One being the
physical journey the old man makes to the town and secondly the passing of time that has
occurred and the old man not being able to use the land.