psychoanalytical reading of cloudstreet
...ppears to Quick and Sam on multiple occasions described as the “black man” is symbolic of a “guardian angel” who delivers messages of belonging and community. As Christina Thompson states, “his presence exerts an almost physical pressure on the families in Cloudstreet when they threaten to fly apart”. Other Religious readers will note that Winton uses the “black man” as a link, integrating the judeo-christian values with Aboriginal beliefs. Showing how both belief systems are based on family values. The “black man” constantly appears, telling Quick to “go home”, to which Quick ignores until the “Nedlands monster” is loose. Winton’s referral to the “Nedlands Murders,” a real life event occurring in the time the novel was set, creates textual integrity, linking the fear felt by actual families to the characters in “Cloudstreet,” creating a sense of family togetherness in the reader, paralleling the feelings of Quick. Winton hence portrays the Aboriginal guardian, as teaching the white-Australians of the Aboriginal culture of belonging to the land and finding a sense of belonging and strength within a community. Concerned with the depiction of the religious and supernatural in Cloudstreet, Michael Goonan’s comment that “characters gain awareness in an instinctive way rather than through understanding” is supported by the supernatural aspects that occur. Winton’s use of the “spinning bowl” as a recurring motif is indicative of Fish’s ‘other self’, contrasting his control of the delicate object to when he was “angry or frightened” and how he could “barely walk straight.” Despite being brain damaged, Fish is revealed to be surprisingly perceptive of the world surrounding the two families as he is the omniscient narrator. Speaking through the third person, Fish realizes that “The house sighs in the night but no one lets themselves listen” except him. This insight into two families’ environment parallels Fish’s understanding of those around him. Winton’s simile creates an image of Fish sensing Quick’s injury and “calling out like a wounded bird” all the way from “Cloudstreet”, links the spiritual world and their physical world through Fish. Winton demonstrates Fish’s link between the metaphysical world and the world that the families live in, delivering strong messages relating to the paranormal link that families have to each other. Winton’s novel can also be read through a feminist context as his exploration of the idea of identity and a place of belonging is further explored through the dominant roles of women. Lester takes the traditional female role cooking for the shop, meanwhile Oriel, who “makes a lousy pasty,” focuses on the practical side, such as the shop’s competition. Metaphorically described as a “battalion” she runs the family shop “with military precision”, in an effort to keep the family together and “above the water.” In such a way she takes on Lester’s role as the family provider, believing that “he was a fool” even as Lester becomes the family’s emotional caretaker. In his dialogue with Quick he reveals that he “always wanted to be loved,” Oriel by contrast “doesn’t care about all that.” His intuition is shown when he tells Quick that “one thing” he’ll learn is that the “lost will stay with you.” Ironically Lester’s comment applies to the hateful spirits in the house through Winton’s imagery, “that steely old hag and the dark eyed girl.” By examining the dominant role of Oriel, Winton’s novel delivers a message on spirituality as Winton’s male’s display intuitive abilities similar to the message received in a religious context. Winton’s male characters who are submissive of their female counterparts demonstrate role reversals, with...