English Magic
...e gets to know I’m his perception of Dumby changes and once Blacky is given the excuse he is able to develop a friendship with Dumby. Blacky tells his friends: “I hate his guts.”…”But this time [he] didn’t spit, because [he] didn’t mean it. A terrible thing had happened – [he’d] stopped hating Dumby Reds guts. [He] couldn’t help it, he’d started to like him” (p. 26) As Blacky begins to see aborigines as individuals he begins to recognize and question the racism in the Port. An example of this was after hearing a familiar joke from the local publican, Big Mac at which everyone burst out laughing. Blacky questioned himself in why he was not laughing at the racist joke that he had once laughed at before with the rest of the Port. (p. 161) Another sign of prejudice in the Port community is the gender discourse. Females are expected to be submissive and content with domestic servitude. Even though Black was “sure she (mother) would’ve been a better coach than Arks”, he always reconsidered suggesting it when he remembered, “you had to be a great coach you had to have been a great player…and a bloke, of course”. (pp 32-32) so there was no purpose as the very idea would have been laughed upon. Girls are treated as sexual objects and are subjected to degrading comments about them. After realising where he had seen Dumby friend, he remembered he “used to go and watch [his] sisters play. (Not to perve on the girls undies like Pickles, honest).” (p. 97) Blacky felt he needed to defend or clear himself of any accusations of what could be called a common thing to do. Most men at the Port are heavy drinkers who love football and finishing. On the fishing boat, Blacky, his father and his brother caught little fish. With defeat, his father asked team-man to fetch him some beers. “He...took a huge swig of beer, almost emptying the bottle.” (p. 72) Only someone with extended experience in alcohol consumption can drink that much with out spiting out what they could not handle. Men are expected to take physical risks. Blacky compares the advantages and disadvantages of attempting to stop Thumper, a large football player. “If you don’t then you’re a gutless wonder. A gutless wonder is about the worst thing to be in our town”. To Blacky there is nothing worst then being labelled a name, uses this to build himself up to tackle Thumper. It is evident that sensitivity and intelligence in men are frowned upon, whilst social etiquette is also given no consideration by the men in Blacky’s father. The family is around the kitchen table, “waiting for dinner to be served. Except for the old man, of course. He only sat down to eat with [the family] when the pub was closed- Sundays and Christmas day.” (p. 31) It is evident that Blacky looks beyond the constructed gender roles in the Port and in doing so he rejects the sexist discourse endorsed by his community. First we read that Blacky looks upon the females with a different attitude then the other males of the Port community. As has already been stated, Black knew of his mother’s abilities concerning the game of football. “[His] sure she would’ve been a better coach than Arks”. (p. 32) He just could not find it in himself to suggest it to someone as to her being “tactical advisor”. (p. 32) But it is the thought that counts after all. Ignoring role model, his father, Blacky subjects himself to that which is not expected of him as a male in the Port. “Good evening, erstwhile siblings” (p. 32) are Blacky’s greeting to his brothers and sisters. Words that he learnt with his mother- while at the doctors reading Reader’s Digest –Increase Your Word Powers; and filling the census form. Even with large amounts of pressure, Blacky pulls out of the tackle of Thumper or so he thought. He comes to conclusions “The team, the town, the glory-...