Patrick White’s “A Fringe of Leaves” Essay

kindly interactions and familys are often use in novels to establish and arrest thematic c at a timerns within the text. Within A beautify of Leaves, Patrick black-and-blue constrains causes and their alliances to expose the constraints of tender expectations and simultaneously illustrate the metaphysical trip to self-importance-importance-realisation that the protagonist, Ellen undergoes. It is through with(predicate) Ellens knotty and often enigmatical races with another(prenominal) characters that her journey whitethorn be traced and the extent of change at to each one aim may be realised. The text prevails, throughout much(prenominal) a journey, concerned with the contrast amidst appearances and reality, revealed though all levels of interaction, simply affectingly exemplified in the f number class. Such contrasts are juxtaposed to the relatively natural, and none the less(prenominal) thickening, births appearing deep within the Australian bush. Social r elationships are vital in establishing themes, stock-still Ellens inner fight back remains the focus of the novel. Relationships are therefor presented as complex and confusing in order to shape a deeper understanding of both the tribulations and private conflicts Ellen must face and the complex product of her journey.Ellen Gluyas is of working class origins and it is unless through her relationship with Austin that she comes to be the Mrs. Roxburg of class and hearty stature. This transcending of class, although provides her with stoical and expedience, valuable in her journey, is the cause of much confusion for Ellen and she is constantly reassessing her situations in able to put one over her appropriate role. color clearly expresses that Ellen and Austins conjugation is for reasons other then romantic hunch. Austins natural selection of Ellen as his wife enables him to fulfill his Pygmalion fantasies, however the prospect of marrying would not boast come about at all w ithout the instruction of his mother. The marriage may thus be seen as, as equally fulfilling for gray-haired Mrs. Roxburg as it is for Austin. Ellen, in complying with the Pygmalion concept, marries as it is her only means by which to achieve companionable mobility. Her word sense of Austins extraordinary proposal is prompted by her fathers death (a complex relationship in itself) as her resulting social lieu leaves her with little alternative choice. Their relationship is thus grounded on a unsound combination of unequal power, gratitude, unfamiliarity, duty and a bungling attempt to  substantiate their love.It is in the initial stage of the novel that the impacts of such a relationship are introduced. Ellen constantly struggles to camouflage her working class grow and beneath that, her spiritual and instinctual self. This creates conflict and confusion in her understanding of her self and her relationships with other characters. Ellen plays a m both faceted role, which is made affirmable through the layers of social practices imposed during her initiation into the upper class. Although Austin provides her with the opportunity, it is her relationship with old Mrs. Roxburg that begins the facial expression of the new young Mrs. Roxburg. Ellen becomes Austin and his mothers molded and operated work of artistic production and it is during this time that she realises the importance of appearances within the upper class. Ellen excessively becomes aware of the innocence and ignorance of her working class self, and hence washcloth foregrounds the fancy of the class system as divided by a thin veneer of respectability. This notion of a superficial fringe as the determinant of position within hunting lodge is further criticised through the construction of Austins brother Garnet. lily-whites word picture of Garnet and the insights Ellen gains from her relationship with him, reveal the potential for corruption and immorality within the upper class. Garnet, although banished from good for you(p) society in Britain, is able to resume his authoritarian role, transposing his familiar mankind of privilege and power to an Australian society. Whites dry limning of Garnet as a stereotype of the upper class is critical in its exposure of the double standards apparent in a stratified social structure. Garnet is expected to uphold social ideals by setting moral examples for those lesser than him, yet he, in every respect, defies the concept of Christian morality through his advantageous and corrupt temper. Whites depiction of Garnets relationship with the servant girl Holly reveals how a man of his position is able to manipulate the lives of those around him, with little concern for the consequences. The character of Holly is marginalised within the text however this may be read as furthering Whites ironic portrait of the upper class, as the minimal description of the girls fate is representative of just how little Garnets actions effect his life.Although the portrayal of Holly also criticises dominant ideologies on gender, the extent of double standards towards male and distaff sexuality is fully exposed in the construction of the relationship betwixt Ellen and Garnet. Their relationship is punishingly contrasted to the sterile and repressive nature of Ellen and Austins relationship. Within her marriage Ellen is unable to explore her sexuality as when she hadonce responded with a natural ardourdiscovered on her husbands face an expression of having tasted something bitter. Her relationship with Garnet thus proves to be complex in its meaning. It eldest represents Ellen and Garnet as twin characters in their sensualist desires that must be censured in light of social morality. Whilst simultaneously juxtaposing the perception of sexuality in males and females within phallocentrically informed societies.Garnets sexuality is defined as a root system of virile power. It is condoned and slightly celebra ted within the text. In strong contrast, Ellens sexuality is represented as dangerous and immoral. She suffers guilt aft(prenominal) the experience, and in resuming her relations with Austin, continues to refrainfrom tearingoffthe mask which obviously she was expected to wear. In the Roxburgs confusing relationship of supposed love and stifled interactions, Ellen must repress her sensual desires in order to align to social expectations of a lady, and thoughtful wife. Thus Garnet is the tool which she used to measure the depths she was tempted to explore. Their encounter unleashes Ellens repressed sensual nature and sexual desire, which prompts and foreshadows her journey to self-realisation.White depicts Ellen as a complex character whose complexity is enhanced by her experiences within the upper class of society. By focusing on Ellens social relationships, White is able to construct her character to the point where her descent may be as provoke and many leveled as her ascent. A s a working class girl, Ellen existed with a few layers of constructed self. As she is initiated into the upper class she is constructed by external forces (old Mrs Roxburg and Austin) and internal forces (her new knowledgable self, exemplified within her journal). This construction of self, imposes layers upon layers of culture and false or rendered identity. In ellens journey to self realisation she is stripped of her constructed or social self. The initial stages of the novel develop these layers so that the second component part may remove them. Social relationships are thus used to develop and measure both her ascent and her descent.Parallels are thus drawn mingled with the Roxbourgs and the Aborigines, as they are characters whose relationships with Ellen denote periods of marked and rapid change. This notion of allining the two experiences is introduced when Ellen is dragged to her feet by the group of ancient women. Omniscient narration allows the parallel to be drawn through the line, Ellen Gluyas had not encountered a to a greater extent improbable situation since forced as a bride to face the drawing live at Cheltenham. This line is significant also in the use of naming. It is the initiatory of an interchanging of identity, which represents both the confusion Ellen undergoes and also the shedding of her cultivated layers. Within the Aboriginal society Ellen is pushed and pulled to suit those around her.This may be read as representative of her treatment by civilised society, on a more basic and primitive level, symbolising manipulation through social relationships. Ellens relationship with the aborigines mark the beginning of her descent, as she is returned to the most basic and subsistence level of humanity. However to exist within the community she still must assume certain roles, such as slave and nurturer, savage and work of art. Ellen becomes the Aborigines work of art, just the way she did for Austin. And the ordeal she suffers exemp lifies physically, the psychological effectuate of her work of art rolein her marriage. Her role as nurturer and savage, reveal her instinctual and primitive self . Ellen is allowed to explore this berth of her nature as she is freed from the constraints of civilised society.White constructs relationships between Ellen and the Aboriginal electric razorren, through Ellens role as nurturer. These relationships are central in revealing the contrasts of good and bad within human nature, and White explores the notion that good and bad exist collectively within people, and that zipper is truly good or truly bad. This is first introduced through the portrayal of Garnet who, despite being vilified within the text, encompasses vital characteristics in the development of Ellens journey. The first relationship Ellen has with an aboriginal child, blatantly exposes her evil side, whilst nurses the sickly child. thither is stark contrast of good and bad in Ellens thoughts and speech. She first refers to it as disgusting an then wishes it to sleep, sleepsleep-my darling. Later she wishes the child dead. Her relationship with other Aboriginal children, within the text are equally confusing. There are moments of idyllic contentment with the children, and then they become frightful and determined or even violent. They become for Ellen a means by which she may be comforted, however there there is never any developed example of love. In the context of Ellens journey, the children are also tools, by which she may explore her nurturer side, denied through her fruitless marriage with Austin.Whites construction of the character diddlyshit Chance, Ellens condemn hero, provides a heightened example of good shrouded in evil. Jack is a murderer, and a criminal, whilst he is Ellens protector. In contrast to Garnet, Jack is unable to beat the consequences of his actions, and has suffered the brutalities of the upper classes corruption. His character thus evokes sympathy despit e his immoral past. The conjunction of Ellen and Jack is complex as it reveals the contradiction and multiplicity within the individuals uncoiled self. Jack is presented as both a murderer and protector, whilst Ellens heightened sensory faculty of self, is only made possible through the darker and more primitive side of her nature. The positive portrayal of their Eden-like existence valorises the multiplicity and contradictions within themselves and their relationship.It is both a spiritual and sexual confederation in which Ellen appears her most natural self. It is with Jack that she makes the final transition to full enlightenment and self-realisation, symbolized by the sheding of her fringe of leaves. Their relationship remains confusing though. Ellen replaces the fringe of leaves to distance herself from Jack. Although she loved him, social relationships remain complex for Ellen, and Jack is of course another tool in Ellens journey. by means of him she may rekindle her sens uality and extend her self fellowship. He is her means to return to civilization, and thus their idyllic relationship is temporary. White implies that their union is not possible within civilised society. Their natural existence of unrepressed desires and sensuality may not be transposed onto a innovation of appearances and constructed social take cares, such that Ellen returns to civilization alone.Throughout the novel Ellens social relationships trace and reflect the stages of her journey. On returning to civilisation there surfaces a new confusion as Ellen realizes that self-knowledge might remain a source of embarrassment even danger. She is forced to repress all of her new knowledge to fit back into a society of superficiality and unjustified stratification. White constructs Ellens journey to criticise the nature of society and to expose the tribulations of those less than the upper class white male. Through the construction of confusing and complex relationships, White is able to delve deeper into the multitude of perceptions and understandings of his characters. Few characters reflect a one sided and purely good or bad person, thus White reveals that morality and goodness is often blurred.In the context of class, by employing all-knowing narration, social relationships are constructed to reveal the superficialities and uneven power distributions within society. Through his critical depiction of class White enforces that such divisions are but thin veneers, and criticizes them as a false basis to build social relationships. Through Ellens journey, more heightened experiences take precedence over her somewhat tedious social existence. Juxtaposed to her inner thoughts and spiritual awareness, her social front is predominantly a piteous reflection of her true self. White explores such contrasts in order to invoke a critical reflection of society in all contexts.