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Band 6 “Past the shallows” Essay
English Language (EH 401)
St Joseph's University
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Human experiences are varied and differ for each individual. Evaluate the ways that ’Past the
Shallows’ represents human experiences in powerful ways.
To be human involves having choices, a purpose and desires that shape our beliefs, attitudes and perspectives that ultimately forge our identity thus, giving meaning to our human existence and the way we interact with the world, by sharing our own experiences through storytelling, to become aware of ourselves. Striving for connection and belonging is an innate human need that helps individuals to survive complex human experiences of adversity. Through the power of storytelling, composers provide the impetus for an imaginative and vicarious journey that paradoxically moves us simultaneously both outwardly and inwardly to reveal eternal and paradoxical truths. This is masterfully demonstrated in Favel Parrett’s intriguing Bildungsroman novel “Past the Shallows”, which explores these universal truths through conveying the triumph of the human spirit, through the collective and individualised experiences of brother’s will to survive the father’s cruel abuse in a dysfunctional family to explore taboo aspects of the human condition. Furthermore, Parrett intentionally exposes the paradox of relationships, as the audience are positioned to see the strength of the bond of brotherhood in the face of destructive and traumatic experiences through her unique characterisation which explores human flaws (harmartia). Furthermore, Parrett powerfully inspects grief and loss, exploring the various ways that people cope with adversity, leading to acceptance and rebirth**.** Parrett effectively challenges our ideologies and assumptions on the monstrosity of our human nature, by portraying that humanity is also bouyed by moments of joy and acceptance, in the face of adversity. Ultimately, she conveys humanities resilience through the power of storytelling.
The strength of brotherhood provides motivation, through destructive and traumatic experience, exploring the bitter paradox of relationships which can be detrimental, enabling us to survive hardship. Through compelling storytelling and the focalisation of Harry and Miles, Parrett challenges us to see the triumph of the human spirit, through the brother’s will to survive, despite the father’s cruel abuse creating a dysfunctional family. Parret intentionally challenges the readers to reevaluate and view the vitality of connectedness with others. As a result of his difference Harry is at first symbolised as isolated, much like the broader setting of Bruny island, a metaphor for the character's isolation. Through the metaphor “ They washed up in surf sometimes, the lost ones” Parrett skilfully foreshadows Harry as an anomaly, highlighting the inconsistencies of relationships, as though he is part of a family unit he feels ostracised as a result of dad’s destructive behaviour. Through the high modal declarative statement “You’ll bloody drink it” the reader is positioned to see the dysfunctional relationship between Harry and the Dad, illustrating the toxic masculinity reflected in the failed parent figure. Thus Parrett highlights the complexity of and fragility of relationships, yet paradoxically showing the inconsistencies in human behaviour, motivations and emotion, highlighting the ideology that not everybody has positive intentions. Through the multifaceted and inconsistent nature of the ocean, deliberately shown through the pathetic fallacy of “ocean breathing ”, Parrett mirrors human behaviors, emotions and motivations to reveal the inconsistencies of our interactions with others and how they shape our life outcomes. Thus, through the focalisation of Miles and Harry, Parrett illustrates humanity's need for companionship and a sense of belonging in order to survive adversities by finding comfort and stability through other sources. The strength of the bond of brotherhood is a beacon of resilience in surviving the father’s physical absue as Mile’s inclusive language “ We’ll be alright” exposes the importance of connection to others- that ultimately frees them. Moreover, positive connotations conveyed in the cyclical ending “ To somewhere warm to somewhere new” When Miles and Harry are succumbing to the ocean’s wrath, Parett purposefully explores these gratifying connections between the brothers, as when Miles feel the warmth of the metaphorical fire it is a bonding moment full of unconditional love. Ultimately, Parrett conveys the strength of brotherhood, in times of destructive and traumatic experience. Through her role as a storyteller she challenges us to see the need for human connection, for us to survive.
Futhermore, complex and challenging human experiences provide opportunities for individuals to achieve self- realisation and become resilient, if they are able to learn from their past experiences. We, as individuals, navigate this complex world through engaging storytelling, by sharing experiences through connection, challenging us as individuals to make sense of our world. Through her storytelling, Parrett purposefully explores that we, as individuals, are challenged to become resilient despite adversity, through the collective human experience of wanting to survive the hardships of life. Parett masterfully uses symbolism to illustrate that our human experiences may be unpredictable, but we must learn to overcome challenges, shown through the extended metaphor of the shark “ The three pups ... trying to swim against the mothers blood” showing the
intentional correlation to the mother and the three sons, and the struggle of grief and loss that ultimately shows the brothers reaction of struggling to live in this complex world of grief. This shows us that despite adversity we are able to survive. Throughout our lives, we will encounter challenges and obstacles, Parrett intentionally exploring the human frailty and vulnerability that must be overcome to survive the inconsistencies in lifet hrough the power of storytelling , as the bildungroman genre shows the growth and development of the characters. Through the focalisation of Harry’s assertive tone “I’m not scared anymore” she highlights the transitioning and acceptance, by overcoming the fathers abusive behaviour and Harry finding his true identity informing us that overcoming grief and loss, promotes growth both physically and mentally ushering change for a new perspective. Through seeing hope, the audience is challenged to witness positive moments in destructive and traumatic situations challenging us to become resilient. This is explored in the cyclical nature of her narrative structure conveying a positive shift in the character’s perspective in the truncated sentences “to somewhere warm, To somewhere new, ”intentionally focusing on the renewal and rebirth, of Miles’ perceptiveness leading him towards acceptance. Additionally, Parrett’s symbolism “ Out past the shallows” in the opening prologue encompasses the growth and wellbeing of an individual's experience. This metaphorical connotation encapsulates the notions of one’s past , the ability of one’s self to be challenged and motivated to move out beyond their comfort zone to ‘deeper water.’. Therefore, Parett as a storyteller purposefully unites people by sharing human experiences to make sense of our complex world. By overcoming adversity and becoming resilient, further showing the triumph of our human spirit through the human condition.
In Addition, Grief and Loss is what makes us human ultimately shaping our behaviours, motivations and emotions inturn, our individual identities. This allows us to grow, and become vulnerable allowing us to change the way we see and communicate with the wider world be refreshed and open to new experiences. As a storyteller, Parrett intentionally explores Grief and Loss as a collective human experience, to allow people to share experiences by uniting and coping with their own. Humans ulimately struggle with coping with grief and loss for example, the juxtaposition between Dad and Miles. Dad copes with anger and abuse whilst, Miles cries as seen in the aftermath of Harry’s death. Parrett intentionally explores that with Grief and Loss comes accpectance, these various coping methods as result of human experiences and emotions, are indeed what makes us human. The Truncated syntax and cyclical ending “ To somewhere warm. Somewhere” purposefully encompassing the deeper intimate emotional reaction that Miles, experiences; as he accepts his past and is ready to move on to a new beginning, creating a subdued moment of tenderness between Miles and the reader, and through his journey of acceptance it also shows us that by better understanding our past, we often better understand ourselves and our identities. As Miles is open to new experiences, as a result of Harry’s death by moving out of Cloudly bay, as he is free to explore the world, escaping the abusive dad, and the island. This allows the character development as Miles is “free” both mentally and physically. As a collective human experience we are forced to acknowledge grief and loss in order, to feel liberated and free through Miles allowing himself to grief the loss of Harry to his brother, Joe and himself transforming into the role of a storyteller as he experiences Catharsis, to survive his trauma shown in third person omniscient “ He let himself cry”. As individuals we are shaped by grief and loss, as we are driven to share our experience with others to feel closure and free, Stories allow us to share experiences. Thus, as storytellers sharing experiences allows us to grow and accept the truth. Parrett intentionally challenges us to share our own experiences and stories, to bond and unite with others through Miles’ experience with Joe promoting self-realisation and acceptance within ourselves, making us connected with our identities, making us human intentionally explores human experiences, by challenging us as individuals to share our own stories and experiences to feel accepted and free, allowing us to bond and unite with other storytellers to feel free and resilient to life’s obstacles. We are challenged to see and acknowledge that we as humans are storytellers, with stories that explore what it means to be human ultimately, being shaped by our behaviors, emotions and motivations.
Through unrevoled past and the intrusion of the present the strength of brotherhood provides motivation, in destructive and traumatic experience, paradox of relationships which can be detrimental, enabling us to survive hardship. Through compelling storytelling and the focalisation of Harry and Miles, Parrett challenges us to see the triumph of the human spirit, through the brother’s will to survive, despite the father’s cruel abuse due to supressed grief and loss from the of the mother, creating a dysfunctional family. Parret intentionally challenges
Band 6 “Past the shallows” Essay
Course: English Language (EH 401)
University: St Joseph's University
