sYMBOLISM OF OBEJCTS
tHE RING |
|
The Golden Ring, one of the strange objects in the novel found in the cannibal pot. The Ring ends up in the possession of Steven Messenger, causing him to see things that he hasn’t before. The ring symbolises dreams coming true and a escape from reality. In the story of El Dorado, where the City of Gold is about the coming true of dreams: “It’s mystery lives on as a symbol for every goal beyond attainment; every dream beyond reality” (Item 28, p.196). Steven thinks of the ring as his El Dorado, as it creates a different Steven Messenger, one that is something better than he feels he is “Every goal beyond attainment” (p.196). This Steven Messenger is who the real Steven Messenger wants to be, a James Dean looking and a cool character “Myself but not myself, in jeans and a T-shirt”. This is in contrast to the the traits Steven Messenger posses, a weak, immature and quite character.
The ring causes him to also have visions and hallucinations of the Batavia wreck in 1629. Messenger see’s the journey of Jan Pelgrom and Wouter Loos, two murderers and rapists who survived the Batavia wreck and were now trying to survive alone on the island of Beacon in Western Australia. Steven Messenger finds himself becoming similar to Wouter Loos, finding out that he too, becomes a murderer. Gary Crew has placed the ring into the novel to question Stevens sanity. This makes it harder and makes the readers think more about what’s real and what’s not.
The ring causes him to also have visions and hallucinations of the Batavia wreck in 1629. Messenger see’s the journey of Jan Pelgrom and Wouter Loos, two murderers and rapists who survived the Batavia wreck and were now trying to survive alone on the island of Beacon in Western Australia. Steven Messenger finds himself becoming similar to Wouter Loos, finding out that he too, becomes a murderer. Gary Crew has placed the ring into the novel to question Stevens sanity. This makes it harder and makes the readers think more about what’s real and what’s not.
Vacancy sign
One object that is represented but rarely talked about in the novel is the vacancy sign of the motel. Gary Crew brings in the flashing vacancy sign to represent when something bad is about to happen. This creates suspense throughout the novel.
Life Frame
Steven Messenger creates a life frame. He decides to capture a live lizard, so he can dissect it later. This shows that Steven Messenger has a bit of a sick mind, and isn't afraid of killing something (and later someone).
Comic book
The comic book mentioned in the novel is very significant in the symbolism of the book. Firstly, the comic is called “Alien Invasion”. This title easily applies to the collonisation of Australia. The colonists were likely to have been seen as ‘aliens’ to the Aborigines. As more and more colonists would come, through the eyes of the Aborigines who owned the land, this colonization could have been seen as an ‘invasion.’ On top of this, the comic book is a symbol of colonial power and affect. The colonists who came to Australia had power over the Aborigines through technology and culture, and the effect of their power was mass discrimination towards the Aborigines and conflicts.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Fabtograph