Love and Connection
- Love is essential for a sense of hope, trust and belonging
- Characters have different ways of showing their love, through physical touch/proximity, emotional intimacy, sacrifice, humour etc.
- When love is lost, unexplored, or not shown, characters are left with a sense of isolation and betrayal
- Most adults in the novel are portrayed as lacking love in their marital relationships
- Human connection is important for survival during hardship.
TIP: When it comes to this theme, try not to focus just on Frank & Elsa, there are many examples of love and connection in the novel and how it enables characters to feel a sense of belonging , safety and connection.
Loss
- Those with polio experience loss in many ways - they see the impact of death as well as the loss of things like childhood, belonging, trust, hope, normalcy, relationships, freedom etc.
- Loss impacts people in different ways, but most characters are never able to fully overcome the losses of their past. Generally, the losses not related to polio are the ones that hurt most of all
- Many things, both physical and emotional are lost in the process of suffering
TIP: When it comes to this theme, don’t just focus on physical loss or death. The children especially loss a lot in the process of recovery, but also Ida and Meyer in the process of relocating. As characters grow and transform, many things are lost, although much is gained.
Growth
- Growth is a painful but necessary process
- In the process of growth, characters strive to move on from the past, often unsuccessfully
- On the other hand, growth brings positives as well, in making characters more resilient, strong and mature.
- Hardship inevitably speeds up growth
TIP: When it comes to growth, try to focus on those characters who undergo the biggest transformations in the novel, such as Frank, Elsa, Meyer and Ida. Think about the big events in the novel that contribute to their transformation, and look at them at the start of the novel compared to the end.
Isolation
- Most characters in TGA are isolated in some way, either physically, socially or emotionally
- Many characters are familiar with the feeling of “otherness” in the eyes of the world, either because of their disease, background or social status
- Some characters choose to isolate themselves, whilst others are isolated against their will
- Careful making a distinction between isolation and chosen solitude - many characters find comfort in moments of solitude.
- You can feel alone or isolated even when surrounded by people
TIP: When considering isolation, try to think of all aspects, such as physical, social and emotional isolation. There are plenty of examples of each. Many characters are quite lonely, either by choice or by circumstance.
Belonging
- The other side of isolation, belonging is the way that most characters strive to overcome feelings of loneliness and otherness
- Characters in TGA find a variety of different ways to find belonging in people, places and things, not always successfully
- TGA itself is a haven, home and sanctuary for the children as well as the staff, more than their actual homes in most cases
TIP: Think of the things that contribute to a person’s sense of belonging - it is not always about physical place (e.g. TGA, Perth, Budapest), but can be found in people (family, TGA staff, Elsa, Sister Penny), a vocation (piano, poetry, driving), or even nature (the beach, the garden, outdoors).
Symbolism
Light/darkness
It is significant that both Frank and Elsa’s most traumatic moments were associated with darkness. Characters often seek out the light as an antidote to this darkness and sorrow of the past.
Light is often associated with people (e.g. Elsa, Sister Penny), showing how they bring a sense of hope and optimism to the people observing them.
The Netting Factory is also a constant source of light in the darkness, providing comfort at TGA so the children are never in complete darkness. It also represents the outside world, a life beyond TGA, a future they may be able to be part of one day
Symbolism
Nature
The natural world is always present, through birdsong, dogs barking, the weather. Perth is a sprawling city by the ocean and beautiful weather and open spaces. Characters relish in this open space often- Meyer prefers to walk than catch the train (which he probably associates with the war), Margaret finds solace in her garden and watching the sky, Elsa talks about the sky outside the window providing comfort, Sister Penny enjoys swimming, as do all the children on their “refreshing” excursion and the summer nights on the verandah. Animals and the outdoors represent freedom when we embrace our natural selves, and antithesis to the claustrophobia and structure of the indoors
Symbolism
Third Country
Why does Frank call Elsa “The Third Country?”. His first country is Hungary, his second is Australia. But with Elsa is where he truly belongs. It is his way to express his feeling of displacement, trying to find his identity; The Third Country is his private world with Elsa, the sense of belonging felt when they are together that transcends geographical boundaries, their disease or cultural differences.
Symbolism
Trains
In the chapter ‘trains’, Frank observed that Ida “shuddered” at the sound of trains, since they represented the trains which took Meyer and so many others to the labour camps. But for Frank the train sounds are comforting, familiar. “They were company”. Frank passes the time in the dark roof space by listening for trains, a sign that the outside world continued, whereas for Ida and Meyer, they represent death and imprisionment. Meyer decides to walk rather than catch the bus, which represents the freedom of the outdoors, throwing off routine and structure to spontaneity.
Symbolism
Birds
There are many typically Australian sounds throughout the novel, particularly cockatoos flocking around TGA, reminding the children of life outside. But children are often compared to birds themselves. This is a pretty typical symbol of freedom, but also shows the fragility of the children “she limped unaided around the house, like a bird with its wing broken. Tame, because it couldn’t fly away”, or Ida is described as “a bird who refused to sing”.
Symbolism
Poetry
Frank’s poetry is always steeped in symbolism. Simple sentences are filled with meaning, a way to make sense of the world around him. E.g. “Your bed was empty today/ when I looked for you./ Why?” Frank admits that this poem could just as easily be about Sullivan, whose dead body had already been taken away one morning when Frank visits. This represents Frank’s fear of losing those who mean the most to him, and the sense of reliance he has on Elsa as a “homing point”.
Symbolism
Piano
Ida sees her skill on the piano as a divine gift, yet she has refused to play piano since Frank contracted polio, almost as a form of revenge or anger at fate/God. Her concert at TGA is significant, “a thank you note for Frank’s recovery”. In this final performance, Ida says “at last she fully understood” that Australia was her new home.
Duality
Often, characters in the novel are portrayed as having two different sides (duality), or living between two worlds, never really able to completely be themselves. Examples:
- Hungary/Australia or Budapest/Perth - Meyer, Ida & Frank
- Public/Private - when alone or with someone they trust, characters reveal intimate details. Many withdraw from public life altogether, preferring solitude
- Child/Adult - Elsa and Frank are adolescents, in between childhood and innocence and the “oldness” that comes with adulthood. Their realisation of “how the world really is” at the end signifies their acceptance of adulthood. Often the children appear old and their parents young and awkward.
- Past/Present - many characters are unable to enjoy the present as they are haunted by the past.
- Real world/Golden Age - the children and even the staff are often sheltered from the real world by TGA, a world their families must live in.
- Inside/Outside - the verandah is a halfway point between inside and outside, but many characters find comfort and privacy in the shelter of nature with all its unpredictability
- Freedom/Limitation - many characters years from freedom without society expectations or rules, but often find this unattainable
- Rebellion/Conformity - similarly, little acts of rebellion bring joy, whereas after Albert’s escape from TGA, conformity seems to win out
- Instinct/Reason - many characters have a guiding “inner voice” like Elsa’s captain, or the voice that keeps calling Meyer to act on his attraction to Sister Penny. Yet many characters give in to season, rather than following passions
- Chaos/Structure - home life and the real world is chaos and broken memories, TGA is structure and predictability
