Tim Wintons’ short story, The Turning, follows the struggles of the protagonist, Raelene, as she questions her individuality and attempts to escapes her husbands’ sexual repression. Winton challenges the values pertaining to the traditional role of women in contemporary society, as he presents Raelene’s journey for self discovery from a critical point in her life. In The Turning the notion of stagnation and inability to change are heavily conveyed, however the consequences of these changes are determined by the nature of the influence. Raelene is essentially a protagonist who unintentionally resists change. The religious influence of Sherry enables her to question her perhaps concrete existence, it is described as “waves flashed….like her thoughts” to symbolise change and risk that comes with the deterioration of this concrete existence.
Raelene is to a degree a prisoner of Max’s predominately sexual views of women “She felt tantalizingly close to some kind of breakthrough” reinforces with an enthused tone that she is attempting to overcome. “There were lights..searching…looking into the fires” symbolises that she has accepted change as inevitable and to a degree discovered herself. Although she recognises that change fundamental which is advantageous, she is unable to instigate change due to fear, not of change itself but the consequences it may bring. Her inability to express herself means that the resolution is elusive “watched TV with the sound off…how fpointless people were without their voices” conveys her inability to verbalise her opinions and thus results in no resolutions to her implications.
The “too Scared to leave him” highlights the detrimental consequences change will have specifically on her. The capitalisation of the word scared emphasises her inability to change as a result of fear. Raelene then attempts to change however Maxs’ sexual repression is far too dominant for change to occur. Ultimately, “She was free,” the short pitty sentence ends the story and demonstrates that although Sherry acted as a catalyst for change, Max was counteractive to her efforts. The external influence of Sherry and Max convey the concept of stagnation and inability to change as having both advantageous and detrimental consequences.
Change is inevitable and fundamental in personal and societal development. Accepting or denying this concept in altered by surrounding influences. In “The Turning” by Tim Winton and T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock” and “Portrait of a Lady” the notion of inability to change and stagnation are conveyed, however the consequences of these changes are determined by the nature of the influence.
Stagnation is due to resistance to change, this notion is altered by the external influences which exist. This notion is portrayed in “The Turning” through the protagonist, Raelene. Raelene is arguably imprisoned by her husband, Max’s predominately sexual views of women. Sherry acts as a catalyst for change; she enables Raelene to escape the prison of her arguably meaningless existence. The symbolism “waves flashed….like her thoughts” describes the waves as her previous beliefs of consistency which are broken as they approach the sand, indicate that on a personal level she is going to take risks and allow change to occur.
Similarly in Eliot’s “Prufrock”, the concept is explored. Prufrock contemplates the consequences of change and as a result fails to accept change, however his contemplating is perhaps an influence of his some what vacillating approach to society and women in particular. The rhyming couplet” And yet time for a hundred indecisions… revisions” demonstrates to some degree that societies perception of him is relatively important and thus he develops barriers to change to prevent its consequences. The resistance to change conveyed in both texts, highlighting that this notion is arguably shaped by external forces, in “The Turning” is was religious influence and in “Prufrock” it was societal.
Change although an inevitable force can be hindered by external influences. The inability to change is conveyed in Winton’s story, Raelene fails to acknowledge the restrain upon her freedom due to her patriarchal relationship with Max. The imagery “her little aluminium box … trapped “reinforces the male dominance in the relationship. Although she has accepted change as a result of Sherry’s religious influence she is still unable to change due to fear which overcomes her. “Slamming her head against the wall…I was too scared to leave” the tone conveys the implication she faces. Max is ultimately a barrier between acceptance and rejection of change; he is the influence that determines this decision and consequences that result.
Raelene essentially rejects change as “she was powerless” the pity sentence conveys her resistance to change as a result of Max’s influence on her freedom. In T.S. Eliot’s “Portrait of a Lady encapsulates the thoughts of a Lady who accepts that change is occurring, nevertheless she yearns to return to her youth. “Lilacs are in bloom…hold it in your hands” she holds a symbol of blooming youth attempts to hold on to the youth, but although it flows, it does not flow to her. She is able to allow change to occur, however she longs for it to discontinue. Her longing to return to her youth is initiated and influenced by the young male who searches for wealth, she feels that wealth is perishable however youth is more valuable.
The lady on a psychological level hopes that her wealth can be exchanged for youth. Inability to change is explored in Winton’s short story and demonstrates that external influences shape the consequences change may have. In contrast, Elliot’s “Portrait of a Lady” considers the ability to change which are hindered by the youth of society longing for wealth. Change is an inescapable phenomenon. Stagnation and inability to change are influenced on various levels and determine whether the consequences are beneficial or detrimental.
