“Deadly Unna” by Phillip Gwynne Essay

The novel, sulphurous Unna, written by Phillip Gwynne tells the story of the multicultural bond between the Aboriginal up and coming football game player Dumby Red and his loyal Australian mate Gary (Blacky) Black. There are many issues explored in the novel, such as family, domestic violence and above all, racism. Moreover, the novel demonstrates the issue of family. The Black family is portrayed as very(prenominal) dysfunctional. The reader understands from early on in the novel that Garry Blacks father is an unreasonable, irresponsible and hostile father. Blacky demonstrates to the reader of his dads lack of support, when he says, For a start I was always I bed when he (his dad) came home (page 54). This insinuates that Blackys dad always come home late because he is too busy getting drunk at the pub. Consequently, imputable to Blackys dads absence, his return is left to provide and play a big part in Blackys life. Consequently, Blackys family is face up with the problem of domestic violence.This makes the quality of living for the Black family low. He chucked me out the of the wheelhouse, thats how I got this as Team-man pointed to his lip. He had been hit after his father after he turned the boat around due to his father falling asleep. The fear of being hit or beaten by their dad is non healthy at all. It all slowly builds up between all the siblings and eventually they crack and Team-man tries to buck him. The issue of Domestic violence is shown multiple times throughout this novel. Racism is very evident in this book. Being in a town like Blacky, where there is a vast spread of both(prenominal) whites and Aboriginies, he finds it hard too not judge them based on the stereotypes he has heard from early(a) generations.The town is divided and usually both cultures do not mix. The Aboriginies lodge in the point and the whites live in the port. If an Aborigine or white are found in each others territory they are usually despised upon. At the pub the Whites and Aboriginals are separated and do not bond together. A tin shed down the point has clearly written in graffiti boongs piss off which is very racist and couldve easily offended some of the Aboriginals. Also when Dumby dies the whites say it doesnt matter which is very disrespectful. This shows that problems involving racism and cultural indifferences in the book are so serious that they in time occur in our day and age.