PAST THE SHALLOWS

Favel Parrett, 2011

Framework Theme Quote Technique Explanation

Memory “It still had a scar, Symbolism o Miles blocked out the trauma of the car crash
Unresolved trauma a line where the (scar) that killed his mother, the scar represents his
and it’s intrusion on bark had never trauma and pain, as it still hasn’t healed.
the present: grown back.”
 The “His eyes were Flashback o Flashback, where Miles relives the trauma of
consequences heavy, … and the car crash while driving with Dad.
and Mum turned in Motif o Motif of trying to stay awake.
ramifications of her seat.” o Miles is piecing the experience back together,
not facing the as he had blocked it out to deal with the pain.
past, using the “ ‘Sometimes I Focalisation o Harry’s suppression of memory, as he explains
didactic can’t remember (Harry) it to George, as a response to the trauma
qualities of Mum.’ ” experienced from the car accident that killed
literature to his mum.
reinforce the Desensitisation “Miles had started Metaphor o As a result of suppressing his emotions and
importance of to shiver but he trauma under the imposition of his father’s
facing past couldn’t really feel toxic masculinity, Miles has become
traumas and it.” desensitised both mentally and physically.
adversities “He let himself Visual Imagery o Through the choice of ‘letting’ himself cry,
cry.” Parrett has implied that Miles has been
 Characterisation holding in crying, and any emotion associated
with the trauma and abuse within his life,
resulting from the suppression of emotion
imposed on him by his father.
“Miles wanted to Characterisation o Miles has been made to feel that his
tell Joe that things (Miles) emotions, and treatments are unimportant,
were bad at paired with the suppression of emotions
home.” ingrained through his father, he doesn’t want
to burden Joe with that, or make himself
seem weak.
Trauma “The he let Miles Metaphor o The father had been holding Miles back,
go.” Symbolism metaphorical as he actually let him go, and let
him go as a son, as he’s his only actual son of
the three brothers. The father had been
holding Miles back, he was inhibiting him
from moving on.
“I’m not scared of Metaphor o We see that fear acts in inhibiting that fear
the water Motif has on an individual, preventing them from
anymore!” Symbolism feeling loved and safe, and having the ability
to control them. Harry breaks free of that.
The ocean and the water is symbolic of the
father
“ ‘I meant coke,’ Focalisation o Father forces Harry to indulge in his
Harry said... (Harry) addictions. Toxic nature of the father, where
‘You’ll bloody abuse and violence is normalised in their
drink it.” family, reinforcing the inhibiting nature of
relationships.
o The unresolved trauma of the father’s
betrayal.
Abuse “ ‘I meant coke,’ Focalisation o Father forces Harry to indulge in his
Toxic masculinity as Harry said... (Harry) addictions. Toxic nature of the father, where
‘You’ll bloody abuse and violence is normalised in their
a catalyst for drink it.” family, reinforcing the inhibiting nature of
intergenerational relationships.
trauma: “The he let Miles Metaphor o The father had been holding Miles back,
 The suppression go.” Symbolism metaphorical as he actually let him go, and let
of emotion due him go as a son, as he’s his only actual son of
to the the three brothers. The father had been
imposition of holding Miles back, he was inhibiting him
toxic masculinity from moving on.
within the “he looked right Symbolism of o Joe says he’s glad. Harry is glad that he isn’t
family at Dad and he brother’s his father and doesn’t have to be controlled
said, ‘I’m glad.’” connection by or abused by him anymore. They both free
 Focalisation themselves of the father and toxic
relationship.
o Harry faces abuse as being the embodiment
of the betrayal the father endured.
Desensitisation “Miles had started Metaphor o As a result of suppressing his emotions and
And to shiver but he trauma under the imposition of his father’s
Suppression of couldn’t really feel toxic masculinity, Miles has become
Emotion it.” desensitised both mentally and physically.
“He let himself Visual Imagery o Through the choice of ‘letting’ himself cry,
cry.” Parrett has implied that Miles has been
holding in crying, and any emotion associated
with the trauma and abuse within his life,
resulting from the suppression of emotion
imposed on him by his father.
“Miles didn’t want Characterisation o Miles has been made to feel that his
to tell Joe that (Miles) emotions, and treatments are unimportant,
things were bad at paired with the suppression of emotions
home.” ingrained through his father, he doesn’t want
to burden Joe with that, or make himself
seem weak.
Family “Dad never got Characterisation o Shows the inconsistent behaviour of the
him grilled fish. It father, as he is most times abusive and violent
was too towards the boys, but buys them expensive
expensive.” fish as a way to repair things. Reveals
inconsistent nature of people as the father is
not someone who had even been represented
as kind and caring.
“A house. A farm. Truncated o Challenges the idea of what makes a home or
A family. A home. Sentences a family, challenging the audience’s
… And none of it preconceived ideas about the nature of home
was any good.” and family. Home is where you are supposed
to feel the safest, but that is not the place for
the Curren boys, due to the normalised abuse
and violence in their household.
“like tonight Focalisation o Harry is sitting in front of the fire with George
hadn’t happened (Harry) in his house, the fire acting as a symbol of
and he’d lived in warmth, contrasting to the cold he feels in his
this tiny wood own house.
shack with this old
man.”
Relationships “He knew they Focalisation o Innocence. Harry seeks assurance and
The inhibiting nature (enriching) were real friends (Harry) certainty, black and white. But life contains
of isolation: now.” greater complexities. In reference to George.
 Through the “He let himself Focalisation o After the death of Harry, Miles finds comfort
representation cry.” (Miles) with Joe. In ‘letting’ himself cry, it signifies
 of isolation that Miles had been holding it in, sacrificing
(physical and his own wellbeing and suppressing his
mental) as emotions and feelings to care for his younger
inhibiting, the brother, in the absence of a supportive and
enriching loving paternal figure.
qualities of “like tonight Focalisation o Harry finds comfort in the company of
relationships are hadn’t happened (Harry) George, symbolised by the warmth from his
revealed and he’d lived in fire, something he doesn’t experiences in his
this tiny wood own home, which is shown as cold.
 Setting shack with this old
man.”
Isolation “Miles didn’t want Characterisation o Miles has been made to feel that his
to tell Joe that (Miles) emotions, and treatments are unimportant,
things were bad at paired with the suppression of emotions
home.” ingrained through his father, he doesn’t want
to burden Joe with that, or make himself
seem weak.
“A house. A farm. Truncated o Challenges the idea of what makes a home or
A family. A home. Sentences a family, challenging the audience’s
… And none of it preconceived ideas about the nature of home
was any good.” and family. Home is where you are supposed
to feel the safest, but that is not the place for
the Curren boys, due to the normalised abuse
and violence in their household.
“Stuck working for Motif (stuck) o The motif of being stuck is used throughout
dad, stuck being the novel, showing the inhibiting nature of
responsible for isolation on Harry, even though he is not
Harry, stuck being physically isolated from others.
responsible for
everything.”
Brotherhood “‘Time,’ Joe said. Symbolism o Symbolism of the dark blue represents the
‘It’s just time.’ ‘light’ leaving from Miles’ life as Joe leaves, his
Everything was safety and security has left as well.
dark blue now.”
“he looked right Symbolism of o Joe says he’s glad. Harry is glad that he isn’t
at Dad and he brother’s his father and doesn’t have to be controlled
said, ‘I’m glad.’” connection by or abused by him anymore. They both free
themselves of the father and toxic
relationship.
o Harry faces abuse as being the embodiment
of the betrayal the father endured.
“The light was Symbolism o The light is symbolic of Joe within Miles’ life,
going. Soon it (light) and as he leaves home Miles is left alone.
would be too late. o The warmth and support Miles receives from
Joe was leaving. Motif (stuck) Joe is also leaving, leaving him isolated within
Leaving.” the home.