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Analysis Of Summer Of The Seventeenth Doll

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Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Through the development of characterisation, Lawler’s text acts as a mirror for an emerging society. Whilst the play encompasses many significant themes relevant to an Australian 1950’s society, the disillusionment of growing old is a concept which is addressed through characters Roo and Olive, who evidently find their discoveries both confronting and provocative. Lawler demonstrates reluctance to grow old through Roo, Olive’s love interest who has been consistently travelling to Melbourne for the lay-off season every 5 months with his friend, Barney. Roo a dominant, masculine cane cutter who after seventeen years is reluctant to address that he has aged significantly, is adamant to believe that he still possesses the same strength and endurance that he once did. It appears that he is blinded by the excitement of the lay-off season to accept that seventeen years later, he is not the same person that he once was. Roo’s disillusion is notable in Act 3 Scene 1 when he demonstrates a defensive tone when responding “Nobody tells me I’m old. I’m as good as a man now than I ever was”, when confronted by Emma. Through Roo’s distinctive voice, Roo’s reluctance to accept that he has aged is significant in understanding Roo’s response to his unwanted discovery.

Similarly, Lawler’s character Olive mirrors an identical disillusion to her lover. As Olive is evident in her distaste towards marriage and her determination to maintain the lay-off, her

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