The Secret River

I have been reading and analyzing The Secret River by Kate Grenville for another class. I chose this book because I had read it before and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to write about it. It's about English convicts who were shipped to Australia, in the 1800s, to serve their time. The trick was they could be executed in London for their crime or go to this foreign land of New South Wales (Sydney) and never return home again. I'm not sure what you would do but I would do as the characters in the book did...I would move. I guess you're dead to your family either way.

http://kategrenville.com/The_Secret_River

The first time I read it, a few years ago, I didn't see the gender inequality in it; however, it was clear as day when I read it the second time. A friend of mine said that I was just looking to make an argument like most women. I was so shocked because I thought he was on my side. Was I looking for feminism or was it there all along? It was there and I'll tell you how I know. 

William Thornhill, the father and convicted theft, is the prisoner but his wife, Sal, is the One who doesn't have freedom. She is stuck in this foreign land that she doesn't want to be in because her husband committed a crime that she has to do the time for along with him. He eventually forgets about his wife's needs. Instead of him being punished, he is able to become part of the elite land owners in New South Wales.  She spent years counting the days like prisoners who are locked up.

The next example is when Sal Is called a wh@&£ by a guy who didn't know her. This just shows how women have been disrespected for centuries. Of course she couldn't defend herself as a woman especially since she had her children with her. She took this abuse as she took the subtle mistreatment acts that she was subjected to for so long. 

One other example is when Sal is chosen as Will's master. Every prisoner had to have a master with them in New South Wales and Sal is Will's but only in name. She might have the title but he tells her what to do.

These are just a few of the examples but there are more. After you read the text, meet me back here for a discussion. Tell me if you see gender equality in the text or if it seems like women are not equal.