The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Thomas Keneally
- First Published: 1972
- Type of Work: Social criticism
- Time of Work: c. 1900
- Setting: New South Wales, Australia
- Principal Characters: Jimmie Blacksmith, Mort Blacksmith, Tabodgo (Jackie Molders), Peter, Gilda Blacksmith, Wallace Hyberry, The Reverend Mr. A. J. Neville, Constable Farrell, Mr. and Mrs. Healy, The Newby Family, Miss Graf, Dowie Stead, Mr. McCreadie
- Genres: Long fiction, Social realism, Satire
- Subjects: Language or languages, Politics, Racism, Colonies or colonization, Crime or criminals, Murder or homicide, Twentieth century, Rape, Violence, Death or dying, Australia or Australians
- Locales: New South Wales, Australia
The Novel
Although the novel is ostensibly about the “chant” of Jimmie Blacksmith, that “chant” is both ironic and symbolic. Since Jimmie consciously rejects his tribal roots and never “chants,” as his half brother Mort does, he cannot articulate his suppressed rage and frustration in a ritualized manner. Instead, his “chant” becomes his life, the actions which physically express his inner life, but that violent expression of physical language is only the result of unarticulated motives that have to be supplied by Keneally. By adopting a third-person point of...
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