Journey Notes

Journey (1980)

English Literature

Context- 

• Patricia Grace is a New Zealander writer who is a founding figure of Maori fiction
• She is a key literary figure in the contemporary world of literature. Her short stories resemble the theme of upholding strong values of the self sufficient Maori community. 
• The purpose of this story is to convey the rapid pace of technological advancementand its adverse impacts on our lives. The author provides a contrast in the olden days of simplicity to the modern day of advancement through the protagonist who has witnessed the change in his life. 
• The story voices out the change that the government tries to bring about in the country and how it affects the commoners. It talks about the lack of respect the government has for the Maori
• The Maori are indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand or Natives.
• Genre- Realistic Maori Fiction
• Historical Content- During the 1980s, Immigration flourished in New Zealand as the population was rapidly increasing and was ethically diverse. In order to accommodate the growth, the government took various steps to develop the country. These changes affected the Maoris and commoners like the protagonist and fled the country to Australia. 
• Title- The title ‘Journey’ hints the entire plot of the story with many pitfalls and ultimate failure of the protagonist. The literal significance of the title is that the journey undertaken by the old man is actually a short trip to bequeath his land before his death. Metaphorically, the author tries to convey the society’s journey through his. It criticises the ultimate progression of society through the journey of the old man. The journey acts as a symbol of discovering the changes that the government has made to create a better place, however impacts the citizens. 

Form and Structure- 

• The prose incorporates the genre of Maori Fiction through the form and structure. The tone used expresses inevitable simplicity to match the protagonist’s age. 
• The colloquial style is quintessential as it Maori Fiction. The writing style is very colloquial to showcase the New Zealand culture and does not have decorations. Numerous repetitions are used to affirm a thought to the readers and to the protagonist himself. The use of “good” and “funny” are simplistic however convey a lot of meaning in the text. The colloquial language of “sourpuss” and “fusspots” shows animosity towards those who assimilate to the change and show unnecessary care towards him.
• It is in the form of an internal monologue with various flashbacks to provide a distinct contrast between the past and the present. The readers are provided with an insight through the eyes and the thought process of the protagonist.
• Intentionally plays with modern English and native words to show the contrast between the modern government and the natives. 
• The social issue of displacement and loss of native land is voiced out through the caustic remarks in third person view. The dialogues are embedded into the view point- a struggle to identify. Short dialogues– fraught with emotion, implicit criticism. The change in modern era is voiced through the grumpy old man
• Characters are nameless to imply the generality to all
• Setting- The setting is constantly changing as he undertakes a journey. The constant change in setting and visual imageries allows the old man to comment on the progression of the society.

Summary

A seventy –one year old man is going on a journey in a taxi to the train station. The purpose of his journey to the town is to claim his family land back and to build houses for his family before he dies. On the way, he sees the familiar shops and the old man strikes a conversation with the driver- “young fulla”. The train station has changed from the time he was last there. The man at the ticket office is new; the old man feels a flash of animosity.

The coach that he enters is warm and comfortable. He is happy that he is the only passenger. He is quite capable of doing his own things. It irks him when people assume that he needs help. He watches the scenes change as the train speeds past. He remarks that the train is travelling over reclaimed land. All the “land” used to be the sea earlier. He wouldn’t be perturbed if the train were to crash into the ocean as it is time for his life to end anyway.

The scenery changes again. Two young children enter the carriage wearing strange looking clothes that rustle when they move. It is a crowded part of the town now. Everything is new to him. Earlier one saw only a few farms along the railway line. As the train moves into a tunnel, the man ponders on the way the Pakehas have changed the lie of the land. They have cut through the land; nothing is an obstacle for them. Land was just something to be exploited for mankind.

 He understands that it is necessary to have roads and houses. But he rues the lack of feeling for land. The Pakehas are always looking to fix things. Looking at the kids, he remembers his childhood friend, George. 

When he gets off the train, he finds the station much the same. Though the trains no longer run on coal, the station is no cleaner than the “soot days”. In the older days, the stations used to be full of hungry starving people. But his family never went hungry as his father was an able farmer who tended his land carefully. They had surplus food that they either sold or bartered.

He has arrived early so decides wait and enjoy being alone without anyone interfering. He recollects an incident where a cemetery somewhere was 

“re sited” to make way for roads. People’s remains were all mixed up. When the headstones were replaced, it was done haphazardly. It was all beautiful but meaningless.

Time has elapsed and now he has to set out for home. He again wonders whether he should go looking for George. He is conscious of his aching feet by now. The story goes back to the visit he made to the government agency. That is what he had come to the town for. He tells the official that he is planning to divide his land among his family. But the officer explains that that is is not possible. The authorities will not permit sub-division of land. Land is to be pooled so that more housing can be constructed on it. The old man explains that it is his ancestral land. The functionary shows him plans and blueprints that the old man cannot relate to. Frustrated the old man kicks the table before he leaves.

At the end of the train ride, he takes another taxi and chats with its driver. When he gets home, his family wants to know what happened at the office. His answer disheartens them. And then he tells them that when he dies he wants his body cremated and not buried as cemeteries are no longer safe. Someone may dig up his bones and transfer it somewhere else. The story ends with the old man feeling frustrated and angry.

Plot Analysis 

1. Initial Situation- Undertakes a Journey 
2. Rising Action- Train ride
3. Complication- Land cannot be given back
4. Climax- Kicks the desk
5. Falling action- Returns home
6. Denouement- Not to bury him but to burn him
7. Conclusion- looks at his empty hands

Symbols

1. Land- Symbol for rights in the country. The natives try to protect their heritage but lack of power to do so
2. Train ride- How fast advancement occured
3. Desk- Victim like the old man kicked by the government 
4. Small garden- Self sufficient/ Provide for themselves
5. Asylum and Graveyard- Nothing is lasting

Characterisation

• The protagonist of the story is an old man shaped by strong Maori values and the story follows him on his criticism towards the adoption of change
• He is sarcastic, grumpy yet energetic
• Self serving; Does not need anyone to look after him
• Hates being called old and pampered
• Does not like the change around him
• Animosity towards those who ill-treat people like the one in the train station. 
• Resistant to modernity 
• Keeps trying to repeat a point to make himself digest it
• Reflection of strong, old values 
• Vociferous towards change/ Determined
• Straight forward/ close minded/ Has opinions formulated
• Ending- unsure of the future as he looks at his bare hands
• Opposes old school themes
• Family tied man/ embodiment of experiences

Themes

1. Land 
2. Change and Time
3. Powerlessness
4. Generational differences

Quotes

“Not a Journey; Not what you really call a journey”

“sourpuss” “fusspots”

“They’d rather stare at the television and talk about this and that coming over because there is nothing else to believe in”

“Yes he knows this place like his own big toe”

Its what we want and we want nothing more than ours

Funny people those town people”

 “Doing his talking for him, made him sick”

“It’s only paper and you can change it”

The Journey shows the life’s journey of progress

Mistreatment of natives

Looks at his hands to show powerlessness