Cloudstreet Essay Research Paper The novel Cloudstreet

Cloudstreet Essay, Research Paper

The novel Cloudstreet, written by Tim Winton, is a powerfulL, moving and epic tale of two separate dysfunctional families and the hardships of life they are put through. The families, the Lambs and the Pickles, go through different situations however, end up both moving to Subiaco to escape and start over. With number one Cloudstreet being both their residence for the next twenty years, the families learn to communicate with one another and overcome the evident separation of them, thus resulting in a uniting journey. Within the text, many different narrative techniques are found. These techniques include such things as multiple and shifting point of views, the episodic structure, diction, and punctuation. All these techniques are strongly evident in different segments, and hence, induce a certain reaction from the reader.

Cloudstreet can be viewed as Fish’s story, from the beginning of the prologue to the very last pages of the book. It is his journey of self discovery. In the beginning of the book, Fish is described as being ’smarter and better looking than him (Quick), and that people love him more… He’s always wisedicking around, talking too loud, being loveable.’(pg. 27). Fish’s accident takes place back at the Lamb’s old residence, in the country. ‘Quick and Fish and their father move through it (the water) like it’s a cloud, an idea, just a rumour of water, and when Fish goes down there isn’t a sound.’ (pg. 29). As Lester is startled from Oriel’s shout of alarm from the shore, he then drops the lamp into the water, thus would explain the delayed time period in which Fish could have been rescued. It is at this stage where the physical and omniscient Fish are separated. The physical Fish is then resurrected back to life by his mother, however, once brought back, appears to have had brain damage, leaving him a retard. He desires to see water and be with water again, so that he may once again be whole. The spiritual Fish is the intelligence of the story, the voice that narrates the story and becomes one with that of the river. Although appearing to be the most inarticulate character in the narrative is actually the one who is most articulate. He can be described as being a holy fool, one who seems to be out of touch with reality but who is actually the person with insights and understandings beyond immediate reality. Fish is transcendentally telling the story. The whole story could be considered one that flash backed through fish’s mind before death. He is a transcendental, highly omniscient figure. For the next twenty years, the physical Fish lives as if ’stuck somewhere…half in and half out.’ The narrator for Cloudstreet is the spiritual Fish. The most direct way in which an author reinforces the themes of a novel is through the use of the narrative techniques. However, his narration includes multiple points of view. These views can be separated into four views.

Firstly, there is the authorial voice. This voice is the spiritual Fish. This Fish addresses the physical Fish and has a much more intimate connection to the ‘other self’. This Fish is in second person point of view (uses ‘you’) ‘You can see that figure…looking into your face’(pg30).

Secondly, a third person omniscient exists. It is this Fish in which reveals thoughts of character which are often hidden from others. The preoccupation with characters past is foregrounded and it is through this point of view that readers are disclosed with the feelings of the physical Fish and other characters within the text. ‘Rose Pickles knew something bad was going to happen.’ (pg 7).

Within certain sections of the novel, the narrative point of view is in first person. ‘Can you see me Fish- see me close as a whisper….’ (pg 420). This is also the spiritual Fish. With this narrator in first person, the emphasis of the separation of the physical and spiritual Fish becomes more evident towards readers. It is in first person narrative that readers are reminded of the longing to be made whole, to be fully integrated, and it is this longing which then drives Fish towards his last actions.

The last point of view found within Cloudstreet is third person objective. This view point is found towards the very last section of the novel. ‘Another woman stepped forward tottering a little…’ (pg 425). It is this narrative in which actions of the characters are emphasised rather than their thoughts. The theme of integration within the novel is achieved.

Within Cloudstreet, there is however one particular paragraph which shows the first and third person point of view combined. This paragraph can be found on page 30 which shows the near death experience of Fish. ‘Oh I remember, mesh against the face, the cage of down and up and the faint idea of light as the cold comes quicker now out of the tunnel… Fish feels death coming unstuck from him with a pain like his guts are being torn from him… And then he’s away. Away.’ (pg.30). It is within this scene that the separation of the physical and spiritual Fish takes place. The integration of the physical and spiritual Fish also takes place. ‘Fish goes out sighing… I’m a man for that long, I feel my manhood, I recognise myself whole and human, know my story for just that long… I’m Fish Lamb for those seconds it takes to die…’ (pg 423-4).

At certain times in the novel, the third person omniscient point of view becom