Introduction
The two short texts that I am writing about are "Paper Parcel" and "The Ace Of Diamonds Gang" both by Owen Marshall. In both texts Marshall uses symbolism to develop an important theme.
In "The Ace Of Diamonds Gang" Marshall uses the symbols of the Ace of Diamonds and the library card to develop the theme of free imagination, and fantasy, he contrasts these with the ideas of the real world and reality, as well as the end of boyhood.
The Ace of Diamonds, to Marshall, is his boyhood "It seemed my full boyhood". When he puts on his Ace of Diamonds mask him and his friends become annoymous and free. He sees it as an escape from his real life which he obiously finds boring "to esape from being 13 years old in a provincial town". He sees the Ace of Diamonds as an oppourtunity to be what he always wanted to be, a hero. He compares his gang with the heroes of history , "Fish Christians, Black Hand Jocobites, The Boxers" etc. And obiously sees his gangs activities as heroic. This is rienforced by his use of military language whenever he is describing the gang. He describes the gang as wraiths "like wraiths we were" and uses military terms such as "formation" and "rendezvous" when describing the gangs activities. He does this because the military are seen as organised, efficient, and lethal. Something that he sees his gang as. But better yet the military are often seen as brave heroes witch is exactly what Marshall and his gang see themselves as in their little fantasy world.
In contrast to this the library card represents approved society and reality, exactly the opposite of what Marshall sees his gang as"an exeption to approved society". However the library card exposes their "mundane deficiantcies". The boys are always tring to paint a picture that they are cool guys that don't live like normal people and are brave and couragous, abit like outlaws. However the library card shows them to be completely normal, law abiding citizens with nothing speical about them. Infact the fact that they are part of library suggests that they are quite possibly avid readers, and could even be nerds. The second thing that the library card does is bring forth the mundane deficiantcies of the gang, and their activities "We were subject to several mundane deficiantcies, Ashley's wind, Bernie's glasses, and Hec green having to be in by nine o'clock". When Jorgeson uncovers the gang he shows their gang to be nothing but a bunch of little trouble makers, and their 'activities' to be annoying pranks. For Marshall and his friends however it is devestating. They have to grow up and face the consiquences of their actions. For Marshall the library card symbolises "the end of free imagination, and of boyhood perhaps"
The symbol that Owen Marshall used in the "Paper Parcel" was the paper parcel. He used it to develop the theme of difference in understanding between adults and children. The first thing that the paper parcel symbolises is the understanding of children. The author, who is excited about his school dance is disgusted when he finds out that his mother plans to make his costume. A parcel. He expresses his frustration through the use of profanity " A parcel Jesus!" and by repeating himself several times. His distaste for the parcel is rienforced when he gets to the dance. He goes into the dance and sees that all his friends have great looking costumes "Tommy was a fire-cheif with a helmet that sparkled" "his insignia shone". When he has finished describing his friends costumes he adds simply "and I was a parcel". This shows his lack of intrest and enthusiasm in his costume, as well as its simplicity.
In contrast to this his mother sees the parcel as a chance to show her sons, and her own creativity and originality. But best of all it's cheap. She also doesn't see the dance as very important. She sees it as "some kids thing" and doesn't see the importance of arriving ontime. This shows that she doesn't understand her sons dance at all and is trying to apply adult rules to a childs situation.
In conclusion Owen Marshall uses symbolism in his writing to develop the themes of freedom of imagination, verses a harsh reality in "The Ace Of Diamonds Gang". And the difference in understanding between adults and children in "Paper Parcel".
The two short texts that I am writing about are "Paper Parcel" and "The Ace Of Diamonds Gang" both by Owen Marshall. In both texts Marshall uses symbolism to develop an important theme.
In "The Ace Of Diamonds Gang" Marshall uses the symbols of the Ace of Diamonds and the library card to develop the theme of free imagination, and fantasy, he contrasts these with the ideas of the real world and reality, as well as the end of boyhood.
The Ace of Diamonds, to Marshall, is his boyhood "It seemed my full boyhood". When he puts on his Ace of Diamonds mask him and his friends become annoymous and free. He sees it as an escape from his real life which he obiously finds boring "to esape from being 13 years old in a provincial town". He sees the Ace of Diamonds as an oppourtunity to be what he always wanted to be, a hero. He compares his gang with the heroes of history , "Fish Christians, Black Hand Jocobites, The Boxers" etc. And obiously sees his gangs activities as heroic. This is rienforced by his use of military language whenever he is describing the gang. He describes the gang as wraiths "like wraiths we were" and uses military terms such as "formation" and "rendezvous" when describing the gangs activities. He does this because the military are seen as organised, efficient, and lethal. Something that he sees his gang as. But better yet the military are often seen as brave heroes witch is exactly what Marshall and his gang see themselves as in their little fantasy world.
In contrast to this the library card represents approved society and reality, exactly the opposite of what Marshall sees his gang as"an exeption to approved society". However the library card exposes their "mundane deficiantcies". The boys are always tring to paint a picture that they are cool guys that don't live like normal people and are brave and couragous, abit like outlaws. However the library card shows them to be completely normal, law abiding citizens with nothing speical about them. Infact the fact that they are part of library suggests that they are quite possibly avid readers, and could even be nerds. The second thing that the library card does is bring forth the mundane deficiantcies of the gang, and their activities "We were subject to several mundane deficiantcies, Ashley's wind, Bernie's glasses, and Hec green having to be in by nine o'clock". When Jorgeson uncovers the gang he shows their gang to be nothing but a bunch of little trouble makers, and their 'activities' to be annoying pranks. For Marshall and his friends however it is devestating. They have to grow up and face the consiquences of their actions. For Marshall the library card symbolises "the end of free imagination, and of boyhood perhaps"
The symbol that Owen Marshall used in the "Paper Parcel" was the paper parcel. He used it to develop the theme of difference in understanding between adults and children. The first thing that the paper parcel symbolises is the understanding of children. The author, who is excited about his school dance is disgusted when he finds out that his mother plans to make his costume. A parcel. He expresses his frustration through the use of profanity " A parcel Jesus!" and by repeating himself several times. His distaste for the parcel is rienforced when he gets to the dance. He goes into the dance and sees that all his friends have great looking costumes "Tommy was a fire-cheif with a helmet that sparkled" "his insignia shone". When he has finished describing his friends costumes he adds simply "and I was a parcel". This shows his lack of intrest and enthusiasm in his costume, as well as its simplicity.
In contrast to this his mother sees the parcel as a chance to show her sons, and her own creativity and originality. But best of all it's cheap. She also doesn't see the dance as very important. She sees it as "some kids thing" and doesn't see the importance of arriving ontime. This shows that she doesn't understand her sons dance at all and is trying to apply adult rules to a childs situation.
In conclusion Owen Marshall uses symbolism in his writing to develop the themes of freedom of imagination, verses a harsh reality in "The Ace Of Diamonds Gang". And the difference in understanding between adults and children in "Paper Parcel".
