Short Stories- The Knife by Judah Waten Textual Analysis

Title -The Knife Author - Judah Waten Anthology - Spectrum One Ââ€" Narrative Short Stories. pg 133 Plot The Knife written by Judah Waten, is a short story about a young Italian- Plinio, who has immigrated to Australia from a ‘poor village in Calabria, in a very desolate part of Southern Italy. Plinio then starts to reminisce about the life he had back home and the reader learns that he lived in poverty and had a very modest life. It then goes on to describe Plinio walking home from work one night and he sees Mavis Keer- an attractive girl with a group of friends and her boyfriend Tommy Lawler. Tommy notices Plinio looking at Mavis and is jealous of him, his dislike for Plinio deepens because he is Italian, so Tommy decides to humiliate†¦show more content†¦This part of the story also makes a connection between Tommy and Plinio which that is that they both felt as if there dignity was humiliated in front of Mavis and they tried to out do each other but it all got out of hand causing them both to loose all of the respect that they had. For example Tommys friends all left and Mavis was bewildered at Plinio. Setting The setting for the story is in both Italy and Australia. The flashback is set in a poor Italian village and is described to be ‘a very desolate part of southern Italy. The setting is significant because it shows the life that Plinio had and contrasts the setting of his new home in Australia. In Australia Plinio lives in a small community with other Italians in North Melbourne. ‘They were in a single-fronted, two-story apartment house in North Melbourne where at least twenty other young Italian newcomers were crowded. The time the story is set in is in the 1950s, this can be inferred by the use of terms such as jukebox and milkbar, as well as the slang ‘garn, youre keen on that dago. Characterisation PLINIO v Plinio is the main character in the story and is viewed as the protagonist. He is a young man who is described to be a ‘A well knit, good looking young fellow of twenty-three. He is depicted to be very emotional and quiet due to the experiences in his life ‘he was A quietShow MoreRelatedThe Knife1115 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish  /  Short Stories- amp;Quot;The Knifeamp;Quot; By Judah Waten Textual AnalysisShort Stories- amp;Quot;The Knifeamp;Quot; By Judah Waten Textual AnalysisThis  essay Short Stories- amp;Quot;The Knifeamp;Quot; By Judah Waten Textual Analysis  is available for you on Essays24.com! Search Term Papers, College Essay Examples and Free Essays on Essays24.com - full papers database. Autor:  Ã‚  anton  Ã‚  24 November 2010Tags:   StoriesWords:  2398  Ã‚  Ã‚  |  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pages:  10Views:  1338Save essay in my profilePrintable