question+the+set+of+values

=When David leaves school he discovers new worlds and begins to question the set of values imposed on him by his background. What do you see as the key influences in this conflict?= This question really required you to have read past chapter 5 and as is clearly evident not many of you have done this as of Friday. You will need to come back to this question and have another go at it, by adding to this page once you have read the entire novel!

When David starts technical school, his father had already decided on what his job would be, and also forced him to do it. When David leaves the school he opens his mind to the wider world and the many different paths he can take. Also another reason he left the arts was because his father was the one who decided this not because it was what David wanted, but it would earn quick money. He also liked to read and write. [There seems to be some conflicting ideas here. Perhaps you need to re-read Chapter 5 at the very minimum, but here you get a very clear idea of the post school cultural influences on David's life].

When Davy gets out into the big wide world he discovers many things that makes him second guess everything his father imposed upon him such as the way his father treated women and his father referred to the women whom the art student Sam associated with. Those women where very easy going with their bodies but Davy's father would have called them 'trollops'. [The view of women is one that I would like you to explore in some depth. Start with the way he speaks of Emma and the life that she has had, the way men have reportedly treeated her].

Davy is forced into his apprenticship and yearns for a life where he is no longer under the pressures of his father's law, the connection to his mother and his brother's interference. The "artist" bohemian friends he makes open up a potential world for him to enter, however, he doesn't take this opportunity up. Davy discontent with his life decides to pursue his writing- however, he still keeps it a secret from his family; somewhat living in his own little world.

Davy's education was never really his own choice, with leaving school at the age of 14 to pursue an apprenticeship chosen for him by his father. His father having been brought up as one of nineteen children, grew up with hardly any money and work, any work you could get, was the only option for money. Davy privately detests his apprenticeship doing lithography, but he doesn't seem to see any other option. That is, until he finds his talent for writing, and makes that his private getaway. Yet, although he loves to write, he hasn't found the courage to send the pieces in under his own name. This could be partly because of his father's influence, but also because he doesn't feel good enough about himself.

When Jack leaves school at 14 he is still destined to be an appretice and stay in the Melboune scum suburbs and live the same life he grew up living. The same life as his father. Although when David left school and began to work he got swept up in the world and realized he could become better than what he was destined to be. His talent as a writer and passion for poetry, gives him and insight into journalism and gives him a goal to aim for in his life. The people he meets after leaving school also influence him to aim high, he meets people living the life they want to and doing the jobs they want to do, not what their father or family chose and limited them to. [examples for these ideas are needed. Great ideas but the lack of evidence pulls the impact down].

Davy talks about how he can make money and try to find a way to keep more to himself instead of giving back to the family. We feel like Davy is the only original source of personality in the Meredith household because he can read and write poetry when other members of the house don't even pick up a book.

some influences are the people he is meeting at art school that have had more colourful backgrounds than him. He feels like he has been outcasted and soon realises this when he is working at the lithographics shed when his work is redone as he is not good enough for the job.

Whilst Davy was growing up there was a strict rule, in that he had to do as his father told him, but when he is released into the world he is faced with various situations where he is left to make his own decisions and there's an overwhelming sense of freedom. He was forced into getting an unwanted apprenticeship, and his parents expectations were never high, all they wanted was another person to contribute to the family income. Throughout the novel Davy keeps his constant goal of wanting to be a writer, journalist, and even though oppressed by his father's lack of encouragement, he still manages to write for a paper and ultimately acheive his goal. The values of his childhood, getting a job and making money, are completely thrown out the window as he is thrust into the bohemian lifestyle and given his own choices.

Davy lived on a very structured lifestyle whilst growing up. He was used to rules being applied to restrain him but now he was able to set his own goals in life more openly. He struggles with this freedom as he is not used to his priveleges at the time.