Municipal Gum - Kath Walker
Uploaded by ashybubba on May 06, 2008
Municipal Gum was written by Kath Walker in 1960. Municipal Gum is about the changes in society and the tendency of people to want to control everything. Kath Walker uses various techniques to convey this idea.
At the beginning of the poem Kath Walker is addressing the tree. This immediately creates empathy for both the tree and her people. By the last line she has emphasised this with the pronoun “us” to show that they suffer a similar fate.
Juxtaposition and personification are used in the first two lines of the poem. “Gumtree in the city street, Hard Bitumen around your feet”. The use of these techniques immediately gives the impression that the author is disapproving of the concept. The idea that a gumtree is in the city is, although not unheard of, the traditional or immediate image that one sees when talking about a gum tree. The use of juxtaposition highlights the contrast between the two. “Gumtree in the city… wild bird calls” is also an example of juxtaposition, this is used to further emphasise how out of place the gumtree is. Personification is used to create a persona for the audience to have sympathy for and to create vivid imagery. “Whose hung head… its hopelessness” The author uses this as further re-iteration of the immorality of the situation and by the use of analogy comparing the tree to her people to further emphasise the shame and lack control of that the Europeans have inflicted upon her and the environment.
Symbolism is used a lot in Municipal Gum. The gumtree itself is actually symbolic of Kath Walker and the Aboriginal community that has been manipulated and controlled by the European invaders.
Walker uses vivid language to present these ideas. For example the use of the word castrated is very effective. The connotation of the word is a very demeaning, clinical operation. With castration often comes a sense of a loss of pride and power. The word castration is symbolic of how Kath Walker feels the Europeans have treated Aboriginal people and the environment. Castration also refers to the fact that what is done is done. Nothing can undo the operation, or the damage caused by ignorance.
Other symbolism includes the title “Municipal Gum”, municipal meaning community, implies that the gumtree belongs to the community....