Scene+One~+Meaning+Making

Page - Quote - Technique - How it adds to your understanding of a theme

Additions that I think use language or make links particularly well I have changed the colour of.

__ **‍Imagery, Descriptive language, Figurative Language etc ‍** __ p.1 Bridie discusses the attack of the Japanese on the British, "caught like mice in traps". The simile shows the attack on the British was easy and they were caught easy as ‍they were not aware of the attack ‍.

p.19, When Bridie says, "They'd make us stand like that for hours - in the sun - in the middle of the jungle. I'd stare at the dirt and ask myself why I'd ever left Chatswood in the first place. This dialogue ‍shows us that Bridie regrets leaving her home town or suburb more when she has time to think ‍. This ‍dialogue ‍ makes us picture a lady standing in the sun in a jungle at dirt on the ground. The dialogue makes us clearly and fast about what is happening because the dialogue is straight to the point. when reading this quote from the play ‍we think about what Bridie is doing before we think about what she is thinking, ‍

p.19 __Bridie:__ "(//Raising her hands clapping them twice sternly//) When the guard calls out 'Keirei!' - the female stands at complete attention, then bends her upper body - so. //(BRIDIE stands in a spotlight, she bows stiffly from the waist, and remains in this position//." We see this in the play as Bridie physically performs the bow; it assists in showing us how much control ‍the Japanese guards had over the women and children, they were forced to show respect to the very people who treated them like animals ‍.

p. 19 "//An on air sign becomes apparent"// This demonstrates to the audience that it is infact an interview and not the actual POW camps. ‍It sets the context of the scene. ‍

p.22 "//Darkness. Sound: very stirring chorus of 'Rule Britannica' - 'Britons never never never will be slaves'. Simultaneous projection of photographs of Singapore in 1942. They show a city harbour at the height of its prosperity - and on the brink of a terrible catastrophe. We see its beautiful harbour; Raffles Hotel - the heart of the Empire; British matrons being waited on by Chinese servants - all the trappings of wealth and imperialism . Finally, as 'Rule Britannica' reaches its climax, we see a sign from 1941 - put up by the government in Singapore. It says 'Don't Listen to Rumour'. If only they had..."// These images help to show us that the government wasn't prepared for an attack and their ‍foolishness and skepticism ‍ has increased the risk of everyone being taken captive. This could of been prevented, but it wasn't, it adds to the idea that the government hasn't been supporting their people from the very beginning of the war.

p. 22 ":Friday the thirteenth", as soon as we hear or read Friday the thirteenth we think of something bad happening, something that is out of the ordinary as friday the thirteenth is know to be a superstition, we also think of somethings unlucky as some people consider thirteen to be an unlucky number as it is known to be left out at times.

**__Relationship between the Visual and the Spoken/ Written__** p.1 "Darkness. Out of silence comes the voice of Bridie". Displays the importance of being heard in the scope of the play. Before we can see who or what is on stage, we hear a woman who is being heard for the first time in over 50 years. Can be linked to sacrifice; empowerment and disempowerment;

**__What is Visible and what is Invisible__** p.1 "Bridie strands in a spotlight. Show bows stiffly" imagery (or just images) The first image of the play is one of Bridie re-enacting her submission to the Japanese. This represents the position the women are still in, caught in their own past. Still, in a way, prisoners of the Japanese.

p. 20 The invisible ‍lie ‍ that exsisted in the era, this belief outlined that everyone believed that the Japs would never take over due to their "they have slanty eyes, if they cant see properly, how can they shoot?" and that they believed they were safe, until ‍this lie ‍ became visible and t‍heir sense of security was diminished by the Japs bombing Sigapore. ‍

p.1 M. Voice first appears in the first scene, but we only ever hear his voice, we never see him. What is visible and what is invisible. As only the women are visible it is made clear that their experiences and reactions are the true focus of the play. The M. Voice represents the Australian public and their delayed questions and curiosity about the women's experiences.

p.21 "Wasn't that a bit unsafe- cramming so many people onto a ferry?" This question brings in ‍imagery ‍ of hundreds of people fleeing on ships for their saftey. On the stage the viewer cannot see these people and the ship they crammed on. But we can visualise.

pg.26. "All womens will lift on the count of three. If you drop this coffin- No Rice Tonight!". ‍This statement, spoken by both women, represent just how powerful and demanding their pasts were, ‍ and that the memories and experiences from the POW camps have lasted so strongly for 50 years.

The ‍Male voiceover ‍ represents the male power and the reigning over the women. The men were the 'rule', the war was due to the men, and the women were subjected to male decisions placing them in POW camps. ‍The composer is empowering them by making it their story. ‍

p.21 M.voice: "You're not serious?" the tone that the M.voice uses you can tell the disbelief he has towards the British officers actually considering shooting the women to prevent them from being raped, and the way Bridie says "oh yes" with a slight laugh shows how unbelievable the idea actually was<range type="comment" id="467251">‍. ‍

**__Symbolism__** // p. 19 'Darkness. Out of the silence comes the voice of BRIDIE.' // - this symbolises and creates the image of Bridie's strength, courage and power. As Bridies voice comes out of the darkness it relates to her survival through the harshities and the darkness of war. <range type="comment" id="480442">‍This adds to our understanding of the theme sacrifice as although she had sacrificed her life, she is still as strong as she ever was. ‍

p. 20. '//Mum said he// (Bridie's father//) cried when my ship sailed off...I'd never been out of Australia before.'// this symbolies the relationship between Bridie and her father, they <range type="comment" id="988229">‍had a loving relationship and he didnt want her to leave. ‍

p.21 "//what it said was very simple: some Japenese destroyers had been sighted in the area.// (calmly)//And our forty-four ships were heading straight for them.// (very calmly) //It was the thirteenth of February. Friday the Thirteenth.// - This day is known to be bad luck, and it is the day their ships had been fired at and sunk. It symbolises the beginning of many years bad luck, and torture.