Coonardoo Essay, Research Paper

Coonardoo

Katherine Prichard’s family saga Coonardoo is set on the vast expanse of North-Western Australia. Coonardoo, an Aboriginal native, and her extended family work on Wytaliba, the million-acre station owned by Hugh, the white son who inherits the land where he and Coonardoo grew up together. Cattle ranching and horse-breaking provide the station’s income, and Hugh cannot run Wytaliba without Coonardoo and the native people. “Through his love of the country and of Wytaliba, Hugh realized, was woven regard for the people who had grown in and were bound to it.” The novel is full of descriptions of the land, of native people treated “well,” and of an unspoken love between Coonardoo – who can – and Hugh – who can’t – accept it. Both Coonardoo and Hugh, influenced by society’s attitudes, experience torments from love denied. The years unfold: there is happiness with rain and children, sadness because of people’s cunning, blackmail, and the always-present threat of drought. The lack of respect shown people of color by so many of the characters can make reading Coonardoo painful, but Katherine Prichard was mirroring her world. She was also ahead of her time in her portrayal of Coonardoo and Hugh’s relationship, which created a controversy when the book was published. Ultimately, Coonardoo is a rich, rewarding life tale, full of the spirit of the people and the land.