Research Paper on "Colonialism and Its Consequences Forcing"

Research Paper 5 pages (2007 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

In the film and book, the Aborginies' land is being taken from them, along with their cultural pride. Pilkington writes that "devastation and desolation would shatter this tranquil environment; that this pristine forest would echo the anguished cries and the ceaseless weeping of thousands of people -- his people -- as they were tormented by foreigners and driven off their land" (20). The majority culture was trying to dominate over minority cultures by forcing assimilation on the most vulnerable of populations -- the children. This then created the "conflicted account of the intersubjective 'contact' zone of colonialism" (Brewster 1). There was no way for the old indigenous traditions to survive in such an oppressive modern world.

The girls eventually decide to turn their back on the majority culture and run away back home. This is a strong reaction against the majority oppression seen in colonialism. The three girls refused to sit back and be taken from the culture they knew and loved. Instead, they chose the hard way out. The book reads "we'll find the Rabbit Proof Fence, and follow it all the way home. We're gonna walk wall the way" (Pilkington 78). The film portrays how the sisters eventually ended up covering over 2,000 km of land in order to make it back to what they knew was really home -- Pilbara (Noyce 2002). The girls were unwilling to assimilate and stood up against their colonist oppressors. Despite Gracie's departure, Molly and Daisy prevailed. The book shows that "these two girls had overcome their fears and proved that they could survive. It took a strong will and a purpose -- they had both" (Pilkington 119-120). They clearly refused to allow the majority culture break them down and force them into a life of assimilation. They were willing to risk their lives to assert their culture. Thus, the book, and therefore the film, is essentially an "Aboriginal women's choice of life" (Brewster 1). It is a testament of the native culture standing up against their oppressors. The young girls refuse to accept the forced assimilation placed upon them and struggle to once again find their traditional place within Aboriginal culture. As such, it is "a story about escape, about resistance in the face of the prodigious effort to prevail, monitor, track and incarcerate indigenous people" (Brewster 1). Overall, both the film and book are inspiring as to how resilient the indigenous cultures were against the oppressive white majority forcing itself upon them.

Works Cited

Brewster, Anne. "Aboriginal Life Writing and Globalization: Doris Pilkington's Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence." Australian Humanities Review. 2000. Web. http://www.australianhumanitiesreview.org/archive/Issue-March-2002/brewster.html

Harjo, Suzan Shown. "Carlisle Indian School's History Must Be Preserved So Those Who Suffered Aren't Forgotten." Indian Country Media Network. Web. http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/10/11/carlisle-indian-schools-history-must-be-preserved-so-those-who-suffered-arent-forgotten

Noyce, Phillip. Rabbit-Proof Fence. Rumbalara Films. 2002.

Pilkington, Doris Garimara. Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence. University of Queensland Press. 2013.

Pratt, Richard H. "The Advantages of Mingling… READ MORE

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