The+Secret+River+-+section+analysis

= Pages: 275-285 = = **__ Summary __** = Thornhill comes across a site of dead aboriginals. One you boy is still alive but close to death. When Thornhill gives him water and he vomits it up immediately Thornhill gives up and sails away knowing that they aboriginals had been poisoned. Later back that his camp they notice a group of Aboriginals stealing their corn. Thornhill goes and fights them off attempting to shoot Long Jack but missing. They family spend s the rest of the day retrieving the remaining corn but Thornhill is still fearful.

__ Internal conflict __
Thornhill is torn as to what to do with the dying Aboriginal boy. He tries to help by giving him water but soon gives up when this is not successful choosing the hide the memory away.

Quotes: Page 277 ‘Thornhill felt as if everything in his own body had stopped’ ‘Aint nothing I can do for you, lad’ ‘He wanted to turn his back; leave all this, let someone else come across it later.’

The internal conflict with the europeans and the aborginals occurs when Thornhill is picturing about the conflict of what has happened, "The skin on his back crawled, imagining the spear." 

**__ Racial conflict __**
There is strong tension between the Aboriginals and the English. As this conflict can not be resolved due to the language and cultural barrier the misunderstanding has resorted to a miniature war. The murder of the Aboriginal tribe through the ‘green powder’ exemplifies the misunderstanding of this culture and from it the desired removal and the misunderstood Aboriginals. However the Aboriginals retaliate to the new trespassers of the land by stealing their corn. This demonstrates their attempts to claim back their land but does not go according to plan when Thornhill fights back and brings out his gun.

‘His rage swelled, sweet and simple.’ Pg.278 ‘Willie called into the forest, but not too loud.’ Pg. 281

Waiting for the tide to turn, so they could go and do what only the worst of men would do. 300

He would kill them buggers as god was his witness. 306

Conflict with the indigenous Australian occurs which happens due to that thorn hill is trying to claim a part of land on the river. Many of the European convicts go in battle with the indigenous causing many adults, children and babies from both the European and aboriginal side to die. The Europeans plan on how they are to attack the aboriginals.

**__ Relationship Conflict __** There is conflict in the relationships between not only the settlers and aboriginals but between the settlers themselves. Upon the fight with the Aboriginals over the corn conflict is brought up between Dan and Thornhill as well as Thornhill and Sal. Dan’s lack of power is demonstrated in his enjoyment of yelling at the Aboriginal boy he captures. Conflict arises when Thornhill overpowers his choices and he is forced to do his bidding. Conflict and strain is put on Sal and Thornhill’s relationship after the incident showing the pressure the Aboriginals are putting on them as fear turns to anger. ‘Fear could slip unnoticed into anger, as if they were one in the same.’ Pg. 285

‘Dan let him go, but not without hawking up a gob and spitting in on the ground. Not on Thornhill’s boot exactly, but near.’ Pg. 283

‘His voice was rich with the pleasure of being able to shout at another person.’ Pg. 282

Summary.
The morning after the occurrence of the corn theft, Thornhill wakes to find the valley full of smoke. He soon learns that the Aboriginals had set fire to his corn crops and that nothing had survived. He faces numerous conflicts in the passage, and the reader learns much about Thornhill's evolving character and the reasoning behind the decisions that he makes.

Thornhill again struggles to deal with personal issues and the situations in which he finds himself. He is divided between his love for the life that he has worked so hard to create and his love for Sal, who wants to leave Thornhill Point out of fear of a continuing conflict with the Aboriginals. He compares his relationship with the land to that that he had with the River Thames, and struggles to comprehend life without this bond that he has worked hard to create. Through all this, Thornhill fails to recognise that the Aboriginals have shared a much stronger connection than his with the same land for thousands of years.

Page 289 "This was where he was: not just in body but in soul as well" - Narrator voice, in relation to Thornhill

"A man's heart was a depp pocket he might turn out and be amazed atwhat he found there" - Narrator voice, in relation to Thornhill

 Not for the first time in the novel, Sal and William have a legitimate dispute that escalates to the point where William threatens to hit Sal. Sal is angered by the discovery that the aboriginals had homes in this place just as they had a home in London. Again he considers hiding truths from Sal like he has done previously, in order to spare her from the increasingly inhumane violence occurring between the Aborignals and the Settlers. Sal’s anger can often be attributed to fear.

Page 285 "because it had happened to him too: fear could slip unnoticed into anger, as if they were one in the same" - William Thornhill

Page 286 "They was here, Like me and you was in London. Just the exact same way" - Sal Thornhill

Page 291 "The minute you get back but, we're on our way. with you or without you,Will, take your pick" - Sal Thornhill

The conflict between the settlers and Aboriginals reaches a new height as the Aboriginals first steal from Thornhill, then burn down his corn crops. Thornhill begins to retaliate with violence, firing at one of the aboriginals for the first time.William hearsword of trouble at Saggity's property, and when he arrives he finds Saggity with a spear through his chest. The conflict comes to a head as some of the settlers plot to finally be rid of the aboriginals.

Page 288 "Anyroad, I got something in mind for if they come back" - William Thornhill "It ain't if they come back. You're a fool if you think that Will Thornhill. It ain't if but when" - Sal Thornhill.

Pages: 299-285

summary Conflict with the indigenous Australian occurs which happens due to that thorn hill is trying to claim a part of land on the river. Many of the European convicts go in battle with the indigenous causing many adults, children and babies from both the European and aboriginal side to die. The Europeans plan on how they are to attack the aboriginals. Conflict with the indigenous Australian occurs which happens due to that thorn hill is trying to claim a part of land on the river. Many of the European convicts go in battle with the indigenous causing many adults, children and babies from both the European and aboriginal side to die. The Europeans plan on how they are to attack the aboriginals.