Genre
Australian Drama
Language
English
Setting and Context
The play is set on 28th November 1955 in Carlton, the outskirts of Melbourne, in the context of cultural life.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is narrated from the author's point of view.
Tone and Mood
Comical, thrilling and buoyant
Protagonist and Antagonist
The play has no specific protagonist. Instead, the play follows all the six characters who lead unique life lifestyles.
Major Conflict
The adults struggle to keep their youthfulness but in vain as it quickly turns to ashes.
Climax
The celebration of dolls loses its meaning. The characters choose different paths to satisfy their lives. For instance, Roo is employed at a Paint factory.
Foreshadowing
Nancy’s marriage foreshadows the possible end of the annual celebration of dolls because she fails to attend due to her marital responsibilities.
Understatement
The sinful ways of Olive's mother are understated because the event is not about individual judgment but the celebration of dolls.
Allusions
The play alludes to the impact of modernity on traditional cultures. For instance, the annual celebration of the idols is slowly vanishing because the characters are engaged in other things.
Imagery
The celebration of the dolls is described to depict the imagery of sight to readers.
Paradox
The vanishing of the annual event due to loss of meaning is paradoxical. Consequently, the characters are quickly abandoning their culture instead of embracing it.
Parallelism
N/A
Personification
The dolls are personified as symbols of identity among the characters.
Use of Dramatic Devices
Dramatic satire is revealed when Olive denies Roo's proposal because living with him for the rest of her life is horrible, but she does not provide specific reasons, and the play ends.
