'That Deadman Dance' as a Social and Political Commentary Isabelle White 11th Grade

The novel That Deadman Dance written by Kim Scott, an indigenous author, tells the significant history of Western Australian colonisation through the years 1826 to 1844. In doing so the novel discusses and develops many of the social and political issues that surrounded this era of change. These issues include cultural identity, assimilation as well as the ideas of love and family. Readers are invited to respond to these issues with empathy as well the urge to reflect on their own past and present lives. Such a response is provoked through the use of characterisation, plot development and language techniques such as imagery. Although Scott’s intent was to tell the story of the Australian Indigenous, particularly the Noongar, people the themes and issues are universal, thus can be applied to any country.

The years 1826 to 1844 are extremely important in Australian history, due to the great social and environmental shifts that occurred. People, mainly convicts, were arriving from European nations and claiming land freely, neglecting to acknowledge the original custodians of the land they now ‘owned’. The Indigenous peoples were confused as these settlers had a very different appearance and outlook on life. However the main...