"The Drover's Wife" is presented as an independent woman and capable of facing any challenges" analysis this statement.

The drover's wife is a nuanced and complex figure, neither fully conforming to nor fully deviating from from late 19th century Western gender roles and expectations. On the one hand, she is the ultimate mother, putting her children's needs before her own and doing all she can to ensure their survival. She likes fashion and dressing up for the purpose of being seen, even when there is no one to see her. On the other hand, she is strong and independent, fighting all the fights that come her way without wavering. She is no damsel in distress, no nagging wife; she seems to be much stronger than her "careless" husband, and someone who can take on the various threats encountered in the bush.

Nature is a true beast in this tale. The bush throws fires, floods, poisonous animals, storms, and droughts at the people of the bush; life sometimes seems to be merely survival. Nature is depicted as powerful and capricious, and utterly indifferent to the men and women who seek to inhabit her landscapes. Man must match strength and wits with Nature to continue to live, which is exactly what the drover's wife does. She fights one thing after the other because it is simply what must be done. Sometimes she wins, sometimes she loses. If Nature were able to judge her, it would be fair to say she would be impressed by this quiet but doughty woman.