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The book “Fly Away Peter” by David Malouf, is the story of finding out what life really means, and why we are put here? Jim discovers himself throughout the story, and many contrasts and differences are made. Through the help of Ashley and Imogen, we are introduced to the personality of Jim. In the beginning images of innocence and purity are highly recognised, but, however these images slowly disappear, with the paradise, and the nature shown early in the book disintegrating. Images of hell and loss of innocence are shown in full view, and once innocence is lost fully, we are brought back into the perception of eternal life, showing one of the themes that Malouf continually repeats. In the early chapters of “Fly Away Peter” we are introduced to a harmonic world. A different world of peace, and of togetherness. This feeling of unity is a strong bond, and it sets the scenery for the first quarter of the book. It is set in a swamp in Queensland, and it shows that people and nature are living together as one. Images of this perfect world are used to reinforce the point, so that when it changes, it will be more of a drastic change. The birds represent the natural order in a state of grace. Jim is known as a drifter, however Jim, has this constant struggle, to escape from the reputation that his father had. The question of what life means? Is brought up, and yet another contrast is made. Malouf feels humans dwell on that, where as animals, don’t, they just continue their daily routine. Throughout more of the early chapters of the book, the constant reminder of happiness and the recurring image of beauty and nature are reinforced. Malouf mentions that harmony and beauty are the qualities associated with music, and they apply constantly to his evocation of nature. A quick drastic change is brought in, about halfway through the novel, which again carries through Malouf’s ever occurring contrasts. The major contrast now is between good and evil, and beauty and destruction.
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