Journeys- "The Night Ride"

Embarking on a journey is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. It can harm your ego, pride or physical wellbeing. So why do we do it, why are we fascinated with the concept of journey? Because the glass could quite possibly turn out to be half full. We could experience such a vast myriad of rewards that the risks seem miniscule. This temptation of reward is often enough for people to undertake amazing and inspiring journeys. It is often the motivation to run and jump whole-heartedly into the great unknown.

“What people forget is a journey to nowhere starts with a single step, too.”*

Journeys provide endless opportunities for personal growth, unknown
experiences and new ways to see the world. Using two selected texts and the techniques contained within the texts, I will prove this statement. Both THE MAN WHOSE MOTHER WAS A PIRATE by Margaret Mahy and The Night-Ride by Kenneth Slessor will be used to prove my thesis of the self-development possibilities within journeys.

Personal growth is experienced in almost every journey accessible to humans. It is perhaps an inevitable side effect of the journeys we choose to take. Self-growth is seen in the text THE MAN WHOSE MOTHER WAS A PIRATE by Margaret Mahy. Onomatopoeia is used efficiently to create a strong impression of the ocean. “(S)wish” is one example.   The use of onomatopoeia, in context, creates the idea that the ocean is the source of all personal realisations within the character. The ocean is essential for the persona. Similarly, in The Night Ride by Kenneth Slessor personal growth can also be seen. The technique of present tense is used by Slessor to make responders understand that “Of Rapptown I recall nothing else”. This quote indicates that Slessor’ single memory of Rapptown is the drowsiness of the station. However, even the station must become busy, which symbolises personal growth within Slessor; from lazy to engaged within the text.

Unforeseen experiences can be a vital component of...