Setting:
Sally Morgan in the book My Place skilfully uses setting as a key aspect of the plot and
characterization of the Milroy family. This is done through Sally Milroy’s connection to land and
people (who are quite often connected to a certain location). As such locations like Corunna Downs
station and Ivanhoe are central to the storyline of My Place as they are locations of historical events
with her people, or, in the case of Corunna Downs, the origin location of her people in which she is
trying to connect with. A few of the most significant locations being Corunna downs as the origin
place of Sally Morgans people and culture, Ivanhoe for its connections to Sally’s family and Sally’s
home where much of the story takes place as sally discusses her heritage with her close family. A
perfect example of this significance is present in the quote “Then he farmed me out to other people
so I was able to stay in the area…I was one of the lucky ones” Sally Morgan, Pg 280. The quote clearly
implies that it is strongly positive to stay in the area. The man talking considers himself a lucky one
as he was able to stay in the location of aboriginal heritage and culture as against move away to a
mission away from his culture. This being the exact culture that Sally was only able to find at
Corunna Downs and the close town of Marble Bar. This in turn adds a second level of depth to
setting in My Place as against purely having a surrounding area for context.
Beliefs and Attitudes:
Furthermore, multiple attitudes towards indigenous people can be deciphered from this well placed
use of setting. The most consistent majorly conflicting belief in my place is whether to be proud to
be aboriginal and the attitude to be shown towards them. In one of the early chapters of My Place
this is used through the start of Sally’s schooling. Sally compares the white built school and schooling
system to a factory in its artificial nature and through its manor in which it refines children into a
specific stereotype. In contrast, when at Corunna Downs (an aboriginally working sheep station) the
surrounding atmosphere is depicted as having a sense of comfort and belonging while maintaining
and appreciating the person within. Two quotes that can easily display this contrast are “He didn’t
care where he hit us, he just beat us and beat us until we bled.” and “We’ve seen so much of
ourselves and her in the people we met we belonged now…”. In the first quote aboriginal individuals
are seen as lower and less than human as Arthur was beaten to a further extent than any white man
would do to another. In the second quote Sally and her family while in the comfort of her culture
have a feeling of belonging and equality with those around her. In turn Sally Morgan does an
excellent job of displaying contrasting beliefs in my place.
Perspective
Sally Morgan planned on writing My place in an autobiographical style to express her emotions in a
first person perspective. In achieving this she has been able to capture specific styles that link well
with the storyline one of which is called a vernacular style. Writing in the Vernacular style that she
did allowed the reader to connect with sally in a non-academic and more personal style as she
discovered her heritage herself. This connection to individual through style and perspective allowed
the reader to be brought on a more personal journey with an individual they feel like they know
through knowing her thought process and struggles within herself. A similar methodology takes
place with Arthur, Gladys and Daisy’s story. This is done once again to bring a personal connection
between the reader and the plot. Secondly the first person perspective allows for readers to
understand the significance of Sally’s heritage as the reader can further empathise with her
emotions.
Conclusion:
In conclusion Sally Morgans book my place intricately portrays multiple themes and values displayed
by both the aboriginal culture and subtle white supremacists. This is due to the strong connection
with sally and her perspective of these beliefs in conjunction with an emotive style that allowed the
emotion of any situation to be portrayed perfectly. It is this portrayal of deep concepts and beliefs
through the eyes of a minority group that made My Place a strong perspective into concepts like the
stolen generation, loss of culture, and a journey to find heritage. In turn this made My Place a
notable winner of the order of Australia book prize, and a must read for Australians attempt to
understand more of the aboriginal culture and how European settlers affected there culture through
the means of the stolen generation and lack of cultural education.
