Patricia Grace employs several distinctive literary devices that make "Journey" a compelling read:
Represents the unstoppable, linear force of Western "progress" cutting through the cyclical, natural rhythms of the land.
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Upon arriving at the government office, the story's central conflict is revealed. The unnamed old man meets with a city planner named Paul. His desire is simple: to build houses on his family's land for his nieces and nephews. However, the planner informs him that the land has been appropriated for development, specifically to be turned into car parking spaces. The old man attempts to argue, explaining that the land has been in his family since birth and that his whānau (extended family) have waited for years. But his protests are futile. He is offered monetary compensation, a solution that fundamentally fails to address his connection to the land. In a moment of supreme frustration and impotence, the old man kicks Paul's desk, damaging it before being escorted from the office.
"Journey" is a seminal work in Māori literature that explores the profound cultural disconnect between indigenous New Zealanders and European colonial bureaucracy. It follows an elderly Māori man, Koro, as he travels from his rural home to a city to petition the government to stop the subdivision of his ancestral land. The story serves as a critique of modernization and its impact on Māori identity and land rights. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted
"Journey" is frequently studied because it tackles complex socio-political issues through a personal lens. 1. Land and Identity
Patricia Frances Grace (née Gunson) was born on August 17, 1937, in Wellington, New Zealand. She is of Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, and Te Āti Awa descent, and is also affiliated with Ngāti Porou by marriage. Growing up in a time when Māori culture was often marginalized, Grace didn't see her own experiences reflected in the literature of the day. This changed when she became a teacher, and at the age of 25, she began writing, finding her voice in stories that depicted the authentic realities of Māori life.
The story highlights the rapid, often destructive nature of urban development. The narrator observes the "filling in" of the sea and the concrete replacing green space, representing a separation between people and the natural world. 3. Generational and Cultural Struggle Try again later
He arrives at a government building for a meeting with a "city planner." While he initially expects to be listened to, the meeting is cold and bureaucratic. The climax comes when the man, feeling the utter futility of his situation, acts out against the indifference of the system before leaving. 2. Major Themes
I. Introduction
V. Literary devices and style
: Represents the Māori tradition of nurturing the land and a generational skill that is fading. Displaced Bones