2.3


 * Symbolism in Ruby Moon and The Seven Stages of Grieving.**

The themes and issues addressed in //Ruby Moon// [RM] and //The Seven Stages of Grieving// [SSOG] are closely linked with the symbolism and imagry conveyed in the plays. In RM the distubing and dark issue of kid-napping and 'the missing child' is explored through the symbolism and imagry of the colour red, the caged bird, the cul-de-sac, the window and the doll.

The notion of the missing child is part of the Australian psyche -Beaumont Children, Azaria Chamberlain, Picnic at Hanging Rock and is presented as a recurring theme throughout the play. Australia as a young nation are experiencing destruction and corruption of innocence. Cameron challenges the assumption that the street and the world we have created for oursleves is safe by cracking the sub-urban image. We are led to discover that the foundation of our existance, that our world is safe, seems no longer true.

Each character 'looks out' - we assume its a literal window but where do they look. Slyvie looks for safety and routine inside but is threatened by the night and the wizard standing under the street lamp. "SLYVIE: [Looking Out] Did you see him hiding out there before?" raises a question; is outside safer than what is unvailing on the inside? All the characters being directed to '[Look out]' conveys the fears, desires and needs of each character. Sylvies 'looking out' represents the turmoil in her internal and external world. The audience recieves the impression that the world outside the window is dangerous, something to be looked out into and not trusted.

-colour red -caged bird -cul de sac -the doll

In the SSOG the social issues of rascism, aborignal displacment and loss of identity and the stolen generation are explored through the use of symbolism and imagry. This is conveyed in the form of the ice, the suitcase, the red earth, the photographs and the burning leaves.

-ice -suitcase -red earth -photographs -buring leaves

By Sarah Murphy.