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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of My Brilliant Career is mixed: it is unflinchingly honest, sometimes sarcastic, reflective, and often romantic. Sarcasm, particularly, permeates the first-person narrative, which is told from the perspective of its young female protagonist. This sarcasm—and the ironic distance from events that often comes with it—is a tool the author uses to critique societal and patriarchal norms in 20th century Australia. Through the narrative voice, the reader is intimately invited into Sybylla Melvyn’s innermost thoughts. Her narrative's stance on events is often defiant and self-important. Through this voice, the narrative reflects Sybylla’s own teenage self-centeredness and self-righteousness, as well as challenging societal expectations with a fervor that almost sounds like a political speech.
The tone remains honest and unflinching throughout. Franklin depicts rural Australian life from a female perspective with a truthfulness that sometimes feels almost brutal. This unfiltered portrayal by the author garnered criticism when the book was published, as this kind of narrative about women’s hardships was unprecedented in Australian fiction. However, amidst the novel's bleakness and sadness, the narrator’s tone also sometimes has a romantic and dreamy quality. Love, hope, and hardship always coexist in Sybylla’s life. As the narrative is all in the first person, every situation Sybylla encounters is presented to the reader intimately and with lots of emotional nuance.
As the novel progresses, the tone transforms significantly. It does so in parallel to Sybylla's own growth. It matures, as she does, becoming more pointed and less fantastical. By the end of the novel, the tone is resigned and self-conscious, as Sybylla reflects dramatically on her identity as an Australian and the unexpected turnout of her “career.”
Related Themes:
