The Drover’s Wife Character Analysis

The Bushwoman

The unnamed bushwoman is the main character in “The Drover’s Wife,” and the story centers around the challenges she faces raising a family largely on her own in the Australian bush. She has four… read analysis of The Bushwoman

Tommy

At 11, Tommy is eldest of the bushwoman’s children, and he shows a great deal of bravery throughout the story. When the snake first appears, for instance, he grabs a stick and goes after… read analysis of Tommy

Alligator

Alligator, the family “snake-dog,” attempts to kill the snake at the beginning of the story but is unable to catch it; as he attempts to burrow under house in pursuit of the reptile… read analysis of Alligator

The Drover

The drover never appears in the story, but his existence shapes much of the action that does take place. The bushwoman is notably defined in the title of the story as the drover’s wife… read analysis of The Drover

King Jimmy

An Aboriginal man who gets his wife, Black Mary, to help the bushwoman give birth in the bush. He is one of just two named indigenous characters in the story; the third indigenous character… read analysis of King Jimmy

Minor Characters

Jacky

Jacky is the younger of the bushwoman’s two sons. He bickers with Tommy when they are told to sleep, and has picked up a habit of swearing from his older brother. He and Tommy are the only two characters in the story granted proper names.

The Drover’s Wife

Henry Lawson

The Drover’s Wife Characters

The Bushwoman

Tommy

Alligator

The Drover

King Jimmy