Subversion of Australian National Identity and Bush Masculinity in Barbara Baynton’s “The Chosen Vessel”
Barbara Baynton’s short story “The Chosen Vessel” presents a sharp contrast to the dominant themes of Australian nationalism that were popular during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These themes often included heroism, mateship, and masculine strength associated with the bush and its male pioneers. However, Baynton’s work offers a grim and realistic portrayal of the Australian bush, focusing on female vulnerability, violence, and isolation. Her subversion of masculinity and the myth of the bush as a heroic space challenges traditional ideas about Australian identity.
1. Traditional Image of the Bush
During the time Baynton was writing, the bush was often romanticized in literature and poetry. Authors like Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson portrayed the bush as a place where Australian men proved their strength, courage, and mateship. These bushmen were seen as national heroes who built the spirit of Australia through hard work and loyalty. The landscape, while tough, was a place of adventure and growth.
2. Baynton’s Reversal of the Bush Ideal
In contrast, Baynton’s bush is not a place of adventure, but one of fear, loneliness, and danger. In “The Chosen Vessel,” the central character is a poor, unnamed woman left alone with her child in a remote house while her husband is away. Instead of being protected or empowered by the bush, she is isolated and made vulnerable. Baynton shows that for women, the bush is not a place of freedom but of horror. This subverts the masculine idea that the bush is only for strong men to conquer.
3. Female Vulnerability and Violence
The story is a tragic tale of a woman who is stalked and ultimately murdered by a swagman. The woman is clearly terrified and repeatedly prays for help. Her vulnerability is heightened by the physical isolation and the lack of support from society. Even when she sees a man (Peter Hennessey) and tries to seek help, he misreads the situation and thinks she is a vision of the Virgin Mary. He does not help her, and she is left to die. This highlights how even religious or moral ideals cannot save her in the harsh reality of the bush.
4. Critique of Masculinity
Baynton’s story also critiques the concept of masculinity. The men in the story, including the husband and Peter Hennessey, are either absent, careless, or ineffective. The bushman, often considered a symbol of strength and honor, becomes in Baynton’s story a figure of fear and danger. The swagman is not a hero but a predator. This turns the traditional image of the bushman on its head and exposes the flaws in the national narrative of masculine superiority.
5. Isolation and the Role of Society
The woman’s isolation is not just physical but social and emotional. There is no network of support, and even her religious faith fails her. Society, symbolized by the town and the church, is blind to her suffering. Baynton presents a harsh truth: the national ideals of protection, community, and honor often ignore the needs and experiences of women, especially in rural areas.
6. Subversion Through Narrative and Symbolism
Baynton uses strong symbols to enhance her message. The woman’s prayers and the mistaken sighting of her as the Virgin Mary add a layer of tragic irony. Instead of divine salvation, there is human failure. The story’s title, “The Chosen Vessel,” adds further irony—while it may suggest someone selected for a divine purpose, the woman is ultimately discarded by the society around her. Through these literary techniques, Baynton questions the gendered and spiritual myths that shape national identity.
Conclusion
Barbara Baynton’s “The Chosen Vessel” is a powerful critique of the idealized Australian nation and its masculine symbols. By focusing on a woman’s experience in the bush, she exposes the darker, often hidden, side of rural life. Her story challenges the myths of strength, courage, and mateship, showing how these ideals can fail the vulnerable. Baynton’s work remains significant for its bold and honest portrayal of gender, violence, and national identity in the Australian landscape.