The Turning Definition of Damaged Goods A person

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The Turning:

The Turning:

 • Definition of ‘Damaged Goods’: • A person who is regarded as inadequate

• Definition of ‘Damaged Goods’: • A person who is regarded as inadequate or impaired in some way • Indicates that the story is going to be about a person or a group of people who are imperfect

Plot Summary An unnamed woman, the wife of Vic Lang, narrates the story of

Plot Summary An unnamed woman, the wife of Vic Lang, narrates the story of her husband’s obsession with Strawberry Alison, a girl he met in high school with a crimson birthmark; which covered half her face and half her neck. In the story she questions whether or not she holds the entirety of her husband’s heart. The story also gives details into the components of Vic’s childhood which lead to the person he is today.

Main Characters

Main Characters

 • • • Unnamed Woman The wife of Vic Lang Ten years younger

• • • Unnamed Woman The wife of Vic Lang Ten years younger than her husband Had a little sister who had an obsession with doll Grew up in a religious family Doubts her husband loves her with his whole heart Suspects that he still loves Strawberry Alison Is hurt and angered by Vic’s emotional distance Goes to his home town to feel closer to him Recounts story of husband’s obsession with Strawberry Alison

Vic Lang • • • Husband of Unknown Woman narrating story Son of Carol

Vic Lang • • • Husband of Unknown Woman narrating story Son of Carol and Bob Lang Very protective of the people he loves Obsessed with a girl called Strawberry Alison, especially because of her birthmark Objectified Strawberry Alison Is very reserved and doesn’t like disclosing his feelings Father left when he was young Little sister died of meningitis Attracted to older and abnormal women Went to university and became a lawyer

Strawberry Alison • Girl that Vic’s infatuated with • Born with a crimson birthmark

Strawberry Alison • Girl that Vic’s infatuated with • Born with a crimson birthmark that covers half her face and neck • Is older than Vic • Wrote a poem about two girls on fire – first indication she’s gay • Was high school netball captain • Went to university • Died while in university driving home from a keg party with her girlfriend

 • • • Bob Lang Married to Carol Lang Father of Vic Lang

• • • Bob Lang Married to Carol Lang Father of Vic Lang Was a straight-shooting cop Something happened to cause him crack Infant daughter died of meningitis Too overprotective of son Quite police force and disappeared less than a year after daughter’s death Reappeared at wife’s funeral Became sober Died few days after wife’s funeral to

Carol Lang Married to Bob Lang Mother of Vic Lang Died of cancer after

Carol Lang Married to Bob Lang Mother of Vic Lang Died of cancer after Vic grew up Reluctantly blamed husband for son’s anxiousness after he left • Was looked after by son after husband’s abandonment • Lost infant daughter • •

Themes and Symbols

Themes and Symbols

Love • Vic’s love for his mother – taking care of her and being

Love • Vic’s love for his mother – taking care of her and being protective about her • Bob’s love for Carol – feelings displayed at Carol’s funeral • Carol’s love for Bob – reluctance to blame him despite his abandonment of her • The unnamed woman’s love for Vic – loves despite Vic being emotionally vacant and is obsessed with someone else. But is it love or an obsession? • Vic’s love for Strawberry Alison – love at first sight and feels protective of her. But does he really love her?

Abnormality • Strawberry Alison’s birthmark - crimson red and covers half her face and

Abnormality • Strawberry Alison’s birthmark - crimson red and covers half her face and neck • Melanie – Vic’s first love had a missing ring finger • Vic and unnamed woman’s marriage - are they in love with each other? Did Vic marry her because he pitied her? • Vic’s home situation – his father left, his sister died, and he had to look after his mother • Vic’s feelings for Strawberry Alison – loves her and objectifies her as an object of sex. Loves her for her abnormality. • Strawberry Alison’s sexual orientation – is gay, an abnormality for the time the book was set in

 • Represents the love Vic has for • Fire is used in Strawberry

• Represents the love Vic has for • Fire is used in Strawberry Alison’s poem to represent her and his ability to accept who passion – indicates she’s gay she is and Strawberry Alison’s love for him because of this • Cover shows the • Fire is used to burning car, represent and from the end of describe Strawberry the story Alison’s birthmark Fire • Represents how she fears she will be burnt and not accepted if people know who she really is • Represents how the fiery crash that took her life set her free as she didn’t have to hide who she was anymore

 • Mother’s death • Strawberry Alison’s partner’s death • Father’s death • Strawberry

• Mother’s death • Strawberry Alison’s partner’s death • Father’s death • Strawberry Alison’s death • Little Sister Died D E A T H

Language Conventions

Language Conventions

Imagery • Helps to convey values and attitudes of characters and how they perceive

Imagery • Helps to convey values and attitudes of characters and how they perceive the world around them • Used to describe setting and characters appearance “She wasn’t looking in at all; she’d just caught sight of herself in the reflective glass and paused a moment in passing. She came closer, right up to the sill, and he was struck by the sadness of her gaze. She was full of longing, anybody could see that, and she was barely an arm’s length away. ” (Page 59)

Colloquial Language • Restricted in ‘Damaged Goods’ due to the fact that the unnamed

Colloquial Language • Restricted in ‘Damaged Goods’ due to the fact that the unnamed woman, the narrator, has a high intellect so the language is more formal • However there is some found in it “He went to parties and got smashed on Brandovino and Blackberry Nip. Out at salmon camps along the coast he smoked dope and lost his virginity. ” (Page 63)

Inclusive Language • Used by the unknown woman, the narrator, as she asks the

Inclusive Language • Used by the unknown woman, the narrator, as she asks the readers opinions on certain situations • It is thought that this is a way for the unknown woman to consolidate her thoughts and doubts • It makes the readers feel like they are being confided in so they are pulled further into the story “Perhaps you could put Vic’s fascination down to the times…” (Page 58)

Representations of Males and Females

Representations of Males and Females

 • “He didn’t just rattle these memories off – he’s never been that

• “He didn’t just rattle these memories off – he’s never been that kind of bore – I had to wheedle them out of him. ” (Page 55) • “…but the truth is that I go out of loneliness and, pathetic as that is, I sometimes felt closer to him knowing that it was the place that formed him. ” (Page 56) • “In any dispute Vic will instantly seek out a victim to defend. That’s his nature and it’s become his work as a labour lawyer, but I wonder if this impulse can account for his adolescent attraction to the flawed and imperfect. ” (Page 58) • “I pressed him for details but he picked up his keys and backed towards the door. ” (Page 59)

 • “…the other girls finished her sentences for her, how they patronized her

• “…the other girls finished her sentences for her, how they patronized her by pretending to be envious of her long, smooth legs and ran their fingers through her glossy hair. ” (Page 60) • “He never told his mates about this thing for Alison but his obsession must have been hard to conceal. ” (Page 61) • “In his last year of school Vic did what all country boys did. He rode around in cars and saved for one of his own. He went to parties and got smashed on Brandovino and Blackberry Nip. Out at salmon camps along the coast he smoked dope and lost his virginity. He felt what it was like to get a Holden airborne at a hundred miles an hour. He studied hard and thought about being a lawyer. He looked after his mother. ” (Page 63)

 • “For him she was the epitome of regular sex, real sex, normal

• “For him she was the epitome of regular sex, real sex, normal sex. Those long legs, her downy arms and white teeth, the swing of blonde hair and the crimson veil across her face. ” (Page 64)