What distinctive features of your prescribed text allow interaction with the ideas, forms and language

within the text which affects those responding to it?

In the context of the Second World War, many events have occurred that have resulted in the
deaths and sufferings of many people. From the years that followed, commemorations were held to honour
those people. However, not all people have been given acknowledgement. John Mistos play The Shoe
Horn Sonata tells the stories of the forgotten especially in a feminist perspective. The playwright makes
references to actual historical events and places with the use of many dramatic techniques working
together to create realism in the play to allow audiences to engage with the characters. This is a
distinctive feature of the play which allows interaction with the ideas of heroism, truth and government
ignorance, with forms of various theatrical techniques and with language in the literary devices used in
dialogue within the play. This allows it communicative effectively with responders.
The idea of heroism is a key element of the play. In Act One Scene Three, Bridie and Sheila
meet for the first time and Bridie establishes her courage in the early part of the play. When Sheila begins to
nod off Bridie hits her with a shoe-horn to stop her from drowning. While Bridie recalls it as a tap-tap-
tap Sheila uses exaggerated onomatopoeia and recalls it to more of a whack-whack-whack. Another
example of heroism is the women in the prison camp where they form an orchestra in Act One Scene Five.
The music of Bolero sung by the orchestra allows the audience to realise the unity of Fifty voices and a
shoe-horn as they refuse to be defeated by the patriarchy of the Japanese. Sheila also displays heroism in
her sacrifice of her body to obtain quinine to save Bridies life. Even though it traumatised her for over fifty
years, she manages to say in a definitive tone that Id do it all again, if I had to in Act Two Scene
Thirteen. This shows that even after all the physical & psychological hardships Sheila is still willing to
make heroic sacrifices for Bridie. These dramatic devices interact with ideas of resilience and courage to
help create the theme of heroism. It is a distinctive feature of the play which allows the audience to realise
that, prisoners of war in history were not weak and hopeless, but were actually strong and resilient heroes.
The way Sheila sacrifices her virginity for Bridies life is heroic and was very difficult. Revealing
this truth to Bridie is another difficulty in itself. Therefore, the theme of truth is another central idea in the
play. In Act One Scene Eight, she reveals her act of heroism. Dramatic techniques become crucial in
creating an engaging climax for the audience. The sound of crickets re-enacts the situation described by
Sheila and as more of the truth is released. This sound effect, increases in volume before ceasing when the
complete truth is revealed. When the two women stand in isolated spotlights, the audience realises that a
rift has formed in their friendship. Bridie had earlier emphasised her moral position when she says with in a
disgusted tone Sleeping with a Jap? Id never have done that so Sheila had lied to Bridie into thinking
that the shoe-horn was sold for quinine. This revelation gives an element of shock to the audience. When
Sheilas sacrifice is revealed publicly in Act Two Scene Thirteen stage directions show that Bridie
squeezes Sheilas hand and tries to smile gently this friendship is rebuilt. It shows that truth is needed to
maintain a close friendship. These theatrical techniques interact with references to actual events and the
audience discovers that prisoners of war have long concealed truths and have suffered psychologically after
their ordeal and attempts to conceal the truth. This is a distinctive quality of the drama text.
Whilst the audience is made to appreciate women prisoners of war, Misto deliberately places
criticism on government powers. In Act Two Scene Nine, there is irony as the Australian government sends
a message to the women and tells them to keep smiling under such horrendous prison conditions. This is
followed by the photograph of the Prime Minister at the time, John Curtin looking distressed appearing on
the screen. This emphasises to the audience of the governments lack of sympathy in assisting the women.
Furthermore, the British governments irresponsibility by censorship is revealed in Act Two Scene Thirteen.
They burned the womens diaries, erasing any records of their suffering because they would have lost
prestige if people found out how the women of their Empire had lived in the war. The disappointing tone
in the womens line deliveries reveals to the audience that, during the war, truths were hidden by the
government to selfishly protect their own interests. The dramatic techniques interact with the revelations of
government censorship which build up the socially realistic idea of government ignorance. This distinctive
feature allows the audience to see Mistos perspective on the government and they are encouraged to
criticise the governments actions during the war.
John Mistos drama text The Shoe Horn Sonata effectively depicts the experiences that women
faced as prisoners of the Second World War. The play is based on actual historical events and places with
the use of many theatrical devices assisting to create the dramatic feature of realism in the play. Misto
presents a view on prisoners of war that is different to the usual patriarchal stories of history. He addresses
the ideas of heroism, truth and government ignorance in a feminist perspective. The play commemorates
the experiences of suffering and sacrifice of the women and has an underlying message that Australia
should commemorate all people who have endured suffering in war, not just the male soldiers.
 Requirement
Demonstrates extensive, detailed knowledge, insightful
understanding and sophisticated evaluation of the ways
meanings are shaped and changed by context, medium
of production and the influences that produce different
responses to texts
Demonstrates well-developed understanding of the
distinctive qualities of the drama text
Answers all parts of the question skillfully [NB: this
criteria is dependent on the question given]
Displays a highly developed ability to describe and
analyse a broad range of language forms, features and
structures of texts and explain the ways these shape
meaning and influence responses in a variety of texts
and contexts
Organises, develops and expresses ideas
skillfully, using language appropriate to
audience, purpose and form
Evidence
The playwright makes references to actual
historical events and places with the use of
many dramatic techniques working together to
create realism in the play to allow audiences to
engage with the characters
This distinctive feature allows the audience to see
Mistos perspective on the government and they
are encouraged to criticise the governments
actions during the war.
John Mistos drama text The Shoe Horn Sonata
effectively depicts the experiences that women
faced as prisoners of the Second World War. The
play is based on actual historical events and places
with the use of many theatrical devices assisting to
create the dramatic feature of realism in the play
He addresses the ideas of heroism, truth and
government ignorance in a feminist perspective.
The play commemorates the experiences of
suffering and sacrifice of the women and has an
underlying message that Australia should
commemorate all people who have endured
suffering in war, not just the male soldiers.