Golden Boys Sonya Hartnett

Freya the tragic hero

The Church is set up as a symbolic representation of Freyas lost faith (pg
38) and her realisation that she must find a new faith that will lead her to
salvation Rex, but she learns tragically that this faith is too, misplaced and
she will be betrayed by him also dubious safety pg 37.
Freya feels the guilt and responsibility of her domestic violence environment
she feels as though she should be punished Hartnett uses the monster
symbol to illustrate this:
Pg 177 Freya talks of sacrifice she must be unhappy to alleviate her
parents unhappiness.
Pg 177 she talks of a monster who peruses her she is at the mercy of its
power: I imagined this creature- this monster thats black and slinky, like a
big black lion, with long shiny claws and yellow eyes. It runs really fast and,
and it has teeth like a shark. And it wants me. Its been coming for me
Freya cont.
All the imagery highlights the sinister aspect of the evils of the
adult world how their immorality will claim the victims of
children. Rex says there is no monster. Theres no such thing
pg 178 this is the beginning of Rexs betrayal towards Freya
who has placed all her faith in him if she has to choose, she
chooses Rex pg 178.
Moment of final betrayal pg 223. Freya realises Rex prepared to
sacrifice Freya in order to protect himself when Joe confronts him.
Imagery!!! Light imagery fluorescently lit pg 223 monster
imagery in his clutches the yellow eyed monster with its
slinky black limbs has chased her right into her home link to
stifled motif entrapment etc.
Freya cont.
Help me please. Im sorry. pg 223. Freya takes on
blame of adults actions. Her vulnerability to the power
of adults immorality is exposed.
Pg 224 Rex unhinged his jaw Freya is his fleshy
meal
Avery the survivor, the prophet
Pg 20: Characterisation and imagery
a pixiehe should have wings shrewd as a leprechaun pg 210
other worldly not a mere child he has morphed into something
else as to survive the neglect he and children experience.
small, translucently white as a pearl there is no meanness in
him innocence exaggerated.
delicate, origami dainty faade vulnerability greater reader
response once we learn of his neglect the world is striving to be
rid of him, destined to follow a hard path through life.
grey-eyed and fair haired a bit like a wise man foreshadows
his wisdom about Garrick
Avery cont.
he is a child who haunts the streets Avery and darkness pg 134
blackest quietest hourswhere darkness is thicker always
associated need to see Avery as a good figure who serves a higher
purpose he is obliged by the natural order to stay p23
He is a lawless being p74 exists outside realm of adult/child world
he has an ethereal quality that sets him apart.
His wisdom sets up his prophet status: has a rodents instincts
very clever, sage-like, knows how to survive- he is a quick
learnerp136. Animal imagery important here like all the other
children, he is devalued, reduced to animal status his wisdom is not
noted by either children or adults. Pg 192 sometimes you just know
what to do he has been thinking about Garrick pg 135 it was
just there pg 210.
Avery - cont.
Animal imagery possum pg 74. Avery like the possum
hes a desperate thing will forsake all that he
knows, for a taste of sweetness Rexs kindness
knee injury. Scavenger for affection.
Knee injury symbol Rex uses it to manipulate Avery
keeps him from the drain this setting is the child realm
of innocence and knowledge. Look at imagery of the
knee injury this is a physical representation of adult
corruption upon adults. gruesome etc
Pg 85 go to the drain if thats what youd rather. But
remember its you who will live with the consequences
Syd protection from adult world
Syd looks for protection from corrupt world of adults. Hartnett uses the pool to
symbolise this this is done with intention to create irony as it is here where
the children lose their innocence at the hands of Rex.
Foreshadowing of this the pool is alluded to as a trap that Rex sets pg 82 the
filling of the swimming pool attracts them like flies
The pool the water will be cold but the prospect is invitinghe will stay
underwater as long as he canpg 116 Syd clinging to his innocence.
Pg 116 long sentence detailing the horrors of Syds life uses pool to
cushion himself from it he had found tranquillity in that water- pg 117
domestic violence scene- look at structural narrative technique here only
water can wash away such a hurting vision p122.
the only place he knows that might be the pools equal as a sanctuary is the
storm water drain p116. This is the true setting that depicts a freedom from
adult immporality children claim it exclusively as their territory.
Drain setting symbolic of childrens world, the
devalue of children in a corrupt adult world.
Important to note Rex warns against it beyond the realm of his control.

Imagery pg87 a wasteland, unlovely, ramshackle place rubbish

all to suggest how children are of lesser worth. (link to animal imagery)
Drain always coupled with darkness this suggests moral goodness of
children. Pg 87-88 away from the heat and light of the sun, into a
darkness so dense and cool its good here pg 90, dense and cool
pg 88.
Lots of ominous imagery/mood to suggest the ultimate demise of
childrens innocence adult immorality will prevail: discovery of a
corpse pg 87, its dangerous pg 89, (link to foreshadowing of Colts
death e.g.s involving drain its decomposing smell p182)
Referred to as a sanctuary a safe retreat from adult corruption
Light and Darkness imagery -
corruption of childhood innocence.
Darkness/cool = moral goodness of children, protection from adults
Light/heat = adult corruption and violation of childrens innocence
IMPORTANT Hartnett inverts the universal meaning of light and darkness in this
book in Golden Boys light has a damaging effect (in the sense of the truths the
children learn) whereas darkness is associated with protection and goodness.

DARK/COOL
Drain is always associated with cool and darkness, but there is an edge between
light and darkness that boys hover over this metaphorically suggests how they
are on a precipice of change their innocence is in danger, figuratively being
swallowed by the light. Colt turns, and particles of sun brush his face, and the
blackness of the tunnel hulks behind himbackflip spectacularly away into
darkness pg 89
a few footsteps downaway from the heat and the sun in drain. Pg 87
Light and darkness imagery cont.
Boys linger between light and dark to suggest the precarious status
of their state of innocence.
Syd isnt bothered by the dark p122
Avery a dark place into which he retreats p 135
LIGHT/HEAT
When Garrick exposes Rexs immorality that perv p184 Garrick
has edged into the shadows, but the brothers stop at the entrance of
the pipe so the sun stays on their shoulders and they could run if
they had to p184.
the situation settles snowily around them, cold and bright white pg
189. Declan innocence lost sunshine lacquering his cheeks pg 190
Light and Darkness cont.
Colts death lots of light references the world of child
innocence has been corrupted by adult immortality sun a
sudden inferno p194, sun blazes p195
Colt dies afternoon aggressively bright p237, sun feels hot
and scalding full effect of damaging effects of adult immorality
seen in imagery and Colts death.
truth breaks from green depths into sunlight pg 2
truths rising to light p5
considers his father in a new diffuse light p 5
Rex framed against the white sky and last fanning rays of
light p 7