Through the formation of the vocal orchestra, the uniting of the group is portrayed which further allows the breaking down of the ever present social class distinctions.
On the other hand, the loss of hope causes some of the women to drift away from the rest of the group and cause a division. Another aspect is the recent murder of 20 children and 6 adults in Connecticut. Such an instance is surely allowing the country to unite and mourn for the loss of innocent children and adults but is also dividing the nation on the issue of gun laws. A personal issue allowed me to recognise how conflict has the ability to divide people.
Based on actual events, Bruce Beresford demonstrates how music has the ability to unite people. After the horrific event of Wing’s death, the vocal orchestra causes an uplifting of emotions in most of the Prisoners of War. Being torn from family, friends and deprived of luxuries such as adequate food, shelter, water and clothing, leaves the ladies in the camp leading a life with a bleak future. Although some such as Rosemary Leighton-Jones find strength in one day reuniting with their husbands’, many are seen to lose faith as they are “never [getting] out of this.
.. never leaving] Sumatra. ” Such negative talk is overturned by the formation of the vocal orchestra. It firstly unites Adrienne Partiger and Margaret Drummond over the divisive boundaries of class as before the war, women from the upper ranks of colonial society never associated with missionaries. By providing an apology, “Ms Drummond, I feel I owe you an apology.
.. for my snobbery,” Adrienne clearly eliminates any previous class boundaries and allows both women to work together and initiate the idea of a vocal orchestra.Furthermore, Mrs Roberts acceptance of other races and joining of the vocal orchestra demonstrates not only her appreciation for the music and Adrienne and Margaret’s effort to uplift the mood of the group but also shows how she is willing to unite with others and become part of the community. Such occurrences demonstrate how the individual prisoners have congregated to make a whole community, all through the use of music.
Although Paradise Road shows many instances of women uniting, it also demonstrates how conflict can divide people. The nature of Mrs.Tippler is one of complete negativity. Her critical and pessimistic attitude brings her to frown upon the starting of a vocal orchestra as it’s a “crazy” idea and further go onto encourage the women to “forget the whole thing. ” Furthermore, her lack of involvement, from the very beginning, in daily jobs such as planting new crops, cooking and cleaning the lavatory demonstrate her alienation from the rest of the group.
Eventually her friends, Mrs Dickson and Mrs Pike recognize her poisonous behaviour and abandon her, isolating her completely.Through Mrs Tippler, it is seen how conflict can divide people. The recent murder of 20 children and 6 adults in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut has united the nation in grief over the loss of innocent lives. 14th of December, 2012 is a time forever embedded in Connecticut’s history.
The open fire at a school by a man, Peter Lanza, who was later said to be ‘deeply disturbed’ and ‘certainly had major issues’ (relative) not only tragically ended the lives of 20 children and 6 adults but also his mother’s.Although such tragedies are unbearable and hard to comprehend, they demonstrate how people empathise with those that have directly encountered the conflict and therefore are able to emotionally unite with them. Such unity is clearly demonstrated through the sympathetic and overpowering words of President Barak Obama. Speaking as not only a leader of the nation but also a father of two, Obama offers his condolences “on behalf of the nation,” offers “every single resource [needed] to investigate the crime” and through tears displays his “overwhelming grief.
By doing this he is inviting the nation to grieve and unite with him, which they demonstrate through memorials and a candlelit vigil. Such unity is further shown by ‘Saturday Night Live’ who derived from their usual comedic opening and instead pay a tribute to the fallen by inviting a children’s choir to open with ‘silent night. ’ Personal experiences in the past have demonstrated how conflict can divide me from the ones I trust. To trust someone is to be able to rely on them, to count on them and to have enough faith in them to not be wary of them telling anyone your secrets.Having a friend that you completely trust and then discover they have betrayed you is like a ‘slap in the face,’ unexpected, stinging and something that leaves you temporarily immobilised. A personal experience incorporating the betrayal of my trust by a good friend caused me to divide from them.
Upon confronting them, conflict evidently arose. After a hefty argument that consisted of them denying the truth, I came to the realisation that it was time to separate from them. Such an occurrence demonstrates how conflict can divide the people who encounter it. Encountering conflict is part of everyday life.
It follows human kind all through history and will continue to pursue it into the future. Conflict has the ability to erode relationships or unite people who encounter it. This is seen in Paradise Road. By having a singular task to focus on, the group unites for the most part but has some exceptions such as Mrs Tippler that divide from it. Unity is also demonstrated in the United States through the heartless massacre of 20 children and 7 adults while division is shown through a personal experience.
Such occurrences indicate how conflict can unite or divide people that encounter it.
