Barefoot Resilience
Jean Paget decides to walk barefoot feeling the road surface with her bare feet. The narrator asserts, "Jean watched them for a time, then stooped and took her own shoes off, savouring the unaccustomed road surface gingerly with her bare feet. She walked on carrying her shoes, picking her way with her eyes upon the ground, and her feet ceased to pain her though from time to time the tarmac grits hurt her soft soles." Jean and a group of women are on a forced march during their captivity as prisoners of war. They are being led by Japanese soldiers including a sergeant and three privates. The women—burdened with their belongings and children—walk slowly due to illness and exhaustion. The imagery of Jean walking barefoot symbolizes her adaptability. By removing her shoes, she seeks relief from the discomfort caused by unsuitable footwear and the heat of the tarmac.
Desolate Village Horizons
The narrator gives a description of the Malay village where the group of prisoners arrives. He narrates, "The place was a typical Malay village, the houses built of wood and palm thatch raised about four feet from the ground on posts, leaving a space beneath where dogs slept and fowls nested." The group of prisoners arrives at Dilit during their arduous journey. This description provides a vivid visual image of the village and its unique architectural style. The imagery of the raised houses with a space beneath—where dogs sleep and fowls nest—adds to the sense of hardship and discomfort experienced by the prisoners. It portrays a basic and modest living arrangement emphasizing the lack of proper accommodation and resources available to them.
Picturesque Coastline
The narrator states, "The north-east coast of Malaya is a very lovely country, and comparatively healthy. It is beautiful, with rocky headlands and long sweeping sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, and usually there is a fresh wind from the sea." The group of prisoners is continuing their journey through Malaya. After leaving Kuantan, they reach the north-east coast of Malaya where the narrator describes the natural beauty and favorable conditions of the area. This vivid description evokes a sense of tranquility providing a momentary respite from the harsh realities of their captivity. The comparison to other locations along their journey implies that the northeast coast of Malaya offers better conditions and access to resources. Moreover, the availability of fresh fish in the villages provides the prisoners with sufficient protein.
Shoe Crafting
Jean makes shoes using materials such as tanned cow skin and wallaby skin for the lining. The narrator asserts, "The business of this pair of shoes assumed such an importance in the life of Willstown that Jean put off her trip to Cairns for a week, and then another week. The wallaby skin for the lining was not ready, so Jean made up the first pair with a white satin lining that she bought in the store." Jean is in this remote outback town in Australia where she has taken on the project of building a well and making shoes. The excerpt describes her process of gathering materials and the dedication she shows in perfecting her craft. This imagery captures Jean's ability to adapt and create practical solutions with limited resources. It also portrays the transformative impact of Jean's initiative on the community.
