Essay Questions

How does the story of the Hermit thematically connect to Ellie’s record of the events?

One of the themes explored in a minor key in the story is the importance of storytelling and perspective. The novel literally opens with Ellie having been chosen by the others to keep a written record of the experiences of fighting the guerilla war against the invading army. Actually writing down what has happened is important for a number of reasons, but first and foremost it is a record of their acts and thoughts from their perspective. This creates a connection to the story of the Hermit because the truth of what happened to him was wrongly misinterpreted by others and that misperception eventually created the legend which grew around him. The legend is completely at odds with the truth, revealing how the facts of history and the accounts created afterward do not always align. By leaving behind a record of their actions from their perspective, they may also one day alter the course of the misperception of legend as authentic history.

How does this novel illuminate the dramatic shift in storytelling that has taken place over the 21st century?

This novel was published in 1993. Although the year in which it takes place is not specifically identified, presumably it is intended to be contemporary. The story could not realistically unfold in the same way without significant alterations to modern life. The situational premise of being completely cut off from what was happening back home while they enjoyed the isolation of being in Hell would entail any number of unlikely scenarios allowing for their being no wireless internet connection or cell phone service. One can perhaps imagine a situation in which the invading forces acted so quickly to take over wireless communication that it could get them back to their homes without knowing what was going on, but the very lack of access would likely have stimulated concern enough to bring them home too early. The requirement for this story to play out as it does is nothing fantastical and it is that very prosaic quality of daily life that is so fundamentally different between 1993 and the modern world that makes this book excellent material for studying how technological advances impact the basic art of creating narrative.

Why is the nationality of the invading forces never identified?

All that is ever known about the war is that Australia has been invaded by a foreign country and that this country does not enjoy the same standard of living as Australia. Robyn suggests that her homeland bears some responsibility for being invaded because as a richer nation they could have chosen to do more to assist the poorer countries in the region but chose not to. Choosing not to identify the invading country allows the novel to construct is narrative in a more abstract way that does not unnecessarily demonize any actual nation as a potential aggressor. There is, of course, another reason for making the invading army ambiguous. With the exception of New Zealand—which would have no economic imperative to attack its neighbor—every other country in the region logistically capable of carrying out such a successful surprise attack is Asian. Specifically identifying the aggressors as one of the Asian countries not only carries the potential for creating distracting controversy but would also introduce themes related to specific instances of racism and prejudice that the story is not really concerned with or focused upon. Eventually, this ambiguity will be cleared up and the invasive force identified as a “coalition” of countries in Southeast Asia.