Family and the Father in the Poetry of Les A. Murray

Abstract

Some of the subtlety of Les A. Murray's poetry is suggested by the way it both invites critical commentary on seemingly straightforward themes and values and yet seems to evade, even subvert, such defining commentary and indeed license an opposite view altogether. The family and the figure of the individual in his poetry offer an instance of this. It is becoming a commonplace in discussion that Murray's poetry eschews exploration of the personal and possibly idiosyncratic element to champion the domestic and everyday experiences which are presented to be general to the community.

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Published 1 May 1988 in Volume 13 No. 3. Subjects: Country vs city, Fathers & sons, Mothers & sons, Search for self identity, Les Murray.

Cite as: Bourke, Lawrence. ‘Family and the Father in the Poetry of Les A. Murray.’ Australian Literary Studies, vol. 13, no. 3, 1988, doi: 10.20314/als.34a2beb57c.