Reading Men Like Signboards: The Egalitarian Semiotic of Such is Life
Abstract
Indyk attempts to show how “the recognition of complexity and diversity is at the same time an assertion of the principles of social equality”. Because Tom Collins attributes value to the smallest objects in the novel, refusing to implement a hierarchy, he becomes the person most able to interpret the diversity of the bush. The diversity of his social “parts” allows no escape from the claims of social equality and moral responsibility.
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Published 1 May 1986 in Volume 12 No. 3. Subjects: Australian culture, Characterisation, Class conflict, Morality, Social change, Joseph Furphy.
Cite as: Indyk, Ivor. ‘Reading Men Like Signboards: The Egalitarian Semiotic of Such is Life.’ Australian Literary Studies, vol. 12, no. 3, 1986, doi: 10.20314/als.f905a2921b.