Distinctive Voices

Compelling ideas are conveyed through distinctive voices and which evoke new insights for the responder. Marele Day’s detective novel: The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender subverts the gender stereotypes associated with crime fiction through the distinctive voice of female protagonist Claudia Valentine in the context of a vividly depicted underworld. In contrast David Williamson exposes the seedy but vulnerable nature of characters who conform to gendered expectations through his distinctive use of Australian vernacular and well-crafted characterisation.

The stereotype of the jaded male detective is subverted in Day’s novel through the distinctive voice of the female protagonist Claudia Valentine whose multi layered characterisation highlights her resilience in a male dominated environment. Street wise and acutely aware of the risks she faces, Valentine’s stoicism is reflected in colloquial expressions that are traditionally masculine: “the crims don’t discriminate anyway: they’ll blow away a woman on their trails as readily as a man”. Idiomatic expressions such as ‘blow women away’ highlights the vulnerability of the lone protagonist in a world of ‘crims’ who are predominantly male. Thus Day engages the responder in the world of the protagonist and evokes empathy and admiration for her. The responder is further encouraged to delight in her bravado through the first person narrative “I can do a karate kick that knocks them flat”. Alliterative and hyperbolic imagery adds a light tone to this character’s distinctive voice in juxtaposition with the dark underbelly of the crime world she moves through. Despite Day’s depiction of Valentines as equal to any male detective in strength and courage, she faces the dilemmas and challenges characteristic of female characters and has to choose between her profession and motherhood. “I’ve made the tough choices, left my children…The Amazon. No breast, no heart”. The metaphoric reference to the iconic female warrior women...