John Naish That Men Should Fear. [Manuscript] (Unpublished)
That Men Should Fear by John Naish. © Dr. Lee Naish, Digital version 2022.
Copyright protected. Not for download, reuse or distribution.
- Work By
- Author: John Naish
- Item Type
- Manuscript
- Collection
- Library Archives
- Series
- John Naish plays
- Location
- Townsville Campus Library
- Item Code
- JN/1/8
- Related Links
- Subjects
- theatre; plays; drama
Summary
A synopsis by Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui
The play That Men Should Fear is derived from the novel of the same name. The chief protagonists are members of the Vaughan family, and James Pearce and his mother Grace, housekeeper and partner of William Vaughan the farmer. The entire action of the play takes place in front of Rhondda, homestead on the farm of William Vaughan in Vaughan's Pocket, north Queensland. The action of the play revolves around the hereditary curse of Huntington's chorea disease and the choices individuals make when they are faced with the prospect of having inherited the disease. Subthemes are black-white relations in north Queensland, suicide and the effects of dogmatic religious adherence. The play ends tragically with the banishment of James and his mother from the farm, the suicide of the afflicted son Robert and suicide-murder of son David Vaughan and his pregnant mixed-race wife. William Vaughan's medical doctor daughter Mary assumes the management of the farm and waits with a loaded gun for evidence that she too is afflicted.
Additional Information
Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui is an historian and historical consultant. She graduated from James Cook University with an Honours degree and PhD in history and is an Adjunct Lecturer at JCU. She researches the sugar industry and migration history of tropical north Queensland, and her first book, published by JCU, Gentlemen of the Flashing Blade married those two themes. She also has a keen interest in the history of the Herbert River district where she has lived since her marriage. At present she is researching the role of women in various episodes of North Queensland history, while also continuing to research and write about John Naish.
Copyright Information
© Dr. Lee Naish, Digital version 2022.
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