What is an analysis of Gwen Harwood's poem Oyster Cove?

Answer 1

Dominant cultures are responsible for setting the dominant ideologies. In Australia this was the british. "Oyster Cove" shows the overwhelming ignorance the had for the Indigenous Australians. They were "God's creatures" too but this wasn't seen. The poem explain all the horrible things that came about due to settlement such as introduction of alcohol and tobacco. Harwood is criticising their treatment. By setting them up as "God's creatures" its creates sympathy so when it says, "A woman lies / coughing her life out" the audience is appalled and it agains shows the ignorance of the settlers to let this happen. There is a lot more. But thats a basic premise. :)