University Transcript Interview: Henry Lawson Analysis

This report analyzes a transcript of an interview with Henry Lawson, a celebrated Australian short story writer. The interview covers various aspects of Lawson's life and work, including his writing style characterized by straightforward language, short sentences, and distinct dialogue, and his literary influences, such as Dickens and Marryat. The transcript reveals Lawson's interest in the working class and his sympathy towards the underprivileged, reflecting his socialist convictions and his association with the labor movement. The interview also touches upon his portrayal of archetypes among bush workers and his republican views, particularly as expressed in his song 'The Song of the Republic'. Furthermore, the interview highlights Lawson's role in the Australian literary movement and his emphasis on the concept of mateship. The analysis provides insights into Lawson's life, his literary contributions, and his perspectives on Australian society and culture.

Running head: TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW
Transcript Interview
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Authors note :

1TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW
Interviewee: Henry Lawson
Interviewer: Lisa Ray
Date: Wednesday, March 25
Meeting Place: Roof place
Attendees : Lisa Ray ( interweave ) = LR
Henry Lawson ( interviewee) = HL
LR = welcome Mr. Lawson. Thank you for joining in and taking out time from your righting
schedule for us.
HL = Thank you for having me
LR = As we have a shortage of time, we will be just winding up the interview with a couple of
questions.
HL = No No take your time.
LR = so how does it feel like to be called the greatest short story writer of Australia.
HL = Well, I am just doing my work, and writing is my passion, for if it is bringing recognition
for me, then it is well and good for me.
LR = Please share something about how your interest in writing began.
HL= well, my Father, as most of you know, was a born miner. I attended school from the
Eurundree and left it. Reading became one of the best sources of learning for me during that
time, and maybe because of that, only I have developed my interest in writing as I was unable to
concentrate in the class, and therefore, from there, only the journey began (Lee, 2002). I must

2TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW
also mention that my greatest inspiration is Dickens and Marryat, and this was the last time and
my early education in life (Lee, 2004).
LR= There is a lot of uproar about your style of writing. Please shed some light on your writing
style
HR= Well, I write in a very straightforward and in a direct language. I like to keep my sentences
short and the distinctively accented dialogue. I always try to give my characters dialogue and the
characters so that they can be used to carefully construct my tale. I always try to evoke rich
imagery in my writing and have also tried to incorporate a sardonic and humorous tone in my
stories (Kiernan, 2014). I especially do this in order to create an appeal for the mass, and my
writing also provides entertainment to the readers.
LR = Please tell me about your writing with the association with the labor through your writing
HL= well, from my work, you can totally know that I am sympathetic towards the backwords
country. Through my condition in the working newspaper, this can be totally understandable. I
actually spend my life in the hinterland that is from I have derived my association with the
working brothers (Dobryaeva, 2016). Therefore through my writings, I try to portray the most
neglected yet powerful class of the world. Like Mr joseph Furphy I have also touched my the
theories of the American social philosophers like Edward Bellamy and Henry George. Therefore
from my socialist conviction, only I have derived and proselytizer for the organized labor.
LR = You have also successfully presented a parade of archetype among the bush workers as
well (Barnes, 2017).
HL= yes, I have tried to specialize in the qualities of the typifying and the underprivileged
itinerants of the country sheep raising areas, there is a brooding quality which is generally

3TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW
presented through my post and especially in verse. The tone created by is sad just to reflect the
condition of this social class. However, the stories that are enriched by the easy and the
humanism of the yarn of the campfire.
LR= From your early ratting, there are is a tinge of republicanism that has run through. Can you
elaborate on these? There is also a certain determination of colonial Australia through your work,
especially the song which you wrote.
HL= yes, the song of the republican is indeed the voice of the heart and it speaks about aout my
ideology and what I stand for as a person.
LR = Which line is your favorite fro the song?
HR= the song is very close to my heart, but I cannot choose anyone. But yes, among a few of my
favorite “ FREE from the wrongs of the north and past/The land that belongs to you’. Is, of
course, one of the favourite line.
LR= You are also known to be the flag bearer of the Australian literary movement.
HL= yes indeed, you can say that I am, and you must be knowing that I am more associated with
this movement from the folk culture of the island.
LR= Yes sir. Please Go on.
HL= yes, so throughout, I have been obsessed with the struggle which is faced by the landowners
and in the landless underdog. In my writing of life hinterland, I have always tried to glorify the
concept of mateship, which had been developed by the men that are drawn together in the harsh
Australian environment. Therefore you can see through this how I have done this. This is a code
that I have been drawn to the men who are drawn close to each. There is always a behavior of

4TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW
maximizing unselfish cooperation, and there is a minimization of selfish cooperation. This is on
track and is around the campfires, and there is also a sense of the political tracts calling for the
fairer deal, which is for the underprivileged.
LR= With whom you are closed to?
HL= With whom you are closest to?
LR= I think I am very much close to my mother, and this is only because of her trust in me I
guess my work got published. Short Stories in Prose And Verse was published by her only, and it
has got me included in the Sydney Literary circle.
HL = Any message for your fans?
LR= You have to trust your gut! I think this is the inborn mechanism that has been build in us,
and it is very much needed for survival, and this is the correct thing to do I guess.
HL= Thank you for this interview. Sir, you must know that I am the greatest fan your I must let
you that.
HL= Thank you for the compliment. It was a pleasure.

5TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW
References
Barnes, J. (2017). The Making of a Legend: Henry Lawson at Bourke.”. The La Trobe
Journal, 99.
Dobryaeva, I. S. (2016). Semiotic Development Potential of Henry Lawson’s Individual Concept
“Mate/Mateship”.
Kiernan, B. (2014). 'From Mudgee Hills to London Town': A Critical Biography of Henry
Lawson. Sydney Studies in Society and Culture, 17.
Lee, C. (2002). An Uncultured Rhymer and his Cultural Critics: Henry Lawson, class politics,
and colonial literature. Victorian Poetry, 40(1), 87-104.
Lee, C. (2004). City bushman: Henry Lawson and the Australian imagination. Curtin University
Books.