Dream Stuff earned Malouf overwhelming critical praise, and “Great Day” is often singled out as the finest story in the collection. Paul Sharrad, in his article on Malouf’s short prose, insists that Malouf is “Australia’s leading producer of ‘poetic prose.’” He finds that “the shorter work . . . relies for its impact on musical…
Tag: Great Day
Great Day by David Malouf – Setting
Australian History The story is set on a warm day during the Australian summer. No date is mentioned, but it is most likely in January, which is Australia’s hottest month. During this month, Australians celebrate two historical events: Australia’s Independence Day on January 1, which honors the day the country won its independence from Great…
Great Day by David Malouf – Literary Devices
Imagery The dominant image in the story is fire, which appears in the beginning as Ned watches a group on the beach build a bonfire and, at the end, when the museum is set ablaze. The fires provide an ironic tension in the story as they suggest both destruction and positive change. Both the bonfire…
Great Day by David Malouf – Themes
Dreams The thematic focus on dreams in the story is announced by the title of the collection, Dream Stuff , an allusion to Shakespeare’s The Tempest (4.1.156–58). Prospero, the central character in the play, notes the temporal nature of human life in his claim, “We are such stuff / As dreams are made on; and…
Great Day by David Malouf – Characters
Cedric Pohl After some of them return to the house, Clem feels that something needs to be said on the occasion. He gives a disjointed speech about how everyone in the universe is connected and that “nothing ever gets .” Even though Fran had already left with a group that included Cedric, Clem feels satisfied…
Great Day by David Malouf – Summary
“Great Day” opens early on the morning of Audley Tyler’s seventy-second birthday, which is the same day as a national Australian holiday. Angie, Audley’s daughter-in-law, sits gazing out to sea while nearby, Audley is fishing. When Angie walks back to the house, she is greeted by her son, Ned, who informs her that Fran is…