Vincent Minh Bui, Ms Novacowski, Standard English

Part B Scene Analysis shortsighted Act II Scene XIII 1. Scene XIII of the Shoe Horn Sonata opens with its two protagonists, Bridie and Sheila, recounting their incarceration as World War II drew to an end. The two women recall how the Japanese and later the British attempted to eradicate all evidence of camp life by destroying diaries and removing gravesites. The Shoe Horn Sonatas thematic concern of Truth and Honesty is ubiquitous throughout the play but is particularly prominent within this scene. Scene XIII is one prominent example through which Misto condemns the official concealment by the Japanese, British, and Australian governments of the wartime experiences of women in Japanese captivity. 2. The projection of images typically corresponds to the dialogue throughout the play. For instance within Scene XIII on the screen we see a photograph of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima the infamous mushroom cloud. This is followed by a photograph of the devastated city. These images of the mushroom clouds following the nuclear explosions at Nagasaki and Hiroshima are well recognised symbols. The photographs symbolise the end of World War II when peace was finally declared and hostilities ceased. These images are contrasted with the situation of that of the women in the Japanese prison camps, because for them the war had not ended and it was business as usual more and more women perished every day.

3. On the soundtrack we hear the beginning of The Blue Danube by J.Strauss. It continues throughout the following speeches The waltz continues on the soundtrack joyous, triumphant the music of life.

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5. The British asked if they could borrow our diaries they didnt want anyone to know about us so they burned our diaries. Every last one. This particular excerpt from Sheilas account is integral to the very fabric of the play; it highlights the plays thematic concern of Truth and Honesty, where the authorities are attempting to concealing the truth and constructing their version of it. In addition the passage allows us to look beyond the experiences of the female P.O.W.s at the wider social and political context that has allowed their experiences to pass

Vincent Minh Bui, Ms Novacowski, Standard English

unacknowledged. Moreover the passage compels audiences to question the way we construct and communicate our history. 6. John Mistos play The Shoe Horn Sonata examines the wartime experiences of civilians, particularly women and children, during their incarceration by the Japanese during World War II. Mistos ability to broach a contentious and unfamiliar topic with a contemporary audience can be attributed to his use of dramatic techniques, particularly his integration of projected images, dialogue, and music. This integrated approach allows Misto to effectively propagate meaning to an audience and hence influence their perceptions . Ultimately

Vincent Minh Bui, Ms Novacowski, Standard English