English Works

“The Whirlpool” by Cate Kennedy

Summary

Kennedy uses the motif of the “whirlpool” to explore the “undertow” of emotions that are swirling between the narrator and members of her family.

These conflicting and at times toxic emotions undermine the mother’s attempt to stage the “perfect” photograph. The narrative focus of the story is the visit by the photographer who organises the annual Christmas photograph. The mother is keen to send a picture-perfect family photograph to their acquaintances overseas. As they gather for the photograph, Kennedy shows a distinction between the problematic relationships within the family and the stage-managed perfect family photograph.

Questions

  1. “Your sister Louise” … Why does Kennedy use a second person pronoun to refer to the main protagonist?
  2. How is Louise preparing for the photograph?  What does this say about the photo?
  3. What is the normal positioning of family members? What does this say about the family?  (She refers to it twice in 2 pages. Why?)
  4. Why is her mother dissatisfied with the photos?
  5. Why does the narrator want to stay in the pool?
  6. Why does the mother give her daughters a “conspiratorial smile”? What does she say about the father? What does it reveal about their relationship? What is her tone?
  7. Why does the narrator feel as if she is giving a “sickly, traitorous smile of concurrence”?  (Connect with the “undertow” of the whirpool”)   (Connect with other references to the mother’s attitude to the father.)
  8. Why does the narrator imagine that the pool will be the “subject of attack”?
  9. What is the Whirlpool and why is it better with four people?
  10. Who doesn’t like the whirlpool and why not?
  11. Why does the mother offer the daughter some “iced coffee” – what is the suggestion of collusion?
  12. What does the attitude – “studied nonchalance” – suggest?
  13. Why do the girls try to avoid the mother?
  14. Explain the whirlpool and its significance in the story. The title – and the other reference to an undertow of water.  How does it capture the undertow and backlash of emotions in the story.
  15. Explain the choice of sundresses – why does the mother choose the dress and organise the photo? What do these details reveal about the mother?
  16. Louise gives a “triumphant smirk” – What does this say about Louise?  (smile/smirk/attitude)  How do they capture each other’s response in the mirror?
  17. The touch of the father’s arm and the comment of “darling” – why is it awkward and false?
  18. The awkward feeling of closeness when they have the photograph taken – explore differences between appearances (the image) and their lived realities and sense of dislocation.
  19. She tells Robert to forget about the pool.  (Note the mother’s forced smile and the father’s discomfort as well as the look of “compliance” – what is the overall affect of the photograph?  What does the mother expect others to see?
  20. Explore the significance of the “undertow” and the undercurrence of water.   Read back into the story and explore examples of undertow between family members.

Retrace the relationship and gives quotes and examples of the emotional state of Anna and her mother

Narrative devices (craft of writing)

  • The whirlpool (the title of the short story) is a symbol of the family’s emotionally complicated relationships.
  • Kennedy’s uses the second person pronoun to refer to Anna (only mentioned once in the short story) to capture the narrator’s sense of estrangement from her family.
  • Tone and body language: Anna smiles in a complicit manner when her mother drags out the Christmas tree and the mother makes a facetious comment.   

Trace through the nuances of the relationship and the characters’ body language.

  1. Use a range of adjectives to describe Anna and her mother.
  2. Anna has a constrained and difficult relationship with her mother. She feels constantly judged, and uneasy, apprehensive and tense.
  3. Anna also feels that her mother’s “tenderness” is “treacherous” and false. It has a sense of control.
  4. She feels the need to impress and comply with her mother.
  5. Anna furtively sneaks out through the door when the mother talks about the swimming pool.  She tries to avoid her mother.
  6. She feels uncomfortable when the mother derides the father.  She sees this as an example of deceit (duplicity/treachery).
  7. The mother judges Anna, and controls what she wears and how she looks.   This makes Anna feel uncomfortable. It undermines her sense of agency.  
  8. Anna dreams of being “loose” and “helpless” in the middle of the vortex created by the whirlpool.
  9. Kennedy uses the simile of the tide to capture the mother’s sense of control and power.  Anna finds it difficult to challenge or defy her mother because she is so imperious and censorious.

Write a similar recount or description of a constrained and difficult relationship. Use a key symbol like the whirlpool to capture a sense of emotionally complicated relationship(s). Use some dialogue (note Kennedy’s use of dialogue and her punctuation.)

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