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Killing Daniel

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Expository text argumentative essay, killing Daniel written by Helen garner
Question: non-fiction texts make comment on contemporary Australian society. Discuss.

The function of an Expository text is to make comment on society in order to educate us on a world that we don’t have much experience with. The non-fiction text Killing Daniel written by Helen Garner, comments on contemporary Australian society by examining our refusal to open our eyes to brutal reality. Helen Garner exposes the horrific and brutal story of Daniel Valerio, whom in society permitted to be beaten to death at only the age of two by his own mothers ‘boyfriend’. Garner comments that as a result of societies apathy, and refusal to open our eyes to reality, we allow evil to prosper within the society we live in. Expository texts open our eyes to the harsh reality of life and encourage us to take action against societies apathy.

In the text killing Daniel, Garner comments on apathy within contemporary Australian society by describing those who lack action and concern towards those considered as ‘outsiders.’ By the use of descriptive language Garner describes apathy within the professional’s walls of society. Garner remarks that people with profession’s dealing with aberrant abuse can become desensitized to these situations, which often result in horrific consequences. This is reinforced by Garners comment that doctors were “impressed in court by their lackluster quality. Their manner appeared limp, their language feeble and non-committal.” By the use of the words lackluster, limp, feeble and non-committal, Garner suggests that authority figures such as doctors, are evasive towards the aberrant child abuse in society and act half-heartedly towards those effected. As a result from constantly dealing with such incidents doctors have become desensitized to the harsh realities in society. Garner’s comments on authority figures confront readers with the reality that authorities are failing to protect vulnerable individuals from harm. This challenges the traditional expectations of authority figures and raises concern and lack of trust towards them.

Within the text, Garner comment’s on the dark side of human nature, where people dwell in negative thoughts such as revenge and hate and act with violence and force. Paul Aiton is a prime example of someone who depicts the dark side of human nature. He was charged in court for the abuse and murder of Daniel Valerio, an innocent 2-year-old boy. Garners point of “the worm in the heart of the rose” represents the existence of evil in a considerably beautiful world. Garners use of figurative language signifies society as a beautiful world that is damaged by those who seek violence and destruction. Through the text Garner has not described contemporary Australian society as a beautiful world, however has described a world that is internally dysfunctional due to the dark side of human nature. Consequently the violence within society is difficult to change since the actions of individuals in society are disorganized.

Garner describes social exclusion to be the ultimate cause for Daniels death. Mainstream societies ability to exclude themselves from those considered as ‘outsiders’ caused Daniels death to be a “long, slow process.” Within the text Garner has described society as a pathetic and “vicious collection of children and parents”, who gave the impression to have thrown “up a stockade around themselves, a force field that repels outsiders.” The use of the words stockade and repel, symbolize a form of barrier as a means to defend ourselves from those on the outside. This represents societies inaction and exclusion towards those in need or regarded as ‘outsiders’, in fear of being caught intervening in something they shouldn’t. Garner’s comment on social exclusion within contemporary Australian society confronts readers with the reality that many members of society have self-centered attitudes, which leads to neglect and inaction towards those who are in need of help. As a result horrific outcomes pursue within the heart of society, which people would rather not discern.

Helen Garner’s non-fiction text Killing Daniel makes comments on contemporary Australian society to educate us on the reality’s within the world we live in. Predominantly the text comments on society’s inaction and refusal to open their eyes to the harsh realities of society. By the use of descriptive, figurate and symbolic language, Garner has effectively commented on society’s apathy and exclusion towards those in need, or regarded as ‘outsiders.’ As a result of our inaction and apathy, we allow horrific realities and evil to exist within the walls of society that we’d rather ignore. The expository text aims to encourage us to take action against the issue of apathy within our society.

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