Introduction

Context

The play is set in 1956 in Melbourne, in a working class suburb called Collingwood. During the post war period, a huge influx of immigrants landed on Australian shores. By 1961 immigrants made up around 26% of Victoria's population.

It is important for studying this play that you have at least some knowledge of the attitudes towards these immigrants, particular those of European heritage.

• Refugees were given jobs as labourers, regardless of their skills. A particular use of post war immigrant labour was the Snowy Mountain Hydro Electric scheme.
• It was considered that new immigrants should 'assimilate', that is to become just like all other Australians.
• Migration to Australia was strictly determined by race.

Just from these few points it is possible to gauge what attitudes there were towards immigrants in Australia. Their skills were undervalued, their culture and heritage was dismissed, as they were expected to assimilate, and Australians saw big differences between races.

Although government policy has since been amended in order to stop discrimination on the basis of race, it is very difficult to totally eliminate discrimination between cultures, either directly or socially.

While you are reading the play, think about any issues that you see as being relevant to you today. Are there situations that you can relate to, are there characters that you can especially empathise with, are the themes still relevant in contemporary Australia?

Interestingly, Beynon, the playwright, dedicates this play to 'Mr. Leczycki - who need not have died that Christmas'. This is interesting because the play is dedicated to a Polish immigrant who slashed his throat because his workmates could not understand him. Why then, do you think, Beynon has based his play on Italian immigrants? It is most likely that he is trying to express the point that it is ignorance and intolerance in general that result in racism and not the different races themselves. The play's relevance today demonstrates the long-ranging need for change in Australian society, the need for a 'shift of heart' to a more accepting and tolerant society.

Purpose

The purpose of the play is to express the human and emotional effects of racism. Rather than to discuss figures or talk about racism as a general problem, Beynon examines the issues as they affect individuals. He covers a diverse range of attitudes that propagate racism as well as the individuals that are forced to cope with racist attitudes.

Techniques

Stereotypes

It is important to recognise that Beynon overtly uses stereotypes to define his characters and their attitudes. The Bianchis are an extremely stereotypical Italian family, which is conveyed particularly through their dialogue, their house and their attitudes. The other characters are expressed as being stereotypically 'Australian' and working class.

The use of stereotypes has an important effect on how we understand the play. It is plausible that the stereotypes that we can understand underline our own limited perceptions of people and in this way Beynon asks the audience to question their own attitudes towards race. The use of stereotypes certainly emphasises the perceptions of difference between cultures in Australia.

Language

The language used by the characters is either stereotypically Australian or stereotypical of an Italian immigrant. Beynon spells out many words phonetically in order to ensure that the actors know how to pronounce different words. As with many plays, the dialogue is approximately equivalent to genuine conversation and this adds to the realism of the play.

Further, Beynon uses a number of motifs through language. He compares and contrasts the use of the word boy and kid to man in order to convey a sense of social heirachy. The words 'dago' and 'wog' are used as tensions surface during the night.

Structure

The Shifting Heart takes place from the afternoon of Christmas Eve to the early morning of Christmas Day. Beynon uses the time frame to contrast and to emphasise the rising tension. The climax is reached during the excitement of the night and occasion, and the play's closing happens during the serenity of Christmas morning, complete with the laughter and play of children in the street. The drunkenness of Christmas Eve evening culminates in increasing incidents of violence. The morning after, the actors are left to pick up the pieces and to confront the situations that they have made for themselves.

Setting

Beynon is particularly descriptive in his stage directions, most noticeably for the set and the lighting. It is of particular importance to Beynon that the stage is set how he envisaged it. The house represents a stereotypical Italian house. The fences on either side of the yard represent the range of attitudes towards the family. The lighting mirrors not only the time frame but also the mood of the play. Poppa's renditions on his harmonica also mirror the mood as well as providing a commentary on racial difference through the tunes that he plays.

It is significant that the play is set only within the yard of the Bianchi's house. This emphasises the personal nature of the play and also the fact that it is racism from outside that threatens the happiness of the Bianci family.