Individual vs. Society

Where it surfaces

• Special Notice

  The poet is described as 'companionless—alone! fearfully alone in the midst of his fellows,' illustrating the isolation of the individual who differs from the common mass.

• I: I Remember, I Remember

  Sybylla refuses to show deference based on social rank, treating a prince no differently than a shearer.

• VI: Revolt

  Sybylla feels alienated from her family and society's expectations, struggling to find her place.

• IX: Aunt Helen's Recipe

  Sybylla feels misunderstood and isolated, while Aunt Helen speaks of the universal burden of being misunderstood, highlighting the individual's struggle against societal norms.

• X: Everard Grey

  Sybylla's theatrical talents and unconventional behavior are praised by Everard but constrained by family expectations and bush life.

• One Grand Passion

  Sybylla's refusal to conform to societal expectations of marriage and her assertion of personal autonomy.

• XIV: Principally Letters

  Sybylla's solitary reflections on social issues and her torn letter to Everard show her struggle between personal expression and societal expectations.

• Same Yarn (Continued)

  Sybylla's impulsive, unwomanly act isolates her from social norms and places her in conflict with expected feminine behavior.

• XXI: My Unladylike Behaviour Again

  Sybylla's refusal to apologize or feel shame for her actions pits her personal conscience against Grannie's societal expectations of female propriety.

• My Journey

  Sybylla feels lonely and insignificant on the platform, contrasting with the collective care of the male passengers, underscoring her isolation as a young woman navigating a male-dominated world.

• XXVIII: To Life

  Sybylla feels trapped and alienated in the M'Swat household, struggling to maintain her identity and standards against the overwhelming filth and ignorance.

• XXIX: To Life (Continued)

  Sybylla's defiance of Mrs. M'Swat and her assertion of authority over the children reflect her struggle against the social and familial constraints imposed on her.

• Mr. M’Swat and I Have a Bust-Up

  Sybylla's intellectual and emotional needs clash violently with the crude, materialistic values of the M'Swat family, leading to her explosive confrontation.

• XXXVII: He That Despiseth Little Things, Shall Fall Little by Little

  Sybylla feels alienated from her mother's world of recipes and orthodoxy, and from the narrow expectations of her community.