"Literary works can explore the cultural myths of the period in which the text was set/produced such as racial, class or gender stereotypes. Respond to this statement referring to at least one text."
             Texts often portray a society's ideologies of class and gender stereotypes during the period of time in which the texts was set. Issues such as class and gender are often explored in an explicit manner through juxtapositioning difference class and gender groups. However in Tim Winton's novel Cloudstreet, Winton explores the same issues of class and gender through a more implying manner. The novel is set over a twenty year time period between 1943 – 1963 and is almost entirely dedicated to one social group, therefore making adequate comparisons between different classes almost impossible. Winton therefore uses the exploration of education, and for employment as a vehicle to develop the idea of gender and class.
             Employment is used as a device by Winton to show the differences in classes, particularly in Cloudstreet as it is focused almost entirely on one class group. Winton uses the Sam Pickle's need for employment to convey the difference classes and their values. Sam Pickles is the working class man; he is defined by his occupation. After injuring himself at work Sam is disempowered and lacks direction. "Dolly saw it was his right hand. His bloody working hand. A man could hardly pick his nose with a thumb and half a pointer." The values of the working class need for employment, especially physical labour, are conveyed to the reader. Dolly Pickles feels the family is "done for; stuffed cactus" as Sam is no longer able to carry out the hard work needed to support his family. The narrator refers to Sam's situation as a "new status...", yet this really refers to the sense of pity other working class men feel towards Sam. However it is only after Sam gets a job at the mint t...