My focus will be how Keneally and Schepsi explores the social inequalities and injustices of the Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith in the novel and film, and the immense cultural gap of pre-federation Australia between white and aboriginal society. Keneally sets the novel in 1899, the highpoint of federation. Jimmie Blacksmith is a half-caste aboriginal fighting for acceptance in white society, a native of "Brentwood mission." .
Jimmie pursues the stereotypical ideal white life. Moving from job to job, being paid the black man's wage, Jimmie faces constant denunciation of his hopes and dreams, and finally cracks in the face of injustice relentlessly facing aboriginals. I will focus on the opening scene, contrasting black and white culture to with aspects of chapters 5 and 13, and demonstrate how the chant of Jimmie Blacksmith represents the struggle of racial injustice. .
In the opening chapter of the chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, the readers are shown that aboriginals of the 1890's are nothing compared to the "culturally superior whites." This interpretation can be witnessed through the authoritarian stance the whites posses over the aboriginals when Jimmie arrives back to Brentwood, after his aboriginal initiation into manhood. .
Mr Neville queries "didn't occur to you, you might be needed for higher things." Keneally illustrates through Neville that the most sacred of initiation rituals is insignificant to the necessity to thew white man's Easter choir. Jimmie Blacksmith is himself a result of white superiority. Jimmie mother Dulcie Blacksmith, "and certainly Mrs Dulcie Blacksmith had been rolled by white men. For warmth in the winter she once said." .
The books first chapter exemplifies the reader to the failure the Aboriginals will be subjected to throughout the book and further years to come. Mr Neville also demonstrates signs of dominance the white possess. "H. J. Neville continued faithful to his dull wife amidst such cheap, such wantonly appealing black flesh.