Alice even learnt to write from the jam tins which would have some words written on it. Because of that, Alice said that she got her education from the jam
tins. […] I‘d get jam tins and milk tins and copy all the words out. Some people
say to me today, ‗Where did you get your education?‘ And I always say, ‗I learnt it off jam tins.‘ They laugh at me but that‘s the truth. I‘d get the
golden syrup and write, G O L D E N S Y R U P. I‘d wear one page out
writing Alice Isobel Basset, Alice Isobel Basset, to get it right. And it was only through doing that I learnt to write p. 122.
Alice‘s efforts were not in vain, because at the end she could write.This proved that Alice
‘s strong self-determination made her achieve her goal which was to be able to write.
8. Responsible
Alice is a responsible person that she would always do her chores which were scheduled for her. She never neglected her responsibility even if it is
scheduled right one after the other. After I‘d finished up in the store in the mornings I‘d go straight down to
the sewing room. Then at around five o‘clock I‘d be finished there, and I‘d go up to the
office to trim the lamps. I used to do the lamps for the girls‘ dormitory
– they had to be trimmed every night and put in each wing before tea p. 71.
Alice‘s chores started in the mornings which mean Alice had to wake up early in the morning to get to work. Right after she finished another work, then
she would start with the other right after. Her tight schedule right from morning till night hardly put Alice at rest. However, Alice always finished all the works
she was given. Based on what she did, it can be seen that Alice was a responsible person that would always do her duty. Even Mr. Larsen whom Alice worked for
praised Alice for having done a good job, ―[…] Later on Mr Larsen said to me,
‗You did a good job, Alice. You‘re doing all right p. 97.‖ If Alice was not a responsible person then she might not have done a good job that her master would
even praise her for.
9. Straightforward
Alice also has a straightforward characteristic. Whenever she felt like saying something and that she could not hold back, Alice would always speak up
everything inside her mind straightforwardly. It can be seen when Alice felt herself getting cross with Mrs. Neville. Alice who was working for the Nevilles,
felt upset about what Mrs. Neville did to her. Alice felt like Mrs. Neville was always watching her which makes her feel uncomfortable.
Even though Mrs. Neville was the one who has the authority over Alice, Alice was not afraid of telling Mrs. Neville that she does not like being watched.
Her straightforwardness characteristic is seen on how Alice argues with Mrs. Neville that Alice was always doing her work and there was no need to watch her
every single step. I felt myself getting cross
– she always was one step behind me. She started to say something to me and I said, ‗Well if you don‘t like it, you
know what you can do about it.‘ ‗Oh,‘ she said, ‗you don‘t need to get upset about it.‘
‗No,‘ I said, ‗I‘m doing my work and there‘s no need to walk behind me. That pot doesn‘t stand out there all day, and it‘s not the first time I‘ve put
it out there.‘ p. 136. Another proof to show how Alice is being straightforward is when Alice
knew that Jess was talking about her behind her back. Alice did not remain silent about the situation but straightforwardly talked to Jess that if she had anything to
say about Alice then she must say it to Alice, not behind her back.
I walked into the kitchen and I said to Jess, ‗If you want to talk about me, talk to me.‘
She jumped. ‗I wasn‘t talking about you,‘ she said. ‗I‘ve got ears girl,‘ I told her. p. 139.
Alice wanted Jess to talk directly to Alice if there is anything that makes Jess unhappy so that everything could be straightened out.
Looking at how Alice‘s reaction towards Jess and what she said to Jess, it is implied that Alice is a very
straightforward person. Alice does not holding back her words inside her mind, she would rather say it straightforwardly than to just keep it for herself.
Another incident that shows Alice‘s straightforwardness is when Alice was not satisfied about the boarding house and how she was treated at the
boarding house, Alice also straightforwardly said to Mrs. Ingram that she was unhappy living there.
The next day I went and met up with Mrs Ingram and she asked me if I was happy staying at the boarding house.
‗No,‘ I said, ‗they don‘t talk to me, unless they want me to do something for them.‘ I told her now my board was being paid but I had to do work for
them p. 154. Seeing how Alice‘s straightforward respond to Mrs. Ingram‘s question,
definitely proves that Alice is a straightforward person who will always speak her mind bluntly.
B. The Racial Discrimination Experienced by Alice Nannup
In the previous part of the analysis, the characteristics of Alice Nannup have been discussed. These characteristics of Alice Nannup are important in this
part as well as the next part of analysis because it helps in understanding more about Alice Nannup‘s reactions throughout the analysis.
