Characters

The most important character in the short story “The Weeping Fig” by Judith Wright is John Condon. Active characters like Mrs Hastings and Bertha are part of the social setting and relevant for John’s attitude towards them. Absent characters like John’s family members are important for illustrating the conflict between man and nature, but also for the way John thinks about them. Consequently, in this part of the study guide we will focus on John’s character, and only briefly present the Condons (John’s great-grandparents).

John Condon

John Condon is the main character in the short story. The narrator gives us only a few details about his outer characterisation. We know he is an Australian man living in the north of Australia and whose great-grandparents were British (l. 88).

Inner characterisation

His inner characterisation presents him as a man who is nostalgic and curious about the past because he decided to take a trip to the part of Australia where his great-grandparents lived, after reading his great-grandfather’s diary.

His attitude towards Mrs Hastings who now lives on his great-grandparents property suggests he dislikes her: “Mr John Condon drew up his chair now, and made an effort at conversation. Though it was really too hot to try to keep up this tea-party foolishness.” (ll. 1-3)

He is not interested in the woman’s life; he only wants to see the place where...