Structure

The short story “The Weeping Fig” by Judith Wright is structured around a single event in the life of the main character, John Condon—a trip to the place where his great-grandparents lived.

The story has a backstory plot, in which past events are intertwined with John Condon’s present visit. Although we can identify plot elements like exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, the story is more focused on an outer and inner conflict. The outer conflict is between man and nature. The inner conflict is represented by John’s frustration with his life and his past. Both conflicts are resolved at the end: “The Condons and the landscape reconciled in it, failure and hopelessness forgotten.” (ll. 143-145)

Beginning

The short story begins in media res (in the middle of events) hooking readers’ attention by not disclosing details about the characters and the context: “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. ‘Have you lived there always, Mrs Hastings?’” (ll. 1-4)

The dialogue between the characters functions as an exposition. We gradually find out that John Condon is visiting the area where some of his ancestors used to live: “That was it, he realized suddenly. A Condon...