At first I thought that Gemmy’s story could have been inspired by the Prodigal Son, but of course we know nothing of his father. Then Parsifal came to mind but again, Gemmy was. as Rosemary pointed out, quite passive, more a foil for others to be affected by. Then I thought the whole mood of the tale could be more like Candide, but again there are really three separate tales that are held together with the bookends of Janet and Lachlan, Mr Frazer’s visit to Brisbane a digression. The point is that Malouf doesn’t provide any kind of solution nor should he, because it would be presumptuous to assume that he asumes to have any kind of an answer.
Michael Griffith: Home Page- Literature and Life Spring 2025 
At first I thought that Gemmy’s story could have been inspired by the Prodigal Son, but of course we know nothing of his father. Then Parsifal came to mind but again, Gemmy was. as Rosemary pointed out, quite passive, more a foil for others to be affected by. Then I thought the whole mood of the tale could be more like Candide, but again there are really three separate tales that are held together with the bookends of Janet and Lachlan, Mr Frazer’s visit to Brisbane a digression. The point is that Malouf doesn’t provide any kind of solution nor should he, because it would be presumptuous to assume that he asumes to have any kind of an answer.