AustLit

Pearce critiques John Marsden's novel Dear Miffy (1997) as a narrative that reinforces the polarisation of the sexes in a post-feminist climate and at a time when masculinity is seen to be in crisis. Further, she argues Marsden's representations of fathers (and mothers) supports the notion that the revitalisation of manhoood is 'essential for healing the wounded nature of modern masculinity' and that the narrative is fundamentally about 'father hunger' (p.34). The protagonist of the novel fits Bob Connell's description of 'protest masculinity' as he struggles with his masculinity, relationships and socio-economic circumstances. Pearce points out that rigid class demarcations in the text not only underlie stereotyped representations of 'the have and have-nots' but link class with the 'traditional notion that manhood is an achievment not a given and that it must be earned, won and fought for through various trials and ritualized suffering' (pp.33-34).