Jasper Jones Synopsis

‘Jasper Jones, was written by author Craig Silvey. The story takes places in 1965 in a small Australian mining town called Corrigan, during the Vietnam war. It is about a thirteen-year-old boy, Charlie Bucktin, and his struggle to process and live with the fact that he helped Jasper Jones, the town trouble maker, cover up the death of Laura Wishart.

It begins when Jasper Jones comes to Charlie’s window one night looking for help. Even though Jasper has the reputation of being the town’s trouble maker, Charlie feels somewhat honoured that Jasper is at his window asking for his help. Charlie decides to leave with Jasper but when they arrive at their destination, Jasper’s secret glade in the bush, Charlie sees the body of Laura Wishart, Jasper’s secret girlfriend, hanging from a tree.

Charlie is even more Shocked by the fact that Laura is the older sister of his crush, Eliza Wishart, as well as the mayor’s daughter. Jasper wants Charlie’s help to move Laura’s body because he wants time to find out who did this before he gets the blamed, as he is often blamed by Corrigan. Charlie reluctantly agrees to help, and he and Jasper sink Laura’s body to the bottom of a nearby dam.

In chapters 2-6, Charlie is struggling to deal with the fact that he helped Jasper sink Laura’s body. His struggle is made worse when the Corrigan begins searching for Laura. And Charlie knows where she is but can’t say due to his promise he made with Jasper. Charlie runs into more troubles as he builds a stronger connection with Eliza, he finds himself wanting to tell her what happened.

Jasper’s presence is scarce throughout these chapters, but when he does see Charlie, he tells Charlie that he’s convinced that “Mad Jack Lionel” is responsible for killing Laura. Also in these chapters, the reader learns about Charlie’s dysfunctional family dynamics, particularly his negative relationship with his mother. The reader also gets to know Charlie’s best friend, Jeffrey Lu, more intimately as well.

Chapter 7, is the chapter that brings all the pieces of the puzzle together and creates the climax of the novel. Jasper and Charlie confront Jack Lionel only to find out that Mad Jack didn’t kill Laura, but that he is Jasper’s grandfather. Jasper’s encounter with Mad Jack also reveals that Mad Jack was driving the car when Jasper’s mother was killed in a car accident. However, Eliza comes to Charlie’s window in chapter 7 and takes him to Jasper’s secret glade, revealing that she was there the night that she saw Laura take her own life.

Through a note left for Jasper from Laura, the reader learns that Laura’s father was visiting her in her room at night, that Laura was pregnant by her father and that Laura’s mother did not believe her. Eliza shares this with Jasper as well and Charlie tells Eliza that he and Jasper sunk Laura’s body. Jasper decides to follow through on his plan to leave Corrigan and he is not present in the book past chapter 7.

Chapters 8 and 9 bring a close to the book. Eliza never reveals the information she knows about Laura’s death to the police, but she does tell her mother, promising only to reveal the location of Laura’s body if she comes forward with the truth, however this never happens. Eliza and Charlie grow closer and the book ends with Charlie telling Eliza how he feels about her, as Eliza’s house burns. An act that the text suggests had something to do with Eliza.

 

This is a short trailer for the movie ‘Jasper Jones’, soon to be released in 2017:

About the Author

Who is Craig Silvey?

Craig Silvey is an Australian novelist and musician. He was born on the 1^st of January 1982. Silvey grew up on an orchard in Dwellingup, a small town in the south-west of Western Australia. When he was 12 he wanted to become a palaeontologist. He is currently living in Fremantle. At the age of 19 Silvey wrote his first novel ‘Rhubarb’, which was published by Fremantle Press in 2004. In 2005, Rhubarb was chosen as the ‘One Book’ for the Perth International Writers’ Festival, and was included in the national Books Alive campaign. Silvey also received a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist Award. In 2007, Silvey released ‘The World According to Warren’, a picture book starring the guide-dog from ‘Rhubarb’. The second novel that he wrote was ‘Jasper Jones’, which was completed with the aid of an Australia Council New Work Grant. Apart from writing Silvey is the singer and song writer for the band ‘The Nancy Sikes!’

Which character appeals to him the most?

Silvey has spread his own characteristics throughout three of the main characters; Jeffery Lu, Charlie Bucktin, and Jasper Jones. Jeffery Lu is a cheeky antagonistic little guy, that is admirable for so many reasons. He is bullied relentlessly in Corrigan due to his Vietnamese heritage and is completely unflappable. However, Silvey feels he has a deeper connection with Charlie Buctin, as Charlies voices echoed his own at that age. He likes books and is a deep thinker which reminds Silvey of himself. And the other hand the older Silvey gets the more he wants to be like Jasper Jones. As Jasper is a quiet, independent and thoughtful figure.

What were his influences in writing this novel?

The name Jasper Jones is what sparked the idea of writing the novel. Using the name Jasper Jones, Silvey was able to influence Jaspers character, what he might look like, where he might be and what era the story was to take place in. And the whole story just fell into place, with that name that just got stuck in Silvey’s head.

Why did he write Jasper Jones?

After Silvey had the idea of Jasper Jones as a character and a story setting for Jasper, he thought that gothic fiction would be the best context to tell this story in. After he knew what kind of book he was writing, he knew what other books he was to be subconsciously referencing, like ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’. So that’s how he knew he wanted to write an Australian gothic.

This is a short video of Craig Silvey talking about ‘Jasper Jones’:

The Context of Jasper Jones: Australia during the 1970’s

The social upheaval and political drama of the 1960s continued throughout the 1970s. In many cases, these protests were part of a wider social and political movements taking place in other Western countries. Australian perspectives on immigration, war, sexual morality, the role of women and the environment were undergoing radical changes. In 1974, the White Australia Policy was scrapped. Throughout the decade, women won the right to equal pay and maternity leave and Indigenous peoples made progress on land rights. In 1972, Australian troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and in 1975, the nation was rocked by the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

Like rock music, pop music had its origins in the 1950s and 1960s. Popular music is different to rock in that it uses simple melodies, harmonies and words to create catchy songs or ballads that are easy to remember and have wide appeal. Pop songs are more likely to be influenced by fashions and are more short lived in their popularity than, for example, rock music. Early Australian pop is a story about immigrants doing well on an ongoing basis, of female singers, songwriters and performers as well as popular activities and events. Australian pop was one of the most successful Australian musical exports.

The early 1970s fashion scene was very similar to 1969, just a bit more flamboyant. It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that a fashion revolution occurred in the 1970s. Polyester was the material of choice and bright colors were everywhere. Men and women alike were wearing very tight fitting pants and platform shoes. By 1973, most women were wearing high cut boots and low cut pants. Early 1970s fashion was a fun era. It culminated some of the best elements of the 60s and perfected and exaggerated them. Some of the best clothing produced in the 1970s perfectly blended the mods with the hippies. Just when it seemed pants couldn’t flare any more, the flare was almost gone. By the late 1970s the pant suit, leisure suit and track suit was what the average person was sporting. Every woman had a cowl neck sweater in her closet and every man had a few striped v-neck velour shirts. Tunics, culottes and robes were also very popular. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which dresses were meant to be worn at home, and which ones were for a night on the town. Chest hair, medallions, polyester, butterfly collars, bell bottoms, skin-tight t-shirts, sandals, leisure suits, flower patterned dress shirts, sideburns and, yes, tennis headbands. There is one common theme throughout fashion in the 1970s: pants were tight fitting. And it is probably the first full decade in which women could be seen wearing pants in every walk of life. It’s also hard to miss the fact that colour almost completely disappeared by 1979. Earth tones, greys, whites and blacks were back in full force, as people had apparently tired of the super bright tones of the early 1970s.

Here are a few pictures of what the fashion of the 1970’s was like in Australia:

This is a short video of what life was like in Australia during the 1970’s:

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1:

Chapter 1 starts off with Charlie Bucktin setting the scene, introducing himself and the layout of his life. He is reading in his room when he is interrupted by Jasper Jones. Charlie and Jasper have very little in common and have nothing to do with each other. But Jasper Jones needs Charlies help. Jasper takes Charlie out of town to his special place in the bush that only he knows about. When they arrive at Jaspers special clearing in the scrub they discover the body of Laura Wishart (the mayor’s daughter) dressed in her night gown, bruised and cut, dead hanging from an old tree above the centre of the clearing. The first thing Jasper dose is get Laura on the ground and takes the rope off from around her neck. Charlie stands there shocked and stunned wondering how this could have happened. Jasper manages to convince Charlie that he was not responsible for Laura’s death and that he had been framed. Charlie feels a sense of involvement now and offers ideas of what should be done, like tell the police. But Jasper, being the renowned trouble maker of Corrigan, that is blamed for most instances even when not involved, decides that would be a bad idea as he would get the blame. And go to jail and no one would listen to him. That’s why Jasper chose Charlie’s help as Charlie is a smart kid that he knew he could count on. So Charlie and Jasper decide to bury Laura in a dam to by some time for themselves, to figure out what to do next. And to find out who was the culprit for Laura’s death. After they hide Laura, Jasper pulls out an unlabelled bottle of alcohol and starts drinking. He then begins smoking and offers Charlie a sum. They start talking and get onto the topic of Jasper’s broken family situation. They suddenly realise it’s early morning and Charlie needs to get home. The Chapter ends with Charlie thinking about the idea that Laura Wishart is dead and he goes to bed.

• Setting the scene – Jasper taking Charlie to his special place in the bush
• Discovery of the body
• Charlie reaction and thoughts

---

Chapter 2:

Chapter 2 is the day after chapter 1, the morning after Laura Wishart’s death. Charlie’s still shocked and feels sick inside. At the breakfast table Charlie asks his father if there was any important news in the newspaper. Charlie was surprised to hear that nobody’s realised that Laura’s missing. After wards Charlie went over to Jeffrey Lu’s (Charlies best friend) place for the day. When he arrived Jeffery was watching an intense game of cricket. The cricket game ended up stopping after the field had been rained out. So Jeffery and Charlie decided to go for a walk to the public cricket nets for some practice. Along the way the two began debating which super hero was the greatest. As they walked they passed the library/book store where Eliza Wishart (Laura Wishart’s younger sister) was reading. Jeffrey urged Charlie to go talk to her. But Charlie feeling rather awkward and unsure of himself, only managed to whisper ‘hi’ and kept walking, but he wanted to turn back around and have a real conversation with her but he didn’t. When they arrived at the cricket nets they found the cricket team already using them. The cricket team didn’t faze Jeffery, but Charlie didn’t like it and wanted to leave. As they practiced the team and coach started bullying them, especially Jeffery. As Charlie was collecting the balls that flew out of the nets Charlie notices Eliza walking across one of the cricket/football ovals on her way home. They wave to each other. Then the cricket team notices her and start wolf whistling and yelling trash talk. She then hurries home. Charlie then starts thinking about how he should have stood up for her and walk over to her and start talking to her. They would talk about what Charlie knew about Laura and he would comfort her, and impress her. But Charlie didn’t.

• Morning after
• Going to the nets with Jeffrey (bullying by cricket team and coach)
• Eliza Wishart

---

Chapter 3:

• Next day Parents’ reaction to the news of Laura’s disappearance
• Charlie at the library
• Mother’s reaction to Charlie disobeying the instruction to stay in the street

---

Chapter 4:

Chapter 4 is a short chapter the next day, starting off with Charlie and Jeffery playing cricket in the street during the test match lunch break (cricket) on TV. When Charlie looks up he spots two search planes arriving to search for Laura. Charlie decides that he wants to go home. Later when Charlies in his bed room he is interrupted by Jeffery tapping on his bedroom window, excitedly informing Charlie that Dug Walters has just scored a century. Charlie lets Jeffery into his bedroom and they discuss multiple topics. Including the news regarding Jeffery’s family in Vietnam, regarding the killing of his Uncle and Aunty.

• Jeffrey and Charlie playing cricket in the street – search planes arriving
• Jeffrey’s news regarding his family in Vietnam – Uncle and Aunt killed
• The news on TV that night was about Laura’s disappearance – nothing about Vietnam
• Charlie tries to understand and make sense of the war and the world

---

Chapter 5:

• Meeting at the Miner’s Hall- Mrs Lu attacked because of the war –nobody came to her assistance
• People were talking about Jasper – Charlie felt perhaps they had done the wrong thing for the right reason.
• Jasper comes to see Charlie
• They went to the ‘special spot’ in the bush and Jasper tells Charlie how he was locked up by the police and Laura’s father was there.
• Jasper wants to talk with Mad Jack Lionel
• Talk about life and beliefs and Jasper’s dad
• They find ‘sorry’ scratched into the base of the tree
• The police are waiting at Charlie’s house on his return

---

Chapter 6:

• Charlie grounded for a couple of weeks but is allowed out for the Cricket match where Jeffrey has been named twelfth man.
• Charlie had made up a story for the police and was surprised that they believed him
• Ruth blamed Wesley and Corrigan for Charlie having been out at night without their knowledge
• Jeffrey officially in the team as one of the players was rushed to hospital with appendicitis
• Charlie and Eliza sat together during the second half of the match. They held hands and hugged when Jeffrey hit the winning runs.
• Charlie and Eliza talk about her family and she says that she knows things and is not a good person.
• Last ball and Corrigan is still behind in the score. Jeffrey hit a ‘six’ winning the game. Loud applause from the crowd and Jeffrey is the Town’s hero.
• Jeffrey goes home with Charlie and his dad. Pete Wishart saw the match and told Wesley of Jeffrey success.
• Charlie senses a shift in his father’s attitude to him. Seeing him with Eliza has given some credence to the lie Charlie had told.
• Jasper has found an old car at Jack Lionel’s with the word ‘sorry’ scratched on the door. He sees this as proof of quilt but Charlie isn’t so sure.
• Four men from the mine wreck An Lu’s garden and assault him when he comes out of the house. Wes and two other neighbours stop them. Charlie proud of his dad.
• Charlie and his parents play cards until late to try to overcome the rage they feel.

---

Chapter 7:

• Jeffrey and Charlie play cricket in the street – Charlie is concerned about Jasper
• Charlie wonders if he will be able to leave Jeffrey when the time comes
• Charlie’s father gives him the novel he has written to read
• Jasper comes to the window to collect Charlie to go and visit Mad Jack Lionel
• Eliza tapped him on the shoulder on his way to meet Jasper and she said that she needed to speak with him. He agreed to meet her later
• Charlie had a bad felling about going to see Mad Jack
• They marched up to the front door and to their surprise Mad Jack welcomed them inside.
• Jasper accuses Jack of killing Laura but Jack doesn’t know anything about it. He thinks Jasper is speaking of his mother’s death.
• Jack reveals that he is Jasper’s grandfather and was driving the car in the accident when his mother died.
• Jack told Jasper the story of how his parents met and the years before his mother’s death
• Jack told the boys he had seen Laura pass the house on the night she disappeared and that she had been followed.
• Back home Eliza came to see Charlie and told him that she knows where Laura is.
• Laura was leading Charlie to Jasper’s spot in the bush but on the way they came across Charlie’s family car parked. His mother was in it with a man.
• Eliza and Charlie continued on to the tree where Laura died and Eliza told Charlie her story of the night her sister died.
• Jasper discovered them in the glade and Eliza told him her story.
• She then said that she was going to tell everything to the police
• Jasper stopped at Jack’s on the way home and thanked Charlie
• Charlie and Eliza were picked up by the police and taken to the station but Charlie was not allowed in
• He waited until Eliza and her family came out, then walked home

---

Chapter 8:

• Charlie’s mother left that night without argument from his father
• His dad sent his book to the publisher
• They became accustomed to looking after themselves – Charlie cooking; Dad cleaning
• Eliza told her mother everything and said that if she told the truth Eliza would take her to where Laura lay – nothing was said
• Charlie and Eliza went to the glade each night

---

Chapter 9:

• Return to school and somewhat normality
• Wager with Warwick Trent – get peaches from Jack Lionel’s tree for immunity
• Jack helped Charlie win the wager
• Eliza’s house is burnt down
• People blame Jasper Jones for the fire

Character Summaries

Charlie Bucktin

Physical Description

Family Circumstances

He worships his father, who is a school teacher, but whom he compares to the wise Atticus Finch in the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.

“He’s right. He’s always right.”

He dislikes his mother, and her dissatisfaction with everyone and everything in her life.

“What? Why? Why is she right? That makes no sense.”

Key Relationships

He is best friends with Jeffery Lu, the only son of the only Asian family.

“Jeffery Lu is uncanny. His skills are so impressive. I’m not even envious.”

He is in love with Eliza who is the daughter of the most respected man in town (the Shire President).

“Eliza’s manner has always intrigued me. She seems troubled, yet definitely untroubled.”

He admires Jasper Jones, the only ‘half-cast’ Aboriginal in town.

“I trust him straight up, though I have no reason to, and this makes me one of few.”

Role in Story

He is not sporty and therefore neither manly nor popular.

He is willing to gain greater understanding

Emotional Journey

 

Jasper Jones

Physical Description

Half White-Half Aboriginal

Family Circumstances

Key Relationships

Role in Story

Emotional Journey

 

Jeffrey Lu

Physical Description

Family Circumstances

Key Relationships

Role in Story

Emotional Journey

 

Eliza Wishart

Physical Description

Family Circumstances

Key Relationships

Role in Story

Emotional Journey

Themes

Throughout the novel ‘Jasper Jones’, many themes have been portrayed for example; moral duality, race and ethnicity, morality versus ethics, responsibility and culpability and atonement. However, I will only be discussing the first two themes; moral duality and race and ethnicity.

Moral Duality

Moral duality simply implies that there are two moral opposites working together, independent of any interpretation of what might be right and wrong, independent of how these may be represented. Throughout the book you get to know characters and what really goes on behind their facades. The whole town of Corrigan is based upon the fake facades that many of its occupants have. This is why Charlie finds it so difficult to navigate. Charlie being a young confused teenager is finding it difficult to fit in, noticing things that everybody else has become null to and just got used to. For example, Pete Wishart is the Mayor of Corrigan. He is represented as a highly respected man living in the rich part of town, however later in the book he is revealed to be a drunken and sexually abusive father towards his eldest daughter, Laura Wishart. Another example of a facade and moral duality is the Sergeant, when he savagely beats up Jasper, and comes to Charlie’s house acting comforting and familiar. Charlie finds it difficult reconciling these different versions of him:

‘I remember thinking that if I hadn’t seen the cuts and bruises on Jasper’s face for myself, I wouldn’t have thought for a second that this burly paternal copper was capable of locking up an innocent boy without charge and beating him. If Jasper Jones hadn’t shown me the cigarette burns on his shoulders just hours before, if I hadn’t touched their ugly pink pucker with my fingertips, I wouldn’t have suspected this man to be the monster he was’ (p. 160)

Race and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity is the state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition. Scapegoating is very relevant to the theme race and ethnicity which plays a huge role in the novel. Scapegoating is when a person or group are made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place. Despite their own personal flaws and shocking conduct, the citizens of Corrigan have made scapegoating another nulled thing, that has just become a part of their life. Even over the smallest things. For example, Jeffery Lu is relentlessly bullied, particularly by the cricket team. All for his Vietnamese heritage and the war in Vietnam, for no fault of his own. Another example, is Jasper Jones. Whenever a crime or offense occurs he becomes the likeliest suspect. Jasper is a convenient tool for Corrigan. The ‘idea’ of Jasper Jones enables a comfortable withdrawal of personal responsibility. For no fault of his own, Jasper Jones is often pegged as an unrepentant bad boy:

‘Jasper Jones has a terrible reputation in Corrigan. He’s a Thief, a Liar, A Thug, a Truant. He’s lazy and unreliable. He’s a feral and an orphan, or as good as. His mother is dead and his father is no good. He’s the rotten model that parents hold aloft as a warning: This is how you’ll end up if you’re disobedient. Jasper Jones is the example of where poor aptitude and attitude will lead.

In families throughout Corrigan, he’s the first name to be blamed for all manner of trouble. Whatever the misdemeanour, and no matter how clear their own child’s guilt, parents ask immediately: Were you with Jasper Jones?’ (p.5)

Straight after Jasper finds Laura dead, he immediately scapegoats the other town pariah, Mad Jack Lionel, as responsible. Even though he knows what Laura’s father (Pete Wishart) is a possible culprit, it is as if even he cannot conceive of such a monstrosity from the town’s upright mayor. Yet on far less evidence he leaps to accuse Mad Jack. It’s just sad that this scapegoating business just seems to keep going around in circles, and nobody seems to realize how harmful it is.

The author wants us to not judge a book by its cover, but to judge others on character and not over gossip or superficial reasons.

Discussion Questions

Discussion Question 1 – To Kill a Mockingbird

Now that you’ve watched the movie ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, who do you think was a courageous character? What was a brave thing they did?

Response to Discussion Question 1

I thought that Atticus Finch was a courageous and brave character. As Atticus is an attorney and state legislative representative, as well as a highly respected man of Maycomb. He was therefore asked to defend Tom Robinson in court by the judge, John Taylor. Tom was a negro who was accused of raping and beating Mayella Ewell. There is a lot of tension and racism viewed throughout the movie. In one scene, Atticus is talking to Scout about her fight with Cecil Jacobs for calling Atticus a ‘nigger lover’. Atticus then goes on to explain to Scout that there’s been some high talk going around town, that he shouldn’t do much to save Tom Robinson. He then goes on to say he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up if he didn’t, as it’s the right thing to do. Atticus knew that everyone would despise him for saving Tom Robinson, but he did anyway.

 

Discussion Question 2 – Laura Wishart

When Jasper shows Charlie that he has found Laura Wishart in “his” clearing, Charlie is understandably shocked and upset. Do you think that Charlie did the right thing in helping Jasper? Why do you think Charlie agreed to become an accomplice?

Response to Discussion Question 2

When Jasper shows Charlie Laura Wishart’s murder scene, I think there would have been many ideas and confused as well as shocked thoughts running through Charlies mind. I think that Charlie did the right thing in trying to help Jasper even though he didn’t have to, but more than anything. I think the reason Charlie helped Jasper was because he felt a sense of involvement, He knew and there was no going back as well as that he wanted to impress Jasper, as Jasper had come to him for help. Added to this Charlie believing that Jasper didn’t commit the crime, and he didn’t want Jasper to become Corrigan’s scapegoat. I think Charlie agreed to be Jasper Jones’s accomplice because he knew the truth, and if he didn’t help Jasper, nobody would, and Jasper would be on his own.