Change is a transition, process, or alteration, over time that affects all aspects. Change is to become different, transform or replace.
Changing self explores the ways change is apparent, within an individual. It examines the notions of development or progress and focuses on personal transformations.
Changing self relates to the ways individuals undergo change as well as the various ways they are communicated within texts.
"AWAY" the drama text through the use of various techniques conveys to the audience clear ideas on the notions of changing self. It brings about these ideas through the lives of 3 separate families and their personal transitions throughout he play.
Within "AWAY" Gow uses a number of different techniques to show their alterations as the paly unfolds.
The structure of the play is a significant technique in which the characters are taken out of their familiar settings to signify the launch of their transformations, also in hope that they will leave their problems behind so the natural environment can act as a "healing" or a resolution for change. .
Juxtaposition is another technique readily used by Gow. This technique displays the individual situations of the families and highlights the differences and similarities between each. This illustrates each characters quality that is about to undergo change, which makes their changes apparent and at the same time significant. This technique is especially useful for emphasising the social "gap" between Gwen and Tom's family.
The storm is a technique, which is representational of change within the play. The storm becomes the plays climax, which transforms each of the characters and when we next see them they are changed into their "healed" selves.
Symbolism is used throughout the play also in conjunction with nature (like the storm) to signify a change of cleansing and "rebirth". In particular this highlights Gwen's renewal/change after the brunt of the storm, as in the scene where she tells Jim she wants to go down to the water.
