Hmmm - I see it quite differently. I don't see Jean's decisions about the ice cream parlour to be very revealing on the point of racism casual or otherwise. I saw it purely as an example of her being shrewd. She asked for advice on the matter and then followed that advice. It is revealing about outback society at that time, but that's not necessarily the same thing.
Quote:
I dimly remember an incident that irritated me, her rather superior and intolerant attitude toward a white rancher, his native wife, and their mixed children.
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Yes, that's the one incident where I felt she actually seemed to be expressing an attitude on the matter. It was mainly shock and disbelief - although it probably was quite shocking and unbelievable at the time.
In any case, I found the whole native Australian handling quite interesting especially as an Australian. A lot of what's written now would portray all of this under a sinister cloud to make it absolutely clear to the reader that the author was not racist. It's somewhat of a national pastime here. There is no pontification and I found the lack of agenda quite exhilarating.