Dramatic monologues are used to not only reveal a certain situation but also how the situation has affected the character. Through her poems, the poet exposes her cultural context of the poem and develops her view on the situation. This positions the audience to empathize with her and her people for their negative treatment from the ‘Whites’. Oodgeroo, employs her unique position as an Aborigine, to speak both for, and to, her race, people who were “bound and frustrated” (Song of Hope 17) causing “tears [to] shed” (The Dawn is at Hand 5). As the two poems progress, the speaker tells her people that equality is coming, now with the reader empathetically positioned by her side. The readers begin to believe that the Aborigines have gone through enough suffering and it is time for the coming of equality.
Oodgeroo has constructed her poems with specific word choices to create an appropriate tone which represents the arrival of unity between the “Dark and White” (The Dawn is at Hand 17). The tone in the poem persuades the reader to seek for equality between the white and aborigines. Certain elements, including use of emotive words, have assisted in creating this tone, evoking compassion in the reader. In the Song of Hope, the poet refers to words such as “shame” (6) and “sorrow” (22), bringing the injustices suffered by the Aborigines to the attention of the reader. In the Song of Hope, Oodgeroo has incorporated many abstract nouns, such as “mateship” (28) and “joy” (29), which serves to evoke the feeling of being immersed in a spiritual reality. This enables the audience to glimpse the bright future filled with hope for both races.
Another factor which affects the tone, is the rhythm of the poems. In song of hope, the poem is quick paced with a specific beat, making the readers want to repeat the song over and over, immersing themselves in the coming of equality. On the other hand, Dawn is at Hand only has intermittent rhythm and is much more slowly paced, allowing the reader more time to reflect on the possibilities of equality between the two races. The poet believes if this desire for equality is evoked, her people will find the courage to “Go forward proudly and unafraid” (The Dawn is at Hand 9), and there would be no doubt “[the] shame of the past will be over” (The Dawn is at Hand 11). All these elements add up to create the tone of persuasion and certainty in the coming equality of the Aborigines and ‘Whites’.
The poet has cleverly employed imagery to symbolise forthcoming racial equality in both of these poems. Oodgeroo introduces this concept of approaching parity between the two races by metaphorically referring to ‘dawn’. In these two poems, the dawn carries a figurative meaning of finally being perceived and understood by the White tribe after their unfair treatment. Dawn, symbolising a new day, relates to Oodgeroo’s certainty on the subject of a new life for the Aboriginal people. The dawning of a new era of equality is central to both poems; therefore, “dawn” has been referred immediately in the title of The Dawn is at Hand and in the second line of The Song of Hope. The poet has also used personification to create a visual image and capture feelings of hope. In the Song of Hope, mateship has been given a human characteristic since it is able to “meet [them]” (28). The personifying of abstract nouns shows the reader that rather than lacking concrete items, they lack the respect, joy and freedom each individual deserves. The aborigines long for “new rights [to] greet [them]” (Song of hope 27) and a “future which beckons [them] bravely on” (Dawn is at Hand 26). With these words, the poet holds the potential to receive symphathy from the reader who empathises with the Aborigines who have suffered from the unjust actions of the ‘Whites’.
Oodgeroo’s dramatic monologues, The Dawn is at Hand and Song of Hope examine approaching racial equality between the Aborigines and the ‘Whites’. In both poems, the certainty in Oodgeroo’s voice forces the Aborigines to believe that “the dawn is at hand”. Metaphorical references to dawn in the two poems symbolises an upcoming brighter future for the Aborigines who “soon … will take …[their] rightful place” (The Dawn is at hand 2) with all “the pain [and] the sorrow” (Song of Hope 32) left behind them. Though both poems employ slightly different devices and techniques, they both aim to leave the Aborigines anticipating the day when “the world [will wake] to a new bright day” (Song of Hope 3) for the “first Australian race” (The Dawn is at Hand 1).