The Drovers Wife by Henry Lawson

Title: The Drover’s Wife

Author: Henry Lawson

Published: 1892

Genre: Realist short story / Australian bush fiction

Summary

The story portrays the lonely and difficult life of a woman living with her children in the Australian bush while her husband, the drover, is away for long periods working with livestock.

The drover’s wife lives in a small, rough house surrounded by the wild and harsh landscape. She has to raise her children alone, care for the animals, and protect the home from natural dangers like floods, bushfires, and snakes.

The Snake Incident

One night, a snake enters the house. The woman immediately becomes alert and sends her children to bed on the kitchen table for safety. She stays awake all night, watching and waiting with her dog, Alligator, to kill the snake when it appears.

During the long, tense night, she remembers the hardships she has faced:

Losing a baby once,

Fighting bushfires alone,

Protecting her children from floods and illness,

Her husband being away for months at a time.

These memories show her courage, strength, and endurance despite her isolation.

Finally, in the morning, the snake comes out from under the house, and with the help of the dog, she kills it. This act symbolizes her quiet victory over another threat in her harsh life.