Only the Animals

by

Ceridwen Dovey

Mitchell’s Father Character Analysis

Mister Mitchell’s father doesn’t appear in person in “The Bones”—the camel learns about him as Henry Lawson tells his story. Mitchell’s father was one of Australia’s many gold seekers, though he only struck gold after a medium called him out in a séance for participating in the Hospital Creek Massacre.
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Mitchell’s Father Character Timeline in Only the Animals

The timeline below shows where the character Mitchell’s Father appears in Only the Animals. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Bones: Soul of Camel (Died 1892, Australia)
Animals and War Theme Icon
Human Cruelty Theme Icon
...hour of the séance had been boring, but then, a spirit asked to speak to Mitchell’s father , who was there inquire about where he could find gold. Through the medium, the... (full context)
The Interconnectedness of Humans and Animals Theme Icon
Human Cruelty Theme Icon
...curled up, just like the queen’s bones had been in her grave. Lawson mutters that Mitchell’s father was fixated on “those bones,” but clarifies that these aren’t the bones from the massacre... (full context)