Picnic at Hanging Rock

Mrs. Appleyard’s response to the mystery at Hanging Rock connects to the theme of Female Propriety and Decorum. Rather than being concerned for the well-being of the missing persons, Mrs. Appleyard worries only for the reputation of her school. She does not want the college’s name to be tarnished by scandal, and bemoans the fact that the missing girls were “so valuable” for the school’s image. As the individual entrusted with the girls’ well-being, her selfish concern for Appleyard College’s reputation contrasts sharply with the distress of the other characters, who experience “a day of nightmare indecision” as they await news of the missing women (43). These chapters introduce the theme of Traumatic Stress and Existential Anxiety as the mystery of Hanging Rock begins to take its toll on the community.

Mike reflects on the evil nature of Hanging Rock as he returns with Albert: “[T]he Hanging Rock floated in splendid isolation […] its jagged peaks and pinnacles even more sinister than the hideous caves of Mike’s recurring nightmares” (72). The imagery of jagged peaks alludes to the danger of the formation, while the reference to Mike’s nightmares about the missing girls connects to the theme of Traumatic Stress and Existential Anxiety. The nightmarish atmosphere continues in Mike’s disorientated explorations on Hanging Rock over the next two days. The motif of time—or rather, the suspension of time—continues to illustrate the strange unreality of the space around Hanging Rock; as in previous chapters, it functions outside of the laws of time: Mike “had lost all count of time” and rendezvouses with Albert an hour and a half after the agreed-upon time (75).

Mike recognizes that the police’s searches have been unsuccessful because Hanging Rock doesn’t conform to the laws of nature or reason; he reflects on the mystery of the missing girls, concluding that “it might end, if it ever did end, in a sudden unexpected finding that had nothing to do with all this purposeful seeking” (74). Mike’s search is successful because he believes in the frightening magic of Hanging Rock and lets this guide him, immersing himself in the unreality of the space. His pursuit of Miranda takes on the quality of a fever dream as he follows the disembodied laughter over “nightmare obstacles” that become increasingly “fantastic.” Mike’s disappointment is evident when he learns that Irma, not Miranda, was found as a result of his efforts. This foreshadows his failed romance with Irma; he will be haunted by the memory of Miranda.

The states of undress of the women on the rock further develops the theme of Female Propriety and Decorum. In these chapters, it is revealed that Miss McCraw was in her underwear as she strode from the picnic ground toward Hanging Rock. Furthermore, Irma is not wearing a corset when she is recovered, even though when she left the college, she had been wearing “a pair of long, lightly boned, French satin stays” (94).

At the college and in the picnic ground, the women conform to the strict rules of female decorum, as is expected of aristocratic British Australian women. However, as they approach Hanging Rock and are brought under its spell, they shed the symbols of propriety. These actions also connect to the theme of Civilized Versus Wild Spaces; the women become one with the lawless wild on Hanging Rock, and therefore discard the societal trappings of well-to-do women, preferring the freedom of bare feet and uncorseted bodies.

These chapters refer to the growing friendship between Mike and Albert. Although Mike belongs to the aristocratic class and leads a life of luxury in Australia, “enjoying good food, good horses and good wine” (70), the country is relatively egalitarian compared to England, as is illustrated in Mike’s relationship with Albert. The less formal nature of Australia is reflected in its physical environment; Mike loves the “casual gaiety” of the gardens, which are “unlike anything Michael had ever seen in England” (70-71). In England, Mike is strictly limited to an aristocratic set of acquaintances, whereas in Australia, he enjoys the freedom of roaming with Albert and “drinking in the other’s native wisdom and wit” (62).