Our Country's Good, a depiction of the first British penal colony in Australia in the late 18th century, not only shows the stagnant tension between officers and convicts, but also explores the struggle to live on barely habitable land in an already difficult period. In this essay, I will dig deep into the ways in which women prisoners strove to live to see another day, while recognizing how most men viewed women as sexual symbols. Considering the conflicting themes of oppression and strength within female prisoners, I will support my claims with a specific moment of dialogue between Mary and Dabby in scene eight, “Women Learning Their Lines,” to show the means of survival of these women in an oppressive atmosphere. As Dabby and Mary learn lines for the upcoming comedy, The Recruiting Officer, Dabby expresses the urgency Mary needs to give up on a relationship with Lieutenant Clark, stating, "You're wasting your time, girl, he's ripe for collection". .” Mary responds irritably to Dabby's risqué remarks, recounting a previous occasion...