Janelle Warhurst — Matriarchs and Mermaids

Although Charmian Clift was ‘a spiritual mystic’ as described by Nadia Wheatley in The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift, she embraced the Greek Orthodox religion on Kalymnos and endeared herself to monastic women and those in all layers of society there. Her regard and respect for her ‘household prop’ and mentor, Sevasti, is evidenced throughout Mermaid Singing, stating the transcendence of love with understanding in contrast with any oral language difficulties. Charmian’s initial kindness and compassion for Irini through the character of Kathy in her story Honour’s Mimic demonstrates the hardships experienced by women on Kalymnos as the mothers looked after everything at home. Kalymnos was her place and as a culture a matriarchal society.

Charmian’s reference to the nuns at Argos is also in recognition of the beauty of women’s work on the island when the family attended the ceremony on the last day of school. The image of Shane in a dress of heavy white cotton embroidered with bands of blue depicts Shane as pleased with herself and Charmian notices her perhaps in an innocent and beautiful light.

Interior of a chapel we visited at the Convent at Argos. Although the saints in the six icons are male, above the cross there stands the Panaghia, the All Holy One (known in the Western Christian tradition as the Virgin Mary). In Mermaid Singing, Clift traced her lineage back to the pre-Olympian Earth Mother.

Kyria L-Heraklia, the Greek teacher of Martin and Shane, is respected by Charmian as is evident when Charmian applauds her teaching in a school where poverty is visible. The choice by George and Charmian to send Martin and Shane to the local school, to learn with the Greek children in Kalymnos, is testament to their desire to be part of the community. This is also a feature of the values of the family in that there is a belief in fairness and equality.

Charmian’s search for spirituality and a culture of humanity may also have been explored through the magical ruins of Chrysocheria Castle. The existence of heavenly, preserved artworks in the chapel emanates a pastel and evocative world. In lighting candles and soaking in the sweet incenses, dreams of a personal journey for Charmian become a reality.

In a society where rituals gave rise to a predictable range of emotions through celebrations, Charmian Clift may have found a place where she could not only find a mermaid. She would take solace in the all consuming preparations for weddings and baptisms and although Easter brought the sorrow of the diving boats leaving, grief was expressed and accepted.

We also visited the Threshing Floor at Brosta, mentioned by Clift in both Mermaid Singing and Honour’s Mimic as the place where glendi — celebrations with feasting and dancing — took place. It is still used today.