White Spirit

by

Cate Kennedy

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on White Spirit makes teaching easy.

The Sealant and White Spirit Symbol Analysis

The Sealant and White Spirit Symbol Icon

In “White Spirit,” The anti-graffiti sealant used to protect the mural from potential damage is called Armour All, and the product that the center can use to remove any graffiti applied above the sealant is called white spirit. The white spirit, of course, gives the story its title, which is a signal of its symbolic importance. The narrator purchases the sealant from a representative for the company Pro-Guard, who is, above all else, a salesman who treats the mural not as a piece of art, or as a celebration of diversity, but instead as an asset—revealing the true value of the mural to the centre. Further, the sealant and white spirit give the white leaders of the center a way to ensure that their mural about diversity will always look just as they want it to. In other words, it is another way that white power structures can celebrate “diversity” while ensuring that only they can control the actual message about diversity, and a symbol for how whiteness can actually quash or hinder true diversity by forcing every instance of multiculturalism or diversity to remain in a certain, artificial image that appeals to white viewers. The use of the sealant and white spirit shows that for the white people in charge of the centre, the artificial, positive image of diversity is more important than the actual reality and needs of the community.

The Sealant and White Spirit Quotes in White Spirit

The White Spirit quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Sealant and White Spirit. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Appropriation Theme Icon
).
 White Spirit Quotes

“They won’t graffiti it,” interjects Mandy, who’s listening. She’s walking along past each big smiling face, giving each eye a realistic twinkle. “Nobody will graffiti anything they feel a sense of ownership and inclusion about.”

Related Characters: Narrator (speaker), Mandy (speaker), Jake, Pro-Guard Representative, The Other Residents
Related Symbols: The Mural, The Sealant and White Spirit
Page Number: 180
Explanation and Analysis:

He’s beckoning to the minister, grinning glancing up at the mural to find a good place to stand in front of. “I’ve noticed those empty solvent tins out by the bins,” he murmurs in passing. “Can you dispose of them somewhere else, where the kids from round here won’t find them and sniff them? Ta.”

Related Characters: Narrator (speaker), Centre Manager (speaker), Minister, The Other Residents
Related Symbols: The Mural, The Sealant and White Spirit
Page Number: 184
Explanation and Analysis:

Local colour is what he wants. A multicultural coup. Boxes ticked. Oh, here’s our vision alright, I think bitterly, sealed and impervious and safeguarded. And no matter what gets scrawled there, whatever message or denial or contradiction, you can just wipe it away. With white spirit.

Related Characters: Narrator (speaker), Minister, Centre Manager, The Other Residents
Related Symbols: The Mural, The Sealant and White Spirit
Page Number: 184
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire White Spirit LitChart as a printable PDF.
White Spirit PDF

The Sealant and White Spirit Symbol Timeline in White Spirit

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Sealant and White Spirit appears in White Spirit. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
 White Spirit
Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Appropriation Theme Icon
Racism and Prejudice Theme Icon
Selfishness, Selflessness, and Connection Theme Icon
Bureaucracy and Systemic Inequality Theme Icon
...a representative a company called Pro-Guard. He’s come to help her pick out an anti-graffiti sealant to protect the mural. He monologues for a while about the various products she could... (full context)
Selfishness, Selflessness, and Connection Theme Icon
Bureaucracy and Systemic Inequality Theme Icon
The Pro-Guard representative recommends the sealant Armour-All to prevent any graffiti, saying that it will just take two coats, painted twelve... (full context)
Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Appropriation Theme Icon
Selfishness, Selflessness, and Connection Theme Icon
...from the class to add a small bit to the mural before they paint the sealant over it. Mandy and Jake agree to help the narrator apply the sealant. The narrator... (full context)
Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Appropriation Theme Icon
Racism and Prejudice Theme Icon
Selfishness, Selflessness, and Connection Theme Icon
Bureaucracy and Systemic Inequality Theme Icon
...Jake, and Mandy stay up until Midnight on Thursday applying the second coat of the sealant. The narrator feels lightheaded and tired as they work on it and thinks about how... (full context)
Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Appropriation Theme Icon
Racism and Prejudice Theme Icon
Selfishness, Selflessness, and Connection Theme Icon
...but assures herself its probably just from residual chemicals in the air from the paint sealant, and not from tears. (full context)
Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Appropriation Theme Icon
Racism and Prejudice Theme Icon
...to feel itchier and her throat more constricted (which she continues to blame on the sealant) as she observes how the divided community of different groups all manage to look like... (full context)
Multiculturalism, Authenticity, and Appropriation Theme Icon
Racism and Prejudice Theme Icon
Selfishness, Selflessness, and Connection Theme Icon
Bureaucracy and Systemic Inequality Theme Icon
...contradict what the mural actually represents, it would just be wiped away—figuratively and literally—with the white spirit . (full context)