Devine wind essays

Devine wind essays Very few novels change the way we think about an issue but they do help to inform and shape our view about that issue. In the narrative titled Divine Wind by Garry Disher racism against the indigenous people of Broome is a major issue portrayed through the narrative point of view, events and characters. The basis of racism is that the dominant group in society (white Anglo Saxon males) make assumptions based solely on skin colour. In the narrative Divine Wind these assumptions include that aboriginal people have lesser values and lack moral standards and decent behaviour. In the Devine Wind Derby an aboriginal character represents the aboriginal people of Broome in the 1940s and we are positioned as the reader to sympathise with them. Derby is portrayed in the novel as being rather shy, harmless and childlike. My first instinct was to conjure up a mental image of Derby Boxer and search for the violence in, but all I could see in my minds eye was a shy man who was scared of hard work and liked to watch cowboy films. The issue of racism is most apparent in the narrative event of Derbys trial where he is charged with the rape of a girl Kitty and a fabricated confession is made. Judge Killian assumes in the trial that aboriginal people are alcoholics and violent when under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol and the black fellow dont mix Another assumption that is made at the trial is that that aboriginal people are unable to control their feelings. When ONeil asked derby kitty why he hit her. Derby apparently responds, She was eyeing all the other blokes There is also an implicit assumption that aboriginal people are not gainfully employed and prefer to spend their time drinking with mates. These assumptions position the reader to sympathise with derby and the aboriginal because of the racist assumptions. Also in th ...