2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

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add further clarity to this implication - written in italics to represent Danny’s thoughts, Adiga writes that “it will never end, Danny. Your civil war will never…end” (164). Coupled with Danny’s Murugan references, readers are led to conclude that Danny’s internal conflict is an ongoing ‘civil war’ between his desired Australian identity and his Tamil heritage, which warrants the protection of war god. This not only deepens readers’ understanding of the depth of Danny’s identity struggle but also suggests that this disparity between desired and true self is a result of Danny’s distance from both cultures; Danny turns to religion solely when experiencing internal conflict, demonstrating the inconsistency of his personality. Adiga employs references to Murugan and violence as not only an emphasis of Danny’s identity incongruity but to suggest that Danny employs religion as a means to avoid facing his identity struggle. Altogether, the use of religious and war references leads readers to a deeper understanding of the disparity between his cultural identities, highlighting the personal dissonance which stems from his lack of self-unity. Caswell’s discussion of religion throughout Only the Heart emphasises a generational turn from traditional beliefs. There is repeated mention of Grandmother Tuyet being devoutly religious and a medium for the Buddhist goddess of compassion and mercy, Quan Yin (74). In times of trial, the flashback narration shows Tuyet turning to shrines for guidance, and the majority of her characterisation is in relation to religion and her beliefs. In contrast, her descendants repeatedly take control over tense situations rather than relying on deities, indicating that a generational turn from historic family religion is occurring through the course of the text. The thematical proximity of this phenomena to the discussion of immigration leads readers to couple the two ideas, and Caswell suggests that immigration has resulted in a religious paradigm shift. Caswell describes Quan Yin as “gentle”, yet “impassive (38), the juxtaposed connotations of which indicate the contrast between Tuyet and future generations’ beliefs. However, young Toan recalls being saved from drowning by a mysterious woman. He