2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

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references “a wall of green water”, moving in “slow-motion” against the “raging anger of the sea” (85,86). In contrast to these rich descriptions, Toan briefly the woman who rescues him has the “face of Quan Yin” (86). However, he is quick to distance himself from this, saying that “a six-year-old believes easily. He believes because he is told.” (86). He emphasises his view that religion is immature, highlighting a generational change in views. For Toan, religion is a nuanced force in his life; while he does not embrace it, traditional beliefs shape his mindset. He renounces belief in Quan Yin as an “old woman’s superstition”, yet nonetheless feels secure in knowing he was born on a “fortuitous” day (73). Moreover, his discussions of religion throughout the text are largely centred on family rather than on his own opinion. For example, he compares his grandmother and grandfather’s beliefs in fate versus luck when forming his opinion regarding the family’s escape from an immigration camp. This indicates the formative role his older relatives’ experiences and beliefs have had and the consequences of their constant presence in Toan’s life; as with Linh’s difficulty in reconstructing memories, he is unable to form an individual view of religion. Caswell creates a link between religion and immigration, suggesting that, as with Linh’s memories, Toan’s worldview is tainted by the influence of those around him. Ultimately, Caswell suggests that Toan loses character due to his uncertainty regarding religion, a consequence with extends to result in his greater lack of sense of self. While both Only the Heart and Amnesty contain religious imagery, the impact of this varies in each text. In both, faith imagery deepens readers’ understanding of the incongruent identity of a hybrid cultural identity, however, Adiga’s use of Hindu references serves to indicate Danny’s lack of self-unity, while Caswell extends his references to Buddhism to point to Toan’s difficulty forming concrete opinions due to familial pressures. Both emphasise the consequences of the coexistence and connection between religion and immigration, each exploring a facet of the impact on identity.