2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

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example, Danny classifies suburbs as “thick bum” or “think bum” depending on the lifestyle of homeowners in the area (11). Rules such as these are a catalyst for the events of the novel, triggering, in Danny’s perspective, his involvement in the murder case. Danny’s perception of social hierarchy, demonstrated through his classifications of others and of himself, emphasise the impact his minor conversations with Abe have had. In this way, Adiga emphasises Danny’s vulnerability to influence as am immigrant eager to conform to Australian life, and the extent to which others have formed his identity. To become as ‘Australian’ as possible, Danny becomes a mimicry patchwork of the opinions of those around him, a characterisation employed by Adiga to emphasise his lack of individuality. Through the characters of Prakash, Kiran Rao, and Abe, Adiga emphasises idolisation’s impact on Danny’s identity. Believing that he can be saved from the torment of illegality by adopting Australian traits, Danny glorifies other (legal) Asian-Australian immigrants. As a result, his identity is strongly influenced by those around him; notable, aspects of Abe’s character become key facets of Danny’s personality. Thus, Adiga suggests that through the glorification of legal immigrants Danny loses his individuality and sense-of-self, abandoning his hereditary culture in an attempt to conform to Australian life, and, in consequence, forfeits his true identity. Conclusion Both Adiga’s recent Amnesty and Caswell’s older Only the Heart explore immigrant identities and the consequences of cultural hybridity stemming from diaspora. Both authors establish an irregular narrative structure as a means to convey their characters’ connection to the past. Adiga extends this narration to indicate Danny’s paranoia, while Caswell emphasises his characters’ youth and vulnerability. Similarly, the authors employ religious imagery to portray various implications; Hindu references throughout Amnesty deepen readers’