The concept of Identity is complex through the exploration of relationships and a sense of belonging. This is explored within Tim Winton’s short stories, ‘ Neighbours’ and ‘Big World’, and in Robert Walker’s poem ‘Okay, Let’s be Honest’. Identity can change and evolve depending on belief, change, language and shifting influences.
Tim Winton, the composer of ‘Neighbours’ has a perplexed and distressing tone as he suggests to the reader, the significance of multiculturalism and diversity within Australia. Winton also expresses the different cultures and nationalities, by emphasising the variety of characteristics within each ethnicity. One example of this is ‘The Macedonian family shouted, ranted, screamed’. This tells the reader what sort …show more content…

Robert Walker’s ‘Ok let’s be honest’, being an elegy poem expresses the complexity of identity through the expression of grief from the character’s loss of his father, and the many struggles his experienced throughout his life. ‘Come read the loneliness and confusion’ is an example of connotation which Robert Walker uses to convey a sense of and sorrow and sympathy for the character. ‘My memory is still wet with my mother’s tears, flowing by my father’s grave’ is an example of a metaphor. This suggests to the reader the character’s identity is based on past events which has formed his present identity. Another metaphor which expresses the character’s identities formation is ‘I’ve cursed my skin’, this quote tells the reader his agony and emotions towards the society.
In Walker’s text the character described himself as ‘hateful and downright dangerous’. This is an expression of his emotions towards society; because of the loss of his father he has expressed himself through anger and rebelling. The complex nature of identity is shown in this text through the shifting influences of the characters identity ‘I ain’t no saint but then again, I sure wasn’t born in heaven.’ This quote is an example of what the character is feeling and what he perceives his identity as. He is aware of what he has done in his life, but he is implying that no one is perfect, and the fact he has flaws and imperfections.
In Tim Winton’s short stories ‘Big World’