Cloudstreet Identity

Within both texts, Winton and Malouf demonstrate how people change their own identity in order become accepted by others. In this, the authors show that the pressure to conform to society causes people to change their own character and identity, thus preventing them from showing genuine individuality. This can be seen through the change in Lachlan’s character as he abandons his friendship with Gemmy. Malouf uses diction during Lachlan’s childhood, describing his connection with Gemmy as a “special bond”, to highlight both the uniqueness and strength of their relationship at this time. However, as Lachlan tries to assimilate with an older group it is an unspoken “condition… that Gemmy could not appear” and Lachlan actively begins to ‘discourage …show more content…
Through the use of metaphor, Malouf describes how the community see Gemmy as “contaminated” by the land, highlighting how his identity had changed through living with the aboriginals. Not only has he adopted their language and customs but he is described as having lost ‘it’, a term symbolic of his western identity, in order to become accepted by the aboriginals. This theme can also be seen within Cloudstreet and the changing actions of Rose. Winton’s use of a third person omniscient narrator allows the readers to see how Rose “couldn’t stand having… the bus knowing she was coming home unescorted”. This social pressure to conform forces Rose to change her independent character such that, within two weeks, she has begun to date Toby. Sam also experiences a similar shift in character in an attempt to become accepted by his daughter. Through the use of an interior monologue, Sam tells himself that he could not work in a regular job, that “he was no donkey worker” and instead “he saw himself… living from divining the big wins”. However, this is sharply contrasted by his actions a few days later, after Rose tells him she wants a stable income, were he says that he “got a job… at the mint”, highlighting his loss of