The Divine Wind describes an Australia that is tarnished by racism, hatred and distrust, and yet the novel ends on an optimistic note. Do you agree? The novel is set during a World War. The tension and separation of races during a war seemed evident in Australia. As a multicultural country including Japanese and Aborigine population, conflicting attitudes towards these races had to be imminent. I entirely agree with the above statement due to the unequal treatment of the aborigines, tension between the Japanese population and characters such as Hart showing lack of trust over his lover Mitsy With a war against the Japanese was the trigger for racism in Australia. All throughout the novel elements of separation are presented.
The Japanese are somewhat divided from white Australians. First of all Broome has a Register of Aliens, this was a register or list that kept track of foreign people. This implied that foreigners were seen as aliens and that they didnt really belong in Australia. The Sennosukes names had to be changed because their original names seemed too foreign to our ears. The Japanese living area is Chinatown shows the reader that perhaps whites have put the Japanese into their own little area. Chinatown contains houses that are far smaller and in general with little fortunes unlike the white Australians.
It is the broad attitude towards the Japanese that creates a war and endlessly kills Alice. Aborigines are treated unequally and are downgraded in Broome. The jobs of aborigines are in majority dirty (cleaning jobs), they work for the whites. Also when Mr. Killian is talking about purity at the dinner, he declares that black workers will do all the work while we (whites) sit inside. Aborigines do not even get equal opportunity, an example is when Derbys interview with the officer is forged and consequently Carl Venning simply lets Derby to fight his case without any support.
The Essay on United States Internment Of Japanese Citizens During World War 2
United States Internment of Japanese Citizens during World War 2 Introduction What were the reasons behind the decision of the United States government to intern Japanese citizens during World War 2? Were they treated in the same way as citizens of other states with whom America was at war? Was this purely a security measure or were xenophobia and racism factors? During World War II, the U.S. ...
Aborigines have been replaced with stereotypes and generalisations from the Broome community especially all aborigines being alcoholics and inferior. Racism has the significance in the future of Broome in that it will become extremely hard to reverse. Harts lack of trust for characters in the novel such as Mitsy and Jamie are just some signs of Disher showing an Australia that is tarnished from distrust. Mitsy and Hart are close friends and at one time lovers. Nevertheless, Hart still has thoughts about Mitsy secretly seeing Jamie. Hart asks Jamie, Whats going on between you and Mitsy. Some might argue that Hart is only caring about his love but when Hart secretly follows Mitsy around town the reader recognises Harts personality of distrust.
Another aspect of distrust is from the white community concerning over aborigines of Broome “Your Abo is unreliable… He’ll collaborate. He’ll guide the Japs.” Since whites know that they are separate and unpleasant to other races, they fear the aborigines will help the Japanese in their desire to takeover Broome. Although the novel ends on an optimistic note, the future for Broome doesnt seem promising. With racial tension and war momentarily easing, it is foreseeable in the future to begin once more. The condition of Australia at that time took Alices life and disadvantaged all races by preventing social harmony..
