Identity In Tim Winton's 'Brave New World'

Words: 499
Pages: 2

In both Tim Winton’s Long clear view and Big world they explore how an individuals decision affects them and the same ideas are reviewed in Brave new world. They are both writing on identity in the human condition and how the environment and choices can change them. What choices and ramifications could completely disassemble an identity? Can it be the result of a traumatic event? Or is it a slow, progressive descent into increasingly problematic internal views as a result of interactions with an environment? A gnawing, that eats away at a person’s soul until they feel empty.

In long clear view, Vic Lang believes he is an outsider and believes he is treated as such. This leads to a diminishing mental state and he veers into a dangerous course. Through his identity and values he decides he needs to protect his family. He starts pouring over a rifle that his father uses to take him shooting with. More and more he comes to the rifle as a comfort object, a way to keep him and his family safe. This is congruent with his increasing alienation and paranoia. He starts looking for a conflict. “Trouble has found you, and you’re ready for it.” The personification of trouble shows Vic’s willingness to fight the town. He decides to go on the offensive. The anxiety and unease as a result from his alienation
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He is a true outsider, being neither accepted by his Indian community or by the conditioned society he is transferred to. He feels excruciating loneliness in both communities, constantly confused by the world presented to him. His identity is rejected from the world. As a result by the end of the novel he decides to reject the world he lives in. His self-victimization leads to a violent and self-loathing identity. He exiles himself to isolation hoping it will bring him peace, however people follow and demand pain in the form of him whipping