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Into The River

Decent Essays

Into The River is a novel by Ted Dawe. In the novel the story of the Maori boy Te Arepa is used to portray modern day issues facing society. The two issues/themes that are most prealnt are institutionalised racism and breaking away from one's traditional/ancestral background. The “Explicit Content” in the novel was also used to help portray modern day issues facing society but more often than not in a youth context.

The theme of institutionalised racism plays a prominent role in the shaping of the main character ‘Te Arepa’ and how the novel takes on contemporary issues in society. With how “Te Arepa” is treated at his upper white middle class private school with often being referred to as “Nig” or simply “Maori”. This eventually leads to being branded “Devon” and the being of the loss of his traditional background. With indifference being shown to the branding by support figures such as teachers and other adults I began to feel realization of the struggle some kids of certain ethnicities face this kind of racism every day. It can come subtle ways like “you can’t afford that” or “Nice clothes, where did you steal …show more content…

This is portrayed as the main character “Te Arepa” or “Devon” being “marked for bigger things.” by his Grandpa “Ra”.The struggle that is present is when exposed to new ideas and ways of living the old way life can become “bland” and “boring”. With changes in life, what had been previously seemed important can being less leading to you becoming “disillusioned.” Dawe’s purpose of this was to show how catching the “biggest eel” ever and “Iwi”/tribe can be of the utmost importance one day until exposure to a new idea in this case represented as “City life” can change that. This highlights the idea that what you hold dearest is situational and can change depending on circumstances. How“Liberacion [freedom]” can surpass your traditional duty and obligation the one

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