Brian Ridden, is an entertaining book for teens that reflects the Australian identity In several ways. This is because It recaps real events, through the eyes of an ordinary orphan named Garret Clan. Garrett does this by revealing how the characters, setting and plot during the sass’s In Australia, represents the Australian Identity. In this fabulous book, Ned Is shown as a hero due to Garrett, though It doesn’t give enough evidence about the other side of him. Firstly, the characters exemplify what Australia was like back in the day, with its main focus Ewing on Ned Kelly.
Ned Kelly who is the most likely story hero from Australia’s history is known by Garrett to have many terrific values. This is shown in the book when Garrett quoted, ” Ned has a good heart as all he wants to do is to help the Irish poor. ” Although Whistle Man is really Garret’s story. The two extreme ways of Kelly (the local murderer and the uncontrolled bush ranger), are the choices that also face Garrett over the years as he grows to maturity. ” Should he work Joyfully to build his own farm and life, or should he follow in the footsteps of End’s crusade? ‘ quoted on age 112.
Secondly, the setting of this book Is In Victoria which was at a time when most of the Australian population lived In the farming towns and most people had an Irish background. This was quoted after Garrett was tired of doing chores and said ” Most of us are living on farms and are Irish-born, but no other people has to do as much work as what I have to do on the farms”. The setting during the sass’s in Australia was considerably different to what it is like now. This is because now when you look around the streets you see most people living in the city with a mix of diverse backgrounds.
Though in sass’s, all the people who you would see were ” white” Australians who lived in country towns. Thirdly, the plot demonstrates the Australian identity in a number of ways. Brian Riddle’s new story, Whistle Man, achieves this by highlighting the choices that shape a person’s life. This is shown from Garrett Clan, who encounters Ned Kelly in 1874. ” Ned was four years older than me and was the tough bushman who I wanted to be”, said Garrett. Garrett, an orphan raised by an oldfamilyfriend, worships the courteous and untroubled Ned. Ned, In return, helps find him work and his own horse.
But he also tries to steer Garrett clear of the local land politics that would soon create a phenomenal bush ranging story. Lastly, Whistle Man is an excellent addition to the many stories about Ned Kelly and embodies the Australia identity through several themes. The first theme is to choose your own destinies in what you desirably believe in. This was shown as it presents Ned as a believable person, who despite what anyone else thought, was determined to help the Irish poor. This was also quoted by Garrett who said ” Ned is very determined to help the Irish poor and I am going to help him achieve this”.
The second theme is that we must all make our own admiration but In returnrespectothers. This was shown in the book after Garrett was about to leave and Magnums said ” l noticed before you didn’t respect yourself so you disrespected others, but now you have found that respect In your heart and I am beginning to see the major transformation. ” To conclude, Whistle man Is an Incredible book that showcases the Australian identity through the characters. Setting, plot and themes. The reader sees the choices made that lead to some tragedies.
