Armin Greder The Island

Write an extended response on the island. How does the island represent some of the social issues of exclusion present in our contemporary society?

Belonging is the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion and identity to a member trying to fit into a certain group or place. In 2002 author Armin Greder illustrated a picture book ‘The Island’. ‘The Island’ is a powerful picture book that depicts fear of strangers and ignorance, but also incorporates the sense of belonging. The book is written in third person and highlights the importance of relationships and communicates acceptance. Although this book has been designed into the format of a picture book, it is not necessarily designed for children. Due

In the beginning of the book it states, “He wasn’t like them” by the use of short phases such as this, sets the pessimistic mood of the story that is reinforced by the illustrations. By placing such a line in the beginning of the book sets the theme of the story that the stranger does not belong on the island. The crispness of this phrase works to have a larger impact on the audience that initiates their sympathy for the man rather than the islanders. This connects to our today’s society due to, if you are different from everyone else in our society, either in looks, weight, mind set or even personality wise it is immediately picked up on and stated. In today’s society, just like the strange man in ‘The Island’ we are too isolated and excluded due to our differences. The people who are different are pushed to the side and locked away, just like when the man in ‘The Island’ was placed into the goat pen to never be dealt or heard of

Greder uses clothing to symbolise the islander’s dominance above the stranger. In the story Greder illustrates the stranger bare skinned whereas he illustrates the islanders in clothing. This symoblises to the audience that the islanders have more power than the stranger, who is illustrated to represent vulnerability and difference. It adds multiple layers of meaning to the short story, it allows the characters to become more universal and it engages reader’s interests. Throughout our society people want a sense of belonging. They wear clothing and make up and try to become a different person than they really are to feel like they belong. If you don’t wear clothing, make up or acts like the rest of society you feel the sense of belonging no longer applying to you. In today’s society, just like in ‘The Island’ you are expected to act the same, be the same as everyone else and if you’re not you are excluded. In ‘The Island’ automatically due to the stranger not looking nor wearing the same clothing or being as strongly built as the islander he is automatically seen as worthless and different. This also applies to our society