Transformation and growth of the McIvor family in David Malouf’s "Remembering Babylon"

Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject Didactics - English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,7, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, course: David Malouf's Remembering Babylon, language: English, abstract: David Malouf's Remembering Babylon takes place in the 19th century in the outback of Queensland, Australia. The main character, Gemmy, a dark and uncivilised creature, appears out of nowhere one day and brings a lot of tension into the white settlers' village. He moves in with the Mc Ivor family, whose daughter Janet and adopted nephew Lachlan were amongst those who found Gemmy. Both children form a strong bond with Gemmy (though in very different ways), as does Mrs Ivor, who accepts him with much love from day one. Only Mr Ivor is sceptical at the beginning, but also grows to like the new family-member eventually. According to Doty and Risto (1996; p. 102), the main subject Malouf portrays in this novel is what they call "the characters struggling to achieve wholeness". Furthermore, Gemmy accordingly acts as a "catalyst for the other characters' growth and transformative experience". This essay explores some of the main characters' transformation throughout the novel, as well as how their relationship to each other changes. This transformation is found to take place partly through Gemmy coming into their lives, as well as due to the originally Scottish family having immigrated to Australia.