- Title: The Island
- Author(s): Armin Greder
- Illustrator/Photographer: Armin Greder
- Number of Pages: 32
- Publisher and Year: Allen & Unwin, 2007
- Genre: Fiction
- Analysis: In The Island, an unknown man appears on an island, shocking the natives of the land. The villagers wanted to send him back to sea, but the village fisherman suggested that they take him in so that he does not die at sea. The villagers’ irrational fear of the man eventually leads them to send him back out to sea.
I believe that The Island’s ideological framework is one that reflects our society and the way in which we handle refugee situations. The unjustified fear that people have of those who are different from us leads to hate and an unwillingness to accept them in our society because we fear that they will negatively impact us. This fear is seen throughout the story; the villagers succumb to mass hysteria and their irrationality causes them to expel the unknown man even when he has done no wrong. It is this ideology that makes The Island a mirror for readers.
Picturebook codes are prevalent throughout the story and help to enhance the symbolism that the author is trying to depict. On the cover of the book, there is a big black wall that takes up much of the page. The wall is also drawn from the perspective of someone looking up at it, giving the idea that we are outside of the island away from the secluded villagers. The images throughout The Island further help the author illustrate the story’s ideology. Whereas the man is naked and frail, the villagers are all heavy set with distorted or exaggerated facial features to show their anger and disgust with the man. The villagers are also drawn in with very dark/bold black outlines and clothing; the villagers can be thought of as a juxtaposition of the sea, which is also drawn as very dark and bold. The sea and the sky above, as well as the villagers, are all dark and gloomy.
In conclusion, The Island challenges readers to reflect on societal structures and how we deal with differences. The illustrator uses simple, yet bold illustration to develop the symbolism he wants to portray. The Island’s ability to be an easy read, while offering a strong critique of moral beliefs, makes it a very enjoyable book.
