My Identity

In the poem “My Identity” by Helen Bell, the persona attempts to convince the reader that in order to be a true Australian one needs to have been born in Australia of ‘Anglo-Celtic’ parents, speak Australian English, and dress and act in a certain way. She constructs all those who live in Australia but do not comply with these standards that she says as being foreign. Bell conveys these views through the first person point of view of the persona, the contrasting images of different types of ‘Australians’ and the language that the persona uses.

Bell impresses her views of the ‘true Aussie’ on the reader through the images she creates of what Australian life should entail. Her persona begins by describing herself as a white Australian, one who speaks Australian English, ‘dressed like an Aussie’, likes to have a barbie, and likes to swim and fish. This gives the reader the impression that you can only be a ‘true Aussie’ if you are white, can understand and use A...