— Anonymous
Language is identity; it allows people to communicate with others by expressing their emotions, thoughts, and ideas. Language creates connection, and it’s essential to enter to any culture. In Remember Babylon, Gemmy represents the unknown when he is found by the aboriginals, who, without knowing his origin, took him with them and gave him shelter and attention. In the beginning, Gemmy didn’t remember his language; he merely spoke a few words and lacked his identity since he could not communicate well. Here, the aboriginals demonstrate their capacity to adapt and comprehend for the strange, something that was far from the settler understands because they refused to learn from the unknown, they pretended to be a developed society by imposing their culture. This book illustrates the power of languages, and the ability to go beyond what the eyes perceive, giving meaning to the words and the experiences. For instance, Frazer, a botanist who tried to take Gemmy’s story out of him, admired Gemmy for adjusting to the environment rather than forcing to meet his demand. He didn’t refuse to learn from the aboriginals, and they help him to recover his identity and to be part of them, representing tolerance, peace, and love. Through Gemmy’s story, the reader can follow his emotional and spiritual evolution in order to define and understand his own identity. On the other hand, the author contrasts the reaction of the settlers who fear the strange, resulting in rejection in their society. He also suggests that settlers fear become arrogant because they impose themselves upon the aborigines, when they should have adapted, and shared their different culture instead
