how has The Secret River used language conventions to create an unsettling view of humanity?

The language is colorful with a good deal of metaphor and simile. The author seems to especially enjoy using simile. One example of the use of this literary technique is the quote: “His life was a skiff with no oar, caught on the tide” (p. 291) An example of a metaphor is found in the author’s description of the Australian natives. “He wore his nakedness like a cloak” (p. 5).