Romulus My Father Belonging Essay

Belonging is the connection and understanding an individual feels with a group, object, or activity. An individual must have belonging to feel a true, deep happiness with oneself and one’s surroundings. The consequences of not belonging or alienation for extended periods of time can have severe psychological and emotional consequences. Scientists say that it is in the human need to belong. Naturally, belonging is something that all people strive to achieve. Belonging can change over time in one of two ways: with one’s search and acquirement of belonging, or with one’s deliberate or unintentional alienation over time. This is clearly demonstrated in two texts: the novel/memoir, Romulus, My Father, by Raimond Gaita; and the futuristic, dystopian
He says ‘They think i killed the mission director’ when in fact the Gattacans do not suspect him, as Jerome, but his old identity as Vincent. This quote reveals that he still thinks of himself as Vincent the degenerate, instead of the identity of Jerome, the Gattacan, which he should have already adopted. In this scene, Vincent also begins to question his belonging to his dream, almost giving up on the mission altogether.

In a scene at the end of the film, swimming back to shore on his back after beating Anton in ‘Chicken’, there is a shot of the clouds clearing, allowing the stars behind them to come into view. The clearing of the clouds is symbolic of his path finally being cleared of obstacles, which include external complications as well as his own doubts of himself reaching his goal. The semiotics of his face, calm and happy show his belonging to his dream renewed.

At the end, Vincent is finally accepted into the Gattacan society. The doctor, who plays an essential role in the functioning of Gattaca, is revealed to have known that Vincent was a degenerate all along, and allows him into the flight. This act symbolises Vincent’s acceptance into the Gattacan