We All Stive to Belong Essay
English Essay: “We all strive to belong” Belonging is and inherent desire and a basic human need. It is the connections we have with people, places, groups, communities and the world. Individuals strive to gain this positive sense of belonging, acceptance and identity but through this overpowering desire to belong they may sacrifice some of their individuality and freedom. Individuals who strive to belong may experience barriers and challenges. Those who are unable to form strong bonds with others can develop feelings of alienation and rejection while others resist the need to belong to gain independence and freedom. Peter Skrzynecki’s poems Feliks Skrzynecki and Ancestors in his Immigrant Chronicle as well as the picture book Ziba came on a Boat, written by Liz Lofthouse, both deal with an individual’s efforts to belong.
Peter Skrzynecki clearly illustrates how some individuals resist the need to belong to gain independence in developing their own sense of identity. This is strongly showcased in ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ through the composer’s tone of admiration towards his father in the line ‘kept pace only with the Joneses Of his own mind’s making’. This is a metaphor for the influences the Skrzyneckis were subjected to in Australian society, like attaining greater social status. It shows that Feliks was a strong and independent character who was driven by his own personal goals and did not have an interest in fitting in with the neighbours or assimilating into Australia and chose to hold onto his Polish traditions. His own sense of belonging is also embedded in the care and attention he provides in his garden which is evident in the simile ‘loved his garden like an only child’. This suggests that Feliks strives to create a sense of belonging for himself. Reinforcement is made by the hyperbole of sweeping his garden ‘Ten times around the world’, as it emphasises the time and effort he puts in the garden which ultimately allows him to belong to himself, a
Peter Skrzynecki clearly illustrates how some individuals resist the need to belong to gain independence in developing their own sense of identity. This is strongly showcased in ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ through the composer’s tone of admiration towards his father in the line ‘kept pace only with the Joneses Of his own mind’s making’. This is a metaphor for the influences the Skrzyneckis were subjected to in Australian society, like attaining greater social status. It shows that Feliks was a strong and independent character who was driven by his own personal goals and did not have an interest in fitting in with the neighbours or assimilating into Australia and chose to hold onto his Polish traditions. His own sense of belonging is also embedded in the care and attention he provides in his garden which is evident in the simile ‘loved his garden like an only child’. This suggests that Feliks strives to create a sense of belonging for himself. Reinforcement is made by the hyperbole of sweeping his garden ‘Ten times around the world’, as it emphasises the time and effort he puts in the garden which ultimately allows him to belong to himself, a