Jane Harrison Belonging Analysis

Jane Harrison

• The concept of belonging as it relates to Indigenous Australians can be confronting and challenging.
• Many Indigenous Australians were often 'not belonging' and this play is important in raising awareness and educating a broader audience.
• You must take into consideration Harrison’s context and your own context to appreciate how Harrison interprets belonging and how you respond to her perception of belonging.
• Perceptions and context are both interconnected as our perception of belonging is a product of our context.
• Experiences such as racism, along with our values, and attitudes affect our perception of belonging.
• Secondary characters: the bank manager, housing inspector, rent collector, policeman, Papa Dear, act as representations of different community groups and
In contrast to the outside world, which is invariably hostile and antagonistic, adding the conflict between the two worlds.
• the lack of opportunities to gain prosperity is part of the notion of not belonging and not being able to belong: it increases the alienation from white, mainstream society and the economic privileges associated with belonging
• Racism is a barrier to belonging. There are many references in rainbows end that represent the notion of not belonging because of racism. E.g. When Dolly is seeking a paid job, Harrison highlights how racism is destructive, cruel and can act as a barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty. Nan dear says “there never going to give her that job”, Gladys- “she's good with figures”, Nan Dear- “a girl from the Flats? I don’t even see the town Aboriginals working in stores” (p144)- Nan's words reveal her cynicism and realism and not fitting in or being able to succeed in the more prosperous white