Peter Skrzynecki - Feliks Skrzynecki analysis essay
A perception of belonging is a process that develops over time, and can be established when we feel a sense of affiliation towards an environment; whether it is social, or physical. This notion is extensively explored in Peter Skrzynecki’s poem ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ from the anthology ‘Immigrant Chronicle’ and in Tim Winton’s – ‘Neighbours.’ Both texts explore the ways individuals achieve a sense of belonging, through finding comfort in a social and/or physical environment.
Skrzynecki’s poem Feliks Skrzynecki explores the concept of belonging in which, the central character Feliks is portrayed as a man who didn’t belong to the pro-dominant ‘civilised’ Australia, (Gallic war reference) achieves a sense of belonging when he establishes a connection to his garden. As an immigrant, Feliks suffered barriers to fitting in to the new society, as highlighted by the bigotry attitude given off by the colourless; non individual – a ‘crew-cut, grey haired department clerk.’ The effective use of ‘crew-cut’ is a connotation that describes the speaker’s perspective of their new, adopted society in which the department clerk was seen as a militaristic conformist, who was robbed of his individuality; someone who sees the world simply – in black and white. Feliks had a powerful, almost familial affinity towards his homeland, and as a result refused to accept Australian culture. He didn’t “ever attempt to learn English.” Feliks chose to be an individual and conform to his own society which is enforced by the speaker’s use of the allusion to a popular saying, ‘[his father] kept pace only with the Joneses of his own mind’s making’. This indicates both; his father’s rejection of status-orientated existence and his self-determination and individual standards. He refused to conform to the society of the Australians, as a result of his affiliation to his homeland. However, to counter the struggle of not belonging, Feliks had established his own social agenda, and obtained solace in the
Skrzynecki’s poem Feliks Skrzynecki explores the concept of belonging in which, the central character Feliks is portrayed as a man who didn’t belong to the pro-dominant ‘civilised’ Australia, (Gallic war reference) achieves a sense of belonging when he establishes a connection to his garden. As an immigrant, Feliks suffered barriers to fitting in to the new society, as highlighted by the bigotry attitude given off by the colourless; non individual – a ‘crew-cut, grey haired department clerk.’ The effective use of ‘crew-cut’ is a connotation that describes the speaker’s perspective of their new, adopted society in which the department clerk was seen as a militaristic conformist, who was robbed of his individuality; someone who sees the world simply – in black and white. Feliks had a powerful, almost familial affinity towards his homeland, and as a result refused to accept Australian culture. He didn’t “ever attempt to learn English.” Feliks chose to be an individual and conform to his own society which is enforced by the speaker’s use of the allusion to a popular saying, ‘[his father] kept pace only with the Joneses of his own mind’s making’. This indicates both; his father’s rejection of status-orientated existence and his self-determination and individual standards. He refused to conform to the society of the Australians, as a result of his affiliation to his homeland. However, to counter the struggle of not belonging, Feliks had established his own social agenda, and obtained solace in the