The Simple Gift Analysis

Initially my understanding of belonging was to conform to groups and individuals you want to ‘belong’ to and that where you belong contributes to your identity. However my understanding of belong has developed since then. Belonging is a concept of an individual being accepted unconditionally. A person’s identity is represented by what they pride themselves in. This is shown through the text, ‘The Simple Gift,’ by Steven Herrick as Billy does not pride himself from where he belongs but from his identity. Billy yearns to be accepted for who he is.

In ‘The Simple Gift,’ Billy runs away from his abusive father and seeks a sense of belonging in the town of Bendarat. In the town Billy lives in an abandoned freight cart which suggests that his journey