The Simple Gift By Stephen Herrick: A Sense Of Belonging

Belonging: A sense of belonging can emerge from the connections made with people and the world. As we develop the understanding and acceptance, this allows us to feel belonging. The texts that I have studied have all explored how both understanding and the lack of understanding can impact on ones sense of belonging. "The Simple Gift", a narrative poem by Stephen Herrick's demonstrates elements of belonging, understanding and acceptance through the pain and suffering of rejection and homelessness faced by the characters Billy, Caitlin and Old Bill. Additionally in the film “Freedom Writers” Directed by Richard LaGravenese the concepts of belonging and understanding are brought out through Ms. Gruwell's attempt to bring a sense of community, solidarity and belonging to her students, whom society deems as outsiders. In the book ‘the simple gift’ finding a sense of belonging has been a struggle for Billy, a young boy had left home as his father was abusive and didn’t support Billy, we witness this throughout a flashback Billy has of when he was a child. When he was ten years old he was playing soccer in the back yard practicing for the game when he accidentally broke a window. Billy’s
When he first met Caitlin he felt ashamed to bring her to his Carriage saying ‘I wouldn’t want to meet her here not when she’s with her friends and in uniform and me dressed in the same clothes as always.’ This shows that Billy feels excluded. Later on in their relationship Billy says ‘This morning I woke and I knew where I was going for the next few months — to the Library to McDonalds to the river and home here to the Hilton — a circuit of plans with Caitlin at the centre, and me a badly-dressed satellite spinning crazily in her orbit.’ This tells us that his relationship with Caitlin has consolidated him. His life has direction, routine and meaning. He has reached a sense of