Rainbows End
Belonging Essay
Our interpretation of belonging varies as we all have different views about the feeling of being accepted, comfortable in a group or sharing a connection towards something. The concept of belonging and not belonging differ and are shaped by his or her personal, cultural, historical and social context. The prescribed text ‘Rainbow’s End’ by Jane Harrison and the related text ‘Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta’ directed by Jacob Hickey are composed of many different aspects of belonging which gives the viewer a greater and in-depth understanding of belonging and not belonging. The main themes include racism, alienation, discrimination and isolation which associate with the concept of belonging as it focuses and supports the idea of fitting into society. Although both texts are set in different historical times, they both expand on the same misadventure when people living on the ‘fringe’ had to deal with the exclusion and judgements by the white people. In today’s society, our perception of belonging and not belonging has changed over time where people now understand the sense of being included, being known or connected to something.
The play ‘Rainbow’s End’ by Jane Harrison explores the aspects of acceptance in society, relationships and how personality can shape our perception of belonging and not belonging. It allows the reader to grasp the image of the disconnection Aborigines had to come to terms with during the 1950s. An Aboriginal family of three women, Nan Dear, Gladys and Dolly who own a humpy on floodplains with the rest of the Aboriginal community are all forced to live on the fringe. This was influenced by historical and social contexts due to the white society that segregated the communities and prevented the Aboriginals to be accepted. Dolly, who is an Aboriginal teenager, faces racism throughout the play where she struggles with the terms of rejection because of where she comes from. She is frustrated knowing that she has to live on the
Our interpretation of belonging varies as we all have different views about the feeling of being accepted, comfortable in a group or sharing a connection towards something. The concept of belonging and not belonging differ and are shaped by his or her personal, cultural, historical and social context. The prescribed text ‘Rainbow’s End’ by Jane Harrison and the related text ‘Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta’ directed by Jacob Hickey are composed of many different aspects of belonging which gives the viewer a greater and in-depth understanding of belonging and not belonging. The main themes include racism, alienation, discrimination and isolation which associate with the concept of belonging as it focuses and supports the idea of fitting into society. Although both texts are set in different historical times, they both expand on the same misadventure when people living on the ‘fringe’ had to deal with the exclusion and judgements by the white people. In today’s society, our perception of belonging and not belonging has changed over time where people now understand the sense of being included, being known or connected to something.
The play ‘Rainbow’s End’ by Jane Harrison explores the aspects of acceptance in society, relationships and how personality can shape our perception of belonging and not belonging. It allows the reader to grasp the image of the disconnection Aborigines had to come to terms with during the 1950s. An Aboriginal family of three women, Nan Dear, Gladys and Dolly who own a humpy on floodplains with the rest of the Aboriginal community are all forced to live on the fringe. This was influenced by historical and social contexts due to the white society that segregated the communities and prevented the Aboriginals to be accepted. Dolly, who is an Aboriginal teenager, faces racism throughout the play where she struggles with the terms of rejection because of where she comes from. She is frustrated knowing that she has to live on the