The abuse he receives from his father is seen in these poems shown through the perspective of Billy as he recounts his past when he gets bashed by his father when he breaks the window. A strong sense of not belonging is shown. As Billy has difficulty belonging to his family his abusive relationship with his father is deeply disconnecting the pair. He meets the train driver Ernie he finally meets a father figure who he can connect with. Another example of this concept can be shown through the novel Shane where he has trouble fitting with his family as his beliefs differ from what his parents believe in.
A gutless fucking wonder!’ When Blacky explains to his father about the storm, Bob insults him rather than swallow his pride and takes his son’s advice on board. The relationship that is shared between Blacky and his father has negatively impacted Blacky’s self-esteem so much that it has led to him not having faith in his own father and to expect no support. During the novel, the desertion that Bob shows toward his son leads Blacky to be more independent, and he learns to expect no support from his father, as he cannot rely on Bob to look after him. The grand final, and Dumby Red’s funeral are examples of when Gary seeks his father’s input,
As an alternative to challenges in dysfunctional relationships, individuals may seek escape, leading to an active step towards transition. In the Simple Gift, Billy’s distant relationship with his father and town he is living in forces him to seek escape. Herrick represents this dissatisfaction with family and community using descriptions of the weather to create a negative and depressed atmosphere, both physical and mental, of “Nowheresville”, and “The wind howls and the rain sheets in”. This egregious weather metaphorically represents Billy’s emotions and the challenges he is constantly facing in this environment. As Billy begins living in Bendarat, he leaves behind his old challenges such as his dysfunctional family in exchange for new challenges such as homelessness and hunger.
These texts suggest that it is often after experiencing different barriers in life that an individual can come to value and seek a true sense of belonging. Billy in “the simple gift” is the leading character, whose father is violent, careless and an alcoholic and has an absent mother, was never given the acceptance and love of how it felt to belong to someone. Instead using vulgar language was his way to describe how he felt; “...deadbeat no-hoper/shithole lonely downtrodden house/in Longlands Rd, Nowheresville”. This quote shows how billy was isolated from school and at home. With these impacts on his life the library and Westfield creek became his only places of happiness and belonging.
The reader can understand the relationship between father and son by simply reading the salutation. Chesterfield directly refers to his son as, “boy,” this shows his lack of respect for him along with his absence of familial weakness to him in contrast to his wife, which he states further on in the letter. Another example of diction that shows his values is how he repeatedly reminds his son that he is young; this is used to belittle his son and make his advice carry more weight. Last, he uses the word, “friend,” to give the tone in which he wishes to give his advice. He sought to give advice as a peer rather than a parent, which shows his devotion to his son because he is not acting like the dominant father he very clearly is.
A strong sense of belonging and affinity can be seen as the result of one’s collaboration and interaction with the world. This notion can intensely enhance and impact a feeling of cultural acceptance and understanding with each individuals knowledge of belonging, and how in response influences their overall contact with the world; this concept can be seen in Peter Skryznecki’s ‘Migrant Hostel’ and ’10 Mary Street’ where an influence of connectedness with place and people is explored. These poems shape and structure the Migrant experience for Peter Skryznecki and as a result highlight his understanding of the world. ‘Where The Wild Things Are’ produced by Spike Jonze and adapted from Maurice Sendak’s book ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, additionally
The symbolism and colour has made me realise the importance that we need to be careful of the people we interact with because it can alter our perspective of belonging. The centralisation of the white line suggests that the dad is trying to break through the barrier which the brothers have put up. Previous encounters of an individuals environment affects their sense of belonging. throughout the book, ‘The Simple Gift’, Billy is searching for belonging as he was alienated due to his father and where he lived. The poem, ‘Longlands Road’, creates an image where Billy lived with his father.
Interaction with people and places, for all individuals, are significant in enriching or limiting their sense of belonging. Many individuals find the strongest sense of belonging through relationships, due to the fact that by nature these connections fulfill the inherent human need for social interaction and enrich the lives of the persons involved. Conversely, relationships that do not fit the conventional model of this kind of connection may instead attain the same sense of belonging through their connections to place and culture, or within themselves. Steven Herrick’s verse novel The Simple Gift and Peter Cowan’s Short Story School are two powerful texts in which an exploration of belonging and its different meanings for individuals ultimately
At home, he lived in fear of his mother and resented his father for not helping him. His siblings, at the insistence of his mother, often joined in abusing him. Dave Pelzer had every reason to develop into a product of nurture. After entering the foster care program, Dave Pelzer did not know how to behave in society. He defied his foster parents rules and go in trouble at school.
For the social significance; establish a caring community to help volunteers understand better the community. Volunteer service is to express love, caring, sharing positive action. It is not only promoting mutual assistance also among people care more for social harmony at all levels. Through volunteer activities, raise public awareness for the responsibility to everyone in the society. And cultivate a sense of belonging to society, civic responsibility, dedication and contribution to society.