Romulus My Father Belonging Essay

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“An individual’s interactions with others and the world around them influence their experience of belonging.” In your response refer to your prescribed text and two other texts of your own choosing. The texts Romulus, My Father by Raimond Gaita, and “Going Home” by Archie Weller express the individuals need to belong and find a sense of belonging in a person or place. These texts convey the interaction of an individual as a member of a minority group in a white dominant society and the impact this has on their sense of belonging. Each composer represents their varied perceptions of belonging in their texts, conveying that belonging as a fundamental need we strive for in our search to create a concrete identity. The book Romulus, My Father…show more content…
These events reflect the way that circumstances can shift the feelings of belonging in an individual. It also demonstrates the way a sense of belonging can change as individuals themselves change. When Romulus dies, it prompts Raimond’s memory. This is an emotional image that breaks through all the barriers and challenges. It causes great damage to the sense of belonging within the family throughout Raimond’s life. Devices of imagery, such as similes, metaphors and personification are used throughout Gaita’s text as an effective means of illustrating significant moments in the process of belonging to a person or place. The short story “Going Home” by Archie Weller deals with the complexities of Aboriginality in Australia. It also illustrates the necessity of self-identity for a young person, especially when trying to belong in their community. The story portrays the white culture as being sophisticated and proper human beings, whereas the black culture is portrayed as having no worth. The discovery of his Aboriginality turned his world upside down. William Woodward had to come to terms with his heritage and begin adjusting to this discovery. It is important to have a sense of self-identity in order to discover ourselves and identify a true belonging in one’s

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