Simple Gift Belonging

1243 Words5 Pages
For many, if not all individuals, belonging is a complex challenge involving identity, relationships and connections to the greater world. An individual’s choice to either embrace or resist the challenge is heavily influenced by past experiences and the ramifications of these experiences on an individual’s sense of self-worth and ability to trust. Both genuine relationships and connection to a particular physical environment can also influence the response of an individual; encouraging them to embrace the challenge of belonging by providing physical security and acceptance. These statements are investigated in both Stephen Herrick’c contemporary verse novel ‘The Simple Gift’ and Isobelle Carmody’s post apocalyptic sci-fi novel ‘Obernewtyn. These texts also reveal that regardless of the response of the individual to the challenge of belonging, within each person is an inherent desire to be accepted and understood. An individual’s upbringing has a powerful formative influence on future experiences and the individual’s response to the universal challenge of belonging. Within the verse novel ‘The Simple Gift’, Stephen Herrick continually uses high modality metaphors such as ‘Rain hits you in the face with the force of a father’s punch’ to create a subtext revealing the abusive upbringing of the protagonist, Billy. The symbolism of the cold, wet weather within this metaphor also expresses the despair and isolation that has stemmed from the physical abuse Billy has suffered at the hands of his father. Early in the novel, Herrick further develops the subtext through flashback, where the imagery of a closing door within the metaphor ‘And slammed the door on my sporting childhood’ is used to illustrate the ignorance and brutality of Billy’s father. The repetition of the phrase ‘I was ten years old’ reveals the continuity of this abuse throughout Billy’s childhood. The
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