Rainbows End + the Lost Thing Essay (Belonging)

To belong with a person or group it means that we are accepted and tolerated and that we feel safe and have a sense security when we are with that person or group, belonging can influence us in many ways, it can change our sense of self and the way we perceive the world. The way our family and friends influence us changes our sense of self and who we are. The Memoir The Happiest Refugee By Anh Do, this memoir shows how when Anh Do arrived in Australia he did not belong due to his non-english background, Anh overcame many issues on his journey to belong and now is treated as a full Australian citizen.

A common human characteristic is the yearning to feel a sense of belonging through connections and different forms of relationships made in life. A sense of belonging or not belonging can emerge from feeling connected to people and places, whether they have been freely cast there or not. An individual will only feel a true sense of belonging through the understanding of those connections, which are created by experiences and can only come within.

Belonging can be interpreted in many different ways, and separate individuals grasp the meaning of it, in their own way based on different experiences, logic, and personal beliefs. It is a start of love and hatred, and is what makes us human, instead of living

The concept of belonging is a fundamental human need, That is, According to Abraham Maslow.

Good Afternoon teachers and students, The following texts express how an individuals understanding of belonging can quickly be changed by the people and place around them. “Jasper Jones a novel written by Craig Silvey”, it is a short story of a boy named Charles Butkins and the events that occurred because he helped Jasper Jones mask the death of Laura Wishart. “Australia by Ania Walwicz”, is attacking the people of Australia in the form of a poem, because of their point of views and attitudes in life. She also hates Australia itself because the people are not welcoming, this is the main point of this poem.

People’s perceptions of belonging can change over time, but this isn’t the case for all. When people experience moments of crisis in their lives they sometimes force a change within themselves and that is what helps them find an individual sense of belonging. This is highlighted in many texts and even composers life works. Texts that support this statement include Peter Skrzynecki’s Immigrant Chronicle poems, of which I have chosen St Patricks College and Feliks Skrzynecki. Skrzynecki’s poetry expresses the difficulties he faces when change doesn’t occur throughout time, as time alone isn’t a factor and that your sense of belonging is something that comes from within, with or without anyone.

To belong is to be, or have the feeling of being accepted or included by a certain group, person, place or community. While initially an individual may belong to a community or group, speaking their opinion can seclude them, and cause them to become an outsider. Belonging to a community or group can be very beneficial, and not belonging can cause an individual to face consequences. Hysteria and fear can be caused throughout a community by outsiders who don’t belong. We are able to view these experiences of belonging and not belonging through the use of characters and events throughout a variety of texts. Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” and Armin Geder’s picture book “The Island” display how an individual can belong and not belong at

An individual’s sense of belonging is determined not only by their own choices but also by the attitudes of others.

‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging.’

Concept, perceptions and ideas to belong or not to belong differ from person to person. This is due to experiences that shape ones personality that come through personal, cultural, social and historical context. The idea of belonging allows one to have some sort of connection and communal with people, places, groups, communities and the wider world. In contrast not belonging causes one to suffer from alienation, exclusion and marginalisation. As a result these factors can cause an individual to be at different states of depression depending on one’s personality and situation. However in society, belonging has become and essential to life. Many texts have explored the notion of belonging and not belonging; the play Rainbows

The concept of belonging is more complex than it first appears is a true statement and can be proven through the deconstruction of the texts ‘Romulus, my father’ and ‘Neighbours’. The meaning of belonging is generalised as a process where an individual or individuals learn to connect with other people, groups, communities and the larger world. There are several ways that proves this statement above in both texts such as not belonging at the start of each story, complications with trying to belong and then finally achieving a full individual sense of belonging in the end. This is the general way that belonging is achieved but is much more complex than this process above.

“Till death do us part.” The five words proclaimed by the bride and groom on their wedding day that hold a lot of meaning. These words are spoken with the intent to fulfill them, but in some cases this is not happening, resulting in marriages collapsing. This is all due to the lack of communication between the individuals. Communication is the foundation of any relationship whether the relationship is romantic or completely platonic.

"Belonging is more than a state, it is a dynamic process which is affected by the individual's personal circumstances and the relationship he/she has with others around him/her and the larger social circumstances which determine the course of action taken by the individual". Due to the complex and philosophical nature of the concept of belonging, a universal sense of belonging can be found in unique circumstances for different people. As every individual has their own specific desires, values and needs, they can find their place in this world and gain a true sense of belonging along various avenues and paths. The pastoral play ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare explores these notions of belonging and so to does ‘We are going” by Oodgeroo

Belonging can be a possible path to an individual’s self-actualisation. A sense of identity can be identified by belonging or not belonging to a particular group or place. A person can portray different values of belonging through different situations and settings, like in Shakespeare’s period and the period in ‘Fight Club’. Maslow’s Hierarchy of belonging suggests that belonging is one of the basic needs of human existence. All humans aspire to belong but only a few are able to transcend this basic human need and become self-actualised individuals who rise beyond their social expectations and go against the conventions that define them. This is portrayed through the characters in ‘As You like It’ that flee to the Forest of Arden but

An individual’s sense of belonging can be shaped by numerous elements of their interactions with other people and places. To obtain a true sense of belonging, these elements must work to support and accept the individual in their discovery of a fulfilled and contented existence. These essential concepts of belonging are displayed within William Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It, Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and A.B. Patterson’s poem Clancy of the Overflow. Through the composers’ use of dramatic, language, poetic and literary techniques, we are able to explore the various aspects and ideas which lead to a deep sense of belonging.