The Gypsy As A Dichotomy

Belonging is a complex, multi-faceted concept encompassing a wide range of different aspects. The need to belong to family and culture is a universal human need which provides a sense of value and emotional stability, and in many respects forges one’s identity. Alienation and disconnection often creates feelings of isolation, depression and loss of identity. A struggle with cultural identity is evident in Peter Skrzynecki’s poems ‘Migrant Hostel’ and ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’, where he examines a division between his pre-war Polish heritage and his newfound Australian way of life. The movement away from his European cultural heritage towards a more Australian identity created disorientation for Skrzynecki, and these feelings of disconnection

After being putdown by Hindley for the majority of his childhood, Heathcliff is now the victim turned malefactor. Once he returns the roles of the characters in the book have changed. Heathcliff plays on Hindley’s gambling addiction and lends him money. Now Hindley is in debt to Heathcliff and through exchange, Heathcliff wins Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff used to be savage and a slave and now, Heathcliff owns Hindley and this makes Hindley seem more savage. Heathcliff gains control of Wuthering Heights through gambling with Hindley, the previous owner of Wuthering Heights. The Gypsies of the time period where thought to be skilled in gambling and fortune-telling. His envy of Edgar’s handsomeness partly fuels his anger toward Edgar and Catherine’s choice to marry him. Heathcliff wants revenge on Edgar for stealing away Catherine. So he takes advantage of Isabella, Edgar’s sister, and marries her. “[Heathcliff] seized, and thrust [Isabella] from the room; and returned muttering – "I have no pity! I have no pity! The more the worms writhe, the more I yearn to crush out their entrails! It is a moral teething; and I grind with greater energy in proportion to the increase of pain." (151). Immediately, it is a loveless marriage between Heathcliff and Isabella. He is so malicious to take revenge, which he engages in acts of violence, for example hanging Isabella’s dog.

These constant reminders of differences as well as stereotyping made it incredibly hard for Gouvrnel, Wei-Lei and all migrants to belong somewhere other than what their physical appearance may indicate. By Gouvrnel recalling this story to the readers it make us think and learn about the impact and implications migrants have to face when coming to Australia and the teasing, bulling and hardships they were forced to face. On multiple occasions she recalls being in tears and asking herself why she “couldn’t move back to Delhi,” difference in physical appearance and were we originate serve as indicatory of difference that can result in very stereotypical grouping, making assumptions purely based on looks as well as exclusion, preventing migrants from feeling as if they belong.

Throughout the text ‘Migrant hostel’ barriers of belonging to the prescribed world are presented which heightened the sense of exclusion. Negative connotations are used to portray the barriers presented

His announcement confirmed minutes later by a clatter and rattle as eight gaudily painted rolling cabins on wheels drawn by a large white draft horse, roll along forming a rough circle as come to a stop in a large clearing on the outskirts of camp.

Many are confused about Gypsies and Travelers because in a lot of ways they are similar and in many ways they are different. In spite of the recent influx of work on Gypsies and Travellers, none of it even scratches the surface when it comes to the gypsies and travellers people. However, they both are a quiet group that not many even know about. Books like We Are the Romani People by Hancock explore these various groups and why they are such an intriguing people. Nonetheless, this edition excels in both scope and clarity, managing not only to present a fascinating and succinct introduction for novices to Gypsy and Traveller communities in United Sates and the differences that are between them.

There are between 200,000 and 500,000 members of gypsy groups living in all regions of the United States. Most of these members of the gypsy communities would be known as the Romani (Roma). Romani people originally come from India and migrated first to Europe, later throughout the United states, and now they are all across the world. The people of the Gypsy culture are not known as healthy. About 85% smoke and 85% are obese. Their average life expectancy is only about 48 to 55 years of age.

‘Gypsy garbage,’ he laughs, and lifts me by my armpits onto a truck, I am held down with a board so that I don’t jump. ‘No,’ I say, “I am not a gypsy.” Everyone knows gypsies are rat-faces and cannibals. They don’t have a god. The soldier writes something on my forehead with ink. I see a black Z on the face of another girl.” (Small,118).

The Romani have been portrayed in a negative manner in a number of films in the 20th century. Most of these films contain a number of stereotypes about about the Roma which fuels discrimination and fear of the Roma people. These stereotypes can be seen in mysticism, music and clothing. They are seen as evil conniving and frightening in films using magic and sorcery to hurt others. Or they are looked at as mysterious and intriguing. Certain films cast the Roma in a certain light, so the films in the early 20th century were much more stereotypical than more recent films. However there are exceptions to this general observation. Films such as Cry of the Werewolf and Thinner are much more stereotypical than Time of the Gypsies and The Crazy Stranger.

Hindley is the only biological son of Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw. Prior to Heathcliff’s arrival, Hindley is considered the man of the house after his mother’s death. Hindley does not want to surrender this privilege to somebody that he refers to as a “[g]ipsy” a “beggarly interloper” [and an] imp of Satan (Bronte 4.39)” and vows to make Heathcliff’s life miserable—in which he does. Following Mrs. Earnshaw’s death, “which happened in less than two years after, the young master had learned to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, and Heathcliff as a usurper of his parent's affections and his privileges; and he grew bitter with brooding over these injuries (4.38)”.

Gypsy was performed at Bridgewater State University in a production directed by Colleen Rua. Gypsy is a musical with book written by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and is based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. The musical tells the story of Rose as she tries to get her Vaudevillian show consisting of her two young daughters, June and Louise, successful.

The figure group The Gypsies is Charles Vyse’s first venture into the genre of the Romany (Fig. 57). In the nineteenth and early twentieth-century true Gypsies or Romanies, considered a separate nomadic people, possessing a language, customs, and beliefs. The women, categorized by flamboyant clothing, extravagant songs, and dances, and the men, branded roguish thieves, and horse traders. Moreover, popular interest in gypsies came through literature, theatre, and film, engendering the nostalgic vision of a pastoral people refusing to integrate into the society of the day. Gypsies, colourful inhabitants of fairgrounds and racetracks would become subjects for his figures, creating a new genre. The modelling of the group invokes

Gypsies are nomads (Leeson, 2013). The nomadic nature seems to be a central point of departure that defines the gypsy way of life. Although, the modern Roma people no longer travel in caravan and have blended in with the locals, the sense of independence through travel still is reflected in their way of life (Romanian Family Health Initiative, 2007), for example, many Roma men choose occupations that lets them travel and be on the road (Matras, 2000).

“The Gypsy has three truths; one with me, one with you, and the third with himself” a Ukrainian saying about the Gypsy life style. Portrayed for centuries as a lying, thieving and sinning group the gypsy have been discriminated against by most nations. Gypsy have endured slavery, being burned at the stake, being sent to concentration camps and being forced migration to start the list of terrors the group have endured. Most cities and nations do not treat Gypsies as equals and have a history of suffering. People know little about the Gypsies and if he/she does not know their history they are doomed to repeat it causing the Gypsies to continue to suffer. After many pleas to the courts Gypsies seem to be losing their battle for rights, Having been forced to migrate all over Europe the gypsy have never had a true home.

Since the post-war period, migrants and their descendants have also to a greater extent entered the centre of British literature. (Panayi 292) Many of them have worked with their personal experiences of being an immigrant in their writings; generally, they often focus on multiculturalism in Britain and conflicts that have come up in this multicultural society. (292) The topics of conflicting values and racism towards immigrants, which