The Themes of Belonging and Exclusion in "The poems of immigrant chronicles" by Peter Skryzyneck and William Golding's "Lord of the Flies".

by beachee99 (student)

In studying the concept of belonging we discover that is just as much about exclusion as it is part of belonging. Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed text and one other related text of your choosing.

Belonging is a complex and multi-faceted concept which all people innately desire. However though we all feel the instinctive drive to belong it is an understanding and familiarity with people, groups and places which grants us a sense of inclusion or lack there which excludes us. The poems of immigrant chronicles by Peter Skryzyneck clearly allows us to discover that is it just as much about exclusion as it is part of belonging as “10 Mary Street” explore how belonging can come from relationships and connections and on the other extreme “St Patrick’s College” demonstrates how exclusion is affiliated with ones identity. Another text “Lord of the flies” by William Golding also supports the idea that exclusion is just as much as belonging as it delivers the ideas of how belonging is related to acceptance and the other hand how an excluded individual has the potential to enrich or challenge a group.

The importance of belonging can be witnessed through the correlation of belonging and relationships through a variety of ways in the poem “10 Mary St. We are able to learn that to be able to belong there needs to be positive relationships which grants strong sense of familiarity and security. “For nineteen years we departed each morning “. The “nineteen years” is repeated throughout the whole poem, the poet’s use of this repetition along with the imagery of the family’s daily routines such as securing the house “each morning like a well oil-ed lock” evokes a sense of stability and belonging as they have clearly assimilated into their environment and made positive relationships inside the family. Additionally the colloquial language technique used by Skryznecki “ravages it like a hungry bird, eating its fruits until he’s bursting at the seams” shows how the families “garden” is a source of nourishment to Peter, which supports the sense of security and successful assimilation. Furthermore the personification of “china blue coat” also reinforces this idea of successful assimilation highlighting its significance in terms of their belonging. Another aspect is that positive friendship relationships also relate to belonging. In the Skryznecki family, “Heated discussions” and gatherings with friends “visitors that ate, salt Kielbasa herrings and rye bread” is expressing how their newfound friends share the common values and memories where a sense of familiarity has created melancholy. The poet creates a buoyant atmosphere through comforting quotes like “embracing gestures” which emphasises the idea that the positive relationships made has reflected an improvement in them belonging in their new country. “10 Mary Street” clearly demonstrates the importance of the concept belonging which can be achieved through relationships. (needs 31 words cut)

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The gravity of significance of exclusion in the main idea belonging can be contemplated in “St Patrick’s college” where we are able to comprehend that exclusion is related to ones lack of identity. Schooling is supposedly a place which nourishes an individual and promotes ones identity however, this poem challenges this idea through the depiction of a student who is disengaged and struggles to develop a sense of connection. “Let my light shine”, in this setting Peter was obviously not able to express his identity, the “light” symbolically represents Peter’s identity which he could not find. The use of first person perspective by the poet allows the readers to personally connect with the student in the school (the poet), this implies he is alone with no identity in this school. Consequently Peter’s lack of identity has further led to his exclusion from the school. Skrzynecki uses a rather unenthusiastic tone through short sentences and the repetition of “8 years” to create a dull atmosphere to emphasise Peter’s alienation from the school. His school years has appeared long to him due to his lack of interest and estrangement. This idea is further reinforced through to use of simile “like a foreign tourist” which portrays Peter’s disaffection for the school. The diction “tourist” suggests that Peter is an outsider and his connection to the place has not been developed due to his lack of identity there. It is evident universal idea of belonging is not only about inclusion but is about exclusion which may occur if there is a lack of identity which has been deeply portrayed through the poem “St Patrick’s”. (needs 20 words cut)

The relationship between acceptance and belonging can be attested in the novel “Lord of the flies”, the text demonstrates that acceptance in society will result in harmony or belonging. William Golding has used setting as a technique by making it iconic, making the island of a smaller version of earth and the boys representing mankind. Upon being stranded on an island, the band of schoolboys creates a micro society. We are already able to see that the text is communicating that the boys want a place of safety and comfort, where they are accepted. William Golding integrates allegorical techniques to express his inner most feelings and meanings. For example Golding utilises the conch shell as a powerful symbolism of civilisation giving the right for a member to speak, “I have the conch shell”. The conch shell acts as vessel of political legitimacy which portrays the boy’s societal values and their acceptance in their micro society. In the early stages of the novel, the boys are all accepted including their societal values as they are given the right to express themselves with the conch shell. This in turn had made them all belong in their society or at least until one member is excluded. (This paragraph needs 50~ words cut)

The importance of exclusion can be highlighted in the novel “lord of the flies” with regards to the idea that an individual has the potential to enrich or challenge a group. “Ralph is like piggy, he isn’t a proper chief”, when Jack begins to feel he is excluded, that his talents are being overlooked by Ralph, he stages a rebellion. Golding incorporates characterization techniques such as creating Jack as a rebellious, clever character to promote and reinforce Golding’s theme that an individual experiencing exclusion can potential challenge a group. As a result of Jack being excluded from the group, he challenged the group and therefore civilisation goes from unity to anarchy to total polarization in the end. Lord of the flies demonstrates that even when one person is excluded it damages the entire society as they can challenge a group therefore ultimately the importance of exclusion in belonging if there is the slightest exclusion it can potentially bring havoc to belonging all together.

In conclusion the immigrant chronicles poems “St Patrick college” and “10 Mary street” show that the concepts of belonging are just as much as exclusion as is it is a part of belonging as the major concepts of belonging such as identity is related to exclusion and relationships is linked to belonging. Similarly “Lord of the flies” also further exemplifies the importance of belonging and exclusion as it has demonstrated belonging can come from acceptance and that the most diminutive exclusion in an individual can cause them to challenge the group and collapse belonging altogether. Ultimately “belonging” is a complex multi faceted concept which holds ideas of both exclusion and belonging.

My conclusion is so bad, needs reforming (altogheter words: 1180, need 1000