Acceptance, Segregation and the Need for Social

Allegiance.
Belonging essay by Asha Forsyth 2009
1,403 ords
Fulfilment is the essence of being. To obtain this sense of self, we must actively
participate in the society which we exist in. Without social acceptance, our sense of
belonging is limited and cannot lead to true self actualisation. This concept is
explored through the prescribed poems St. Patricks College and 10 Mary Street by
Peter Skrynecki, the painting Self Portrait (But I Always Wanted to Be One of !e
"ood "uys# by !ordon "ennet and the short story !e $at Man in %istory by Peter
#arey. $ll these texts explore the hardships of being ostracied by society, and how
this impacts on an individual%s sense of identity and belonging.
To allow our individual sense of acceptance to blossom, one usually finds solace in a
place of sanctuary and safety. &n Skrynecki%s 10 Mary Street, this particular place
comes alive. $s an audience we plunge into the migrants home' experiencing each
cultural nuance as if we were actually there. Skrynecki achieves this element by
employing a conversational tone throughout his poetry, this opens it up to the
audience and we feel a sense of connection to the people and places he goes on to
describe. Strong use of sensory imagery also helps illustrate the Polish cultural
bubble.
&'iel(asa) salt !errings * And rye (read) drank * +aw ,odka or c!erry (randy * And
s-oked like * A do.en Puffing Billies/
"y evoking our oral sense to the customs and traditions of the Polish community, the
true nature of their own sense of belonging within their neighbourhood is accurately
portrayed.
(owever this sheltered lifestyle is rarely enough to achieve a true sense of belonging
and without recognition from the wider community, most existences become hollow.
Skrynecki%s poem St. Patricks College illuminates this concept, focussing on the
harshness of society and status.
&I-0ressed (y t!e unifor-s * Of !er e-0loyer1s sons * Mot!er enrolled -e at St Pat1s
* Wit! ne,er a t!oug!t * o fees and e20enses 3 wanting only * 4W!at was (est1/
$ longing for acceptance is readily established within the first three lines.
Skrynecki%s uses caesura to shed light on how important his mother believed social
inclusion was. She truly believed that by giving him an expensive education,
Skrynecki would successfully fit in. (owever the reality of Skrynecki%s isolation
contrasts his mothers% expectations.
&5ike a foreign tourist) * 6ncertain of -y destination* Every time I got off./
This )uote reflects the persona%s constant sense of alienation' emphasising his day*to*
day struggle by repeating the line &$or eig!t years. +acking true recognition from
the wider community' Skrynecki is left to go through the motions of school without
a strong sense of being.
This concept of steady exclusion is similarly laced through Peter #arey%s short story
!e $at Man in %istory. &n the story, the protagonist $lexander Finch is part of a
group which has been excluded from the wider community due to their weight. &n the
confines of their rundown home, they plot revolutions and ways of retaliating at the
civiliation which has cast them out. $lthough they find support by grouping together,
they still yearn for legitimate social affiliation. $nd without this, their sense of
seclusion is accentuated, even to the point where they are isolated from each other.
The fragmented chapters within #arey%s story illuminate The Fat ,en%s dis-ointed
existence. These chapters are as small as a few lines and separate the characters'
segregating their thoughts and emotions. Without the true respect of each other . let
alone society * each individual is left to lament their lonely way of life, disrupting any
chance of real happiness and fulfilment.
#arey also parallels the Fat ,en%s secluded lifestyle with that of the wild thistle'
using the noxious weed as an extended metaphor and motif for the disrupted
conditions in which they exist in.
&$inc! wonders w!y t!e t!istles grow in t!ese 0arts) w!y t!ey are sad) w!y t!ey only
grow w!ere t!e ground !as (een distur(ed) and wonders w!ere t!ey grew
originally/&7!ey !a,e co-e near a -ain road and t!ey wordlessly turn (ack)
kee0ing away fro- t!e street lig!ts) returning to t!e t!istles/
#arey highlights that both the minority of the /Fat ,en% and the thistles are
ostracied, and therefore lack any true sense of belonging to their society.
This idea is contrasted in 10 Mary Street, where although they lack true social
acceptance, the Polish migrant community flourishes within itself. They find comfort
by surrounding themselves with cultural memories and traditions' temporarily
shutting out the uncertain and foreign $ustralian society.
&My 0arents watered * Plants 3 grew 0otatoes * And rows of sweet corn8 * ended
roses and ca-ellias * 5ike ado0ted c!ildren/
"y referring to his parents treating the food like ado0ted c!ildren, this simile
reinforces the strong cultural sanctuary in which they are protected from the harshness
of society. Skrynecki highlights their understanding of the value of cultural heritage
and generational traditions. (owever the feeling of belonging that his parents
experience is not passed on to Skrynecki himself, and he is caught in social limbo .
one foot in his heritage, the other in his surrounding environment. With no true
connection to either' Skrynecki explores the idea of growing up in the marginalised
minority of a second generation immigrant.
Similarly, !ordon "ennet uses his paintings as a vehicle for exploring the social
segregation he experienced as a child. (e was brought up without knowledge of his
indigenous $ustralian heritage. $t age 00 he became aware of his background, and
although theoretically his family%s acceptance and love of him wasn%t disturbed,
"ennet%s entire world changed.
&I decided t!at I was in a ,ery interesting 0osition8 -y -ind and (ody !ad (een
effecti,ely coloni.ed (y Western culture) and yet -y A(originality) w!ic! !ad (een
!istorically) socially and 0ersonally re0ressed) was still 0art of -e/9 !12314 "5445T
(e uses his art as a means of expression' illuminating his personal -ourney of self
discovery and fulfilment. /Self Portrait 6"ut & $lways Wanted to "e 1ne of The !ood
!uys7% is no exception' as it highlights the impact cultural division had on his
impressionable childhood.
"ennet%s boyish innocence is conveyed throughout the entire painting, visually
evoking the audience to empathise with his insecurity and lack of belonging during
this time. (e has depicted his four year old self donned in a western child%s cowboy
costume. The costume is a visual metaphor of "ennet%s confused attempt to cover up
the unmistakable difference of his $boriginality.
This $boriginality has been segregated and secluded all throughout $ustralian
history. &ndigenous $ustralians find that their connections to traditional customs have
been severed, yet ties with western culture have never been fully established. This
leaves some in a constant state of uncertainty, which, in turn, -eopardises the ability to
feel a strong sense of connection to the social ma-ority. &n this state of cultural
confusion it is easy for an individual to be manipulated, influenced and even
dismissive of the society they so strongly yearn to be part of.
This concept is effectively reiterated throughout !e $at Man in %istory. When The
Fat ,en decided to consume an accepted member of their revolutionary society, they
truly believe this will lead to their own acceptance.
&+ationale (y A. $inc!7!e $at Men of t!is society !a,e (een i-0licitly accused of
(a-ong ot!er t!ings# lo,ing food to -uc!) of lo,ing t!e-sel,es too -uc! to t!e
e2clusion of t!e re,olution. o eat a -e-(er or -onu-ent of t!e re,olution could (e
seen as a way of turning t!is lo,e towards t!e re,olution/
#arey expresses their ideas as a document written by one of the Fat ,en. This allows
the audience inside the thoughts and emotions of the socially segregated, and we truly
see their innate desire to fit in. We are also shown the extents one will go to, in order
to attain an individual%s sense of belonging.
8ltimately, this sense of self can be attained through means of social recognition and
participation. With genuine inclusion and respect from the wider community, an
individual%s sense of belonging is guaranteed. $lternatively, if one is alienated or cast
out from the social ma-ority, their ability to self actualise and fit in is restricted. Thus,
one must not deny that unadulterated social affiliation is a ma-or influence on our
feeling of acceptance. Without it, we are simply lone soldiers' left to defend our
crumbling sense of belonging.
"y $sha Forsyth