Belonging

Belonging is all about connections made with people, places, groups, communities and the larger world. The renowned pastoral comedy ‘As You Like It’ written by William Shakespeare use a vast range of language techniques, disguise and universal themes including love, hate, jealously and joy to convey the theme of belonging in a entertaining style. Another related text to As You Like It which explores the concept of belonging is the Spanish film ‘Pans Labyrinth’, which through the applications of various film techniques such as ‘the effect of music, camera shots, symbolism and detailed characters. Both texts are closely related as they, involve detailed and duplicit characters in the binary worlds of both the court and the Forest of Arden, and the village and the labyrinth.
The play ‘As You Like It’ is mainly set in the peaceful and unspoiled environment of the Forest of Arden, which symbolises the harmonic, generous, and loving side of life. The use of colloquial language creates a clear image for the reader about just how equivalent and socially ranked the people are. The forest is no subject to a corrupt and evil hierarchy. With each character clearly distinguished and differentiated, this helps the audience distinguish each character and who they really are.
The play ‘Pans Labyrinth is set in the choking and depressing world of the village, which also is susceptible to unexpected violence, selfishness and bitterness. Protagonist O’Felia is a young and timid girl, who clearly does not belong to this world, as is not understood, accepted, in much of a relationship with anybody (except for her mother and Mercedes) and she has no empowering confidence within herself, to obtain any sense of identity. These are the four crucial notions of belonging which O’Felia lacks. The solution for coping in such a terrible and evil world is created with her as a princess, where she is powerful and belongs. O’Felia uses this world to survive in reality, and through this...