Belonging

When one develops a better understanding of the force that drives us to belong, one begins to develop empathy for others and a greater insight into our personal identity. The belonging experience is also enhanced by the notions obtained through various life stages, and the outcome is a connection to personal identity through comfort and familiarity. Through studies of the texts, Romulus, my Father by Raymond Gaita, Chinese Lessons by Ivy Tseng and Neighbours by Tim Winton, has allowed for the understanding of the concept of belonging. This is displayed through various topics and ideas such as the importance of preservation of culture upon individual’s morals and values, Impact of personal experience upon a sense of belonging, Connection and disconnection to people and place.  
Gaita explores the notion that cultural preservation is important to the individual’s sense of belonging. In particular the culture seen through past personal experience, “the kitchen filled with cigarette smoke and the smell of slivovitz. They talked to each other in Romanian”, the use of imagery of cultural heritage of Romania, such as the social custom of smoking and the slivovitz conveys to the responder a heightened awareness of cultural heritage and the need to preserve culture to belong within a foreign land.
Through the use of intersexuality and an allusion to Plato, within the text, it allows for the responder to gain a greater understanding of belonging, in particular the preservation of the moral code, inherited by Raymond from his father Romulus. “The philosopher Plato said that those who lover and seek wisdom are clinging in recollection to things they once saw”. Gaita also demonstrates the impact that Romulus has upon his son Raymond, through his sense of self that is found through his own moral code.   “He hated lying and believed that only a rigorous truthfulness could give a person the inner unity necessary for strength of character”, through the direct emotive statement,...