Belong_Romulus

An individual’s quest to fulfil an innate need to feel a sense of belonging is rooted in their interactions with others and the world around them. By achieving a sense of belonging, an individual is able to decode the intrinsic nature of understanding their own identity and place in the world and thus, enrich their life. Conversely, an inability to forge connections with the world, can lead individuals to a trail of life that is immersed in alienation and deepening need to belong. It is this notion that individuals most fear and in turn, attempt to prevent this by making sacrifices and conforming to the world around them to foster connections. The memoir, “Romulus, my Father” by Raimond Gaita and the cinematic masterpiece, “Ran” by Akira Kurosawa, embody the gravity of achieving a sense of belonging in their world. In “Romulus, my Father”,Gaita depicts the notion of how deep family bonds can provide a sense of belonging to an individual. Through the enduring relationship between Gaita and Romulus, “after what we had shared at Frogmore, no quarrel could estrange us”, Gaita’s moral and values have been influenced and thus defined his character. This is evident by the philosophical tone of the memoir in which Gaita emotively recalls, “I know what a good workman is, I know because I remember these things in my father”. The significance is tremendous, as the repetitions of first pronouns, “I know” highlights the impact of his father in giving him a sense of identity. In addition, the accumulation of philosophical concepts such as “honesty”, “loyalty”, “capacity to do hard work” highlight the morals and values of Romulus that have been promoted in Gaita’s character. Similarly, this notion is also depicted in the film, “Ran”. Kurosawa, depicts the fall of the Ichimonji clan as the result of the weak familial bonds of the ruling family. The warlord, Hidetora abdicates and splits his kingdom for his three sons. Upon abdication, the warlord is viewed with low camera angles to signify his supreme authority and says to his three sons, “A single arrow can be broken easily, but three arrows are unbreakable”. The metaphorical meaning derived from the personified arrows symbolise, the strength and enduring nature of familial bonds. Like Gaita, the two elder sons have been instilled by the morals and values of their father. However, the youngest sons speaks out against his father, “you have achieved power through violence and treachery, yet you foolishly expect your sons to be loyal to you”. Ironically, the youngest son is banished by the warlord, as the two older sons instilled with “treachery” and “violence” revolt against their father and banish him. This fall from power, is encapsulated by the high camera angle shots and the barren landscape surrounding the warlord, which signify how the severing of familial bonds has left him alienated. However, at the end of the movie, Hidetora is reunited with his youngest son and regains his sense of belonging. Ultimately, Gaita and Kurosawa highlight how familial relationships are enduring and can shape an individual’s position in their world. The connection with the landscape can bring a sense of belonging. Conversely, the disconnection to the landscape can lead to alienation. This concept is explored through Raimond developing an affiliation with the landscape. Initially Raimond’s perception on the landscape is influenced by his father. However, through the accumulation of positive experiences such as shooting rabbits in Cairn Curran and swimming in the dam, Raimond is able to connect with the landscape,”the key to the beauty of the native trees...scraggy shapes, sparse foliage actually became the foci for my sense if its beauty and everything else fell into place” and thus achieve a sense of place in the world. The vivid imagery generated by the accumulation of descriptions of the landscape, highlights that Raimond has found a cultural identity which allows him to feel a sense of belonging with others and the world. In “Ran” the landscape provides as an extended metaphor of Hidetora’s alienation. The vast, wide panning shots of the wilderness symbolise the physical isolation of Hidetora. This culminated with the desolate, empty Castle, symbolises the connections Hidetora has lost with his family and his subjects. Hence, the landscape can be seen as a barrier for Hidetora to experience a sense of affiliation with others, as it physically distances Hidetora from renewing connections with family and others. In conjunction, the two texts highlight the positive and negative impacts landscape can have on an individual achieving a sense of belonging. Although, Romulus is unable to renew his cultural identity by connecting with the Australian landscape, he is able to develop his identity by the relationships he fosters with others. In “Romulus, my Father”, migrants were not appreciated to the full extent of the ability, “immigrants were tolerated, but seldom accorded the respect they deserved”. However, by conforming, such as being known as “Jack” to the local and contributing to the community through his metal work prowess, Romulus is able to acquire a renewed sense of connection with the locals and a “renewed appreciation of life in Australia”. Furthermore, the alienation Romulus initially feels in this foreign land, leads Romulus to to seek a connection with fellow immigrants. One of these people, were Hora and together they forged a “lifelong friendship”. Thus, by conforming and forging relationships, Romulus is able to have a place in the community, which brings him a renewed cultural identity that validates his place in the world. However, the consequences of not fostering relationships can be seen through Christine from “Romulus, my Father” and Hidetora from “Ran”. As the two are unable to find a renewed cultural identity which in turn leads to their alienation and self degradation. Gaita emotively comments on how the community and environment itself was not appropriate for Christine’s cultural background, “a city girl, she could not settle in”. The culmination of this with the promiscuous nature and her inability to take care for Raimond has led the community feeling “contempt” towards her. As a result, the alienation causes Christine’s mental state to worsen, as Raimond describes “she had hallucinations”. Likewise, Hidetora’s alienation and inability to connect with others causes him do suffer the same mental deterioration as Christine. Hidetora’s segregation from others has caused him to lose his cultural identity, as he no longer has the willpower to commit “seppuku”, an honourable way to die for samurais. This is symbolised, by Hidetora’s broken sword which prevents his suicide. An incident which gives further evidence of this, is when his jester attempts to reconnect with him. The mental deterioration caused by his alienations, ironically causes him to abandon the las remaining connection he has with another individual. Consequently, the two texts are able to show that fostering relationships can promote a sense of belonging, whilst failing to do so can lead to alienation and detrimental impacts on an individual’s identity. Through both texts, “Romulus, my Father” and “Ran”, its is highly evident of the importance of belonging. Furthermore, the texts embody how an individuals need to find a sense of belonging can be fulfilled through connections with family, landscape and others.