Belonging

My understanding of into the world is expressed in the novel Tom brennan as it changes in setting which promotes a new view on life and new opportunies and expierences for tom. Qoute from J.C burke “part of toms journey is being forced to see situations and people as they really are not as he thought they were”. J.C Burke uses a small town environment to create a more intense and dramatic atmosphere. On page 254 chapter 18 the brennan family recognise their social obligation. An example of the familys change- they have grown from the expierence and are now becoming socially catatonic meaning stationary. Chapter 18 tom takes personal responsibility for his sitution and from that acceptance he grows emotionally and mentally. He faces the reality that fin is now the brennans family responsibility. Fin is a visible remainder of the consequences of an action and that theree are some things that you have to face in life which are painful but you are obligated to deal with them for the sake of others. Tom accepts that adversity can be overcome. Tom is aware of his own journey/ transistor into the world after being cast into the shadows by his brothers actions. This awareness is influenced by those around him. It is through toms eyes that the ramifications of daniels actions are revealed. Daniel is introduced through other characters creating emotional distance from the person who has caused the tradegy that over whelms the brennan family. Daniel is the catalyst for change. Our understanding of daniel that we see him as a combination of strong and weak,likeable and thugish. The door 'Opening the door', looking beyond ones own narrow existence and considering other worlds and lives can give a new perspective on ones own problems. It also indicates a passing of time. In the second stanza of the poem there is an unusual mixture of sights presented which may lie behind the door suggesting the idea that anything is possible. The adjective 'magic' adds colour and vividness to the description. These differing perspective's underline the poems message that if we are prepared to take action to 'change' our lives the possibilities are exciting and varied. In stanza four the image of darkness ticking could signify an unknown or negative factor, yet the process undertaken by the individual to look into the darkness is a valuable learning experience that will change them. These images have positive connotations that give an optimistic perspective to the stanza, and suggest stepping out into something fruitful and enchanted. The poet reiterates the fact that negative and unpleasant experiences are beneficial for personal growth and it has long term advantages as opposed to being stultified. The verb 'ticking' is laced with onomatopoeic overtones. In the third stanza the metaphorical 'fog' could refer to one's problems, difficulties or uncertainties. In the first stanza of the poem the first line is a call to action- use of imperatives. 'At least/ there'll be/ a draught' suggests that we need to 'revisit' our own worlds after opening our eyes and minds to the possibilities outside our narrow lives. This eerie atmosphere is also enhanced by the hollow wind. THE DOOR Go and open the door. Maybe outside there’s a tree, or a wood, a garden, or a magic city. Go and open the door. Maybe a dog’s rummaging. Maybe you’ll see a face, or an eye, or the picture of a picture. Go and open the door. if there’s a fog it will clear. Go and open the door. Even if there’s only the darkness ticking, even if there’s only the hollow wind, even if nothing is there, go and open the door. At least there will be a draught.