Hsc_Belonging

We can only achieve a sense of belonging in an environment which fosters understanding and acceptance. Everyone desires to truly belong; and depending on one's acceptance and understanding of those bound to us, including ourselves, whether it be physically, mentally, and/ or spiritually, if we give ourselves time to genuinely acknowledge and appreciate each other, one may see the blossoming creation of mutuality. Shakespeare, Marsden, Tan and Lee drive their characters into various experiences which challenge the aforementioned notion. Time possesses the ability to either nurture one's belonging or to destruct it. However our different experiences within the environment whom interacts with time, whether it be objective or relative, solely impacts on one's capability of truly belonging. Shakespeare specifically uses the pastoral setting in As You Like It to physically present an environment of tranquillity, healing and restoring true values. The forest of Arden is clearly the framework of where time is non existent, where one is to “fleet the time carelessly, as they did in the golden world” as recalled by Charles. The characters' sense of time is based on their interior “clock”; therefore however one feels and not how others control them reflects on their self understanding, acceptance and consequently their self-belonging. Specifically Rosalind; for after being removed from the court world she is able to liberate freely with the absence of time and consciousness. Hence enabling her to literally take on a new appearance, in order to attain a new perspective on life from her newly acquired sense of belonging, whilst also heightening the dramatic irony and humour throughout the play. Uniquely, noted by an unknown author “Rosalind is the perfect example of someone who functions on intuition rather than intention”. We see that Shakespeare intentionally weaves through both the forest and court world consecutively, hence we are presented with a clear juxtaposition on the values and attitudes implanted within these contrasting settings.Through Duke Senior's use of alliteration and metaphorical description, “Books in running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything” whilst presenting a contrast towards these settings, he is able to appeal to both the educated and non-educated members of the audience. As it's title declares, this is a play to please all tastes. Thus, via Rosalind's epilogue the audience members are brought back into “reality” and are freely given the choice to enjoy the play however they want and in whatever aspect. Our understanding and acceptance decide for us whether we belong to the play or not, and whether the audience to cast relationship is mutual. Therefore if for example, an audience member were to abuse the cast throughout the play this would be similar to the abuse in hierarchy with Oliver against Orlando. This destruction and disrespect of order is unable to coexist with mutuality. Which therefore clarifies Rosalind's acceptance of this patriarchal order thus bringing herself to the submission towards father and Orlando: “To you I five myself, for I am yours”. One must accept and understand this notion in order to truly belong. Alike Shakespeare's play, in John Marsden and Shaun Tan's, The Rabbits we are clearly presented with the concept of destruction of order and it's impact. This picture book outlines the post colonial challenges suffered by the Aboriginals from their own perspective. Within the title itself we are able to gather that because rabbits breed exceedingly rapidly, it is ironic that it was the Europeans who introduced this species, thus corresponding to the history of colonisation and the “breeding” of europeans across Australia. This abrupt introduction to a new species, disrupted the order and way of life for the Aboriginals. As the europeans establish themselves into the new environment, they do not understand neither accept any notion towards the Aboriginals. As mentioned beforehand in As You Like It, “when degree is shaked...Then enterprise is sick”.Therefore, with the “rabbits” climbing their way to the top of the hierarchy we see through the use in colour change: from bright and earthy colours to the more dull black and white shades, this evokes a sense of ruin for Aboriginals and their land. “Everywhere we look there are rabbits”, and in hand to complement this quote the black and white picture behind this text shows us the introduction of numbers, the alphabet and industrial buildings literally sucking the only source of colour. This break in continuity and belonging for the Aboriginals was due to a lack of understanding and acceptance from the Europeans. Most prominently, the last page indicates the struggle of belonging and mutuality between both cultures. “Who will save us from the rabbits'” are the last words we read from the picture book. Even by the end of the novel, there is still no mutual agreement. Hence, like As You Like It after the play or book, we are taken back to reality where this situation between the Aboriginals and the Europeans is still persistent. This cultural clash and separation can only be cured throughout time, if each culture fosters an understanding and acceptance for one another. Harper Lee's To Kill a mockingbird, gives the audience an affectionate and detailed portrait of a town where social inequality lies. This failure for human race to live together at peace is shown throughout every text that I have previously mentioned, however this novel in particular heavily focuses on the lack of acknowledging and agreement with those around us. The Maycomb society believes it is normal to think that people whom are different from the average standard of the community should be casted out. Atticus explains to his children that “...when it's a white man's world against a black man's, the white always wins. They're ugly but they're the fact of life”. Though the children begin the novel as ignorant, we see a development to both Scout and Jem via Atticus' teachings, which enables them to grasp the understanding and acceptance of “unusual” characters whom don't belong within the social strata of Maycomb. They grow to recognise that “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” which leads them to appreciate Boo Radley as a human being and as one of the many metaphorical mockingbirds in the novel. “Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. Thus the symbolism of killing and degrading good-hearted and innocent people reflects on the core notion of the novel. If one allows time to understand another, they will come to appreciate and accept who they really are, putting aside the cultural and socio economic aspects of the individual. Thus to achieve a sense of genuine belonging “our connections to others which determine our own self-perception of where and how we fit into the world around us” is embedded on the basis of placing one's self in an environment of true understanding and acceptance. The composers of As You Like It, The Rabbits and To Kill a Mockingbird have most definitely proven to have devised successful material to conform with their character's capability of honest affiliation with themselves and those bound to them.