Migrant_Hostel,_10_Mary_Street_and_Be_My_Brother_Essay

Belonging is by nature a process and measure of our connectivity and involvement with people and places. While these connections allow us to embrace others in order to avoid isolation and the harsh experiences of not feeling accepted, we must also acknowledge the urge human beings have to distinguish themselves as individuals. Peter Skrzynecki’s anthology of poems Immigrant Chronicle, in particular the poems, ‘Migrant Hostel’ and ’10 Mary Street’, highlight how changing circumstances and values can influence a migrant's search for assimilation and the confinement or liberation people or settings can bring to an individual. Also the short film, ‘Be My Brother’ by Genevieve Clay, winner of the 2009 Tropfest Short Film Festival, follows the journey of its Down syndrome protagonist as he seeks connection in a world that does not accept his condition. The problematic nature of belonging is explored in 'Migrant Hostel' where hegemonic society and cultural preconceptions restrict a person’s choice to belonging and self fulfilment when exposed to a circumstance that an individual cannot control. The struggle to establish a sense of affinity in an environment such as a hostel is made difficult for the persona, Skrzynecki by its transitory nature. The poem captures the impermanence of diaspora through the discombobulating imagery “comings and goings- /Arrivals of newcomers/Sudden departures", demonstrating the imbalance and insecurity faced by the subjugated migrants, reinforcing how the circumstances they face bring discomfort and isolation in an unfamiliar setting. The lyric simile "Nationalities sought Each other out instinctively/ Like a homing pigeon” highlights the eagerness to seek reassurance within the hostel. He and the other migrants therefore restrict themselves from belonging due to the implications to retain connection to their homeland. Personification is used to emphasise the sense of imprisonment the migrants feel, describing that the "barrier at the main gate/ Pointed in reprimand or shame;" This suggests they were not wanted, even though their services were necessary for rebuilding the country, as well as imposing conformity and cultivating cultural beliefs that supersede and distort individual ideologies. It can be understood that Skrzynecki develops a greater awareness of his new life “That had only begun or were dying”, the antithesis illustrating the commencement of new life but the sense of separation from Australian culture and society he will experience, that is beyond his control. Similar to the persona’s experience in ‘Migrant Hostel’, the Down syndrome protagonist, Richard, in the short film Be My Brother has an innate desire to be understood, but is left exposed to a sense of disconnection and disassociation within a discriminatory world. The short film opens with Richard talking into a tape recorder which acts as a form of alternate communication, intensifying the ongoing adjustment to the lack of conversation he would normally experience with others. Richard’s desire to belong is limited by his prejudicial environment where the bus stop acts as a synecdoche for the wider distanced community. The childish nature of the non-diegetic sounds is indicative of the thought processes of Richard, working to reveal elements of his identity such as his humour and genuine nature. He later attempts to engage in conversation with Amanda, a woman sitting at the bus stop. Her awkward and dismissive body language towards Richard echoes the tendency of society to shy away from those with mental disabilities, making it more difficult to belong, due to the circumstance he faces. ‘10 Mary Street’ expresses the nature of connectivity and understanding as the persona reflects upon his childhood home through a series of anecdotes, affirming the importance of relationships to family and place. "We departed Each morning, shut the house Like a well-oiled lock" uses simile to demonstrate their strong connection towards their home, and “Tended roses and camellias Like adopted children” also uses simile to suggest permanence and a sense that the family have chosen to belong in their new environment on the basis of their cultural roots. The simile and the monosyllabic "shut" and "lock" create a sense of security, affirming their enhanced sense of belonging in Australian society. The persona describes "The house stands in its china-blue coat –" shifting into present tense and using personification to symbolise as if it too were a member of the family 19 years on. The foreshadowing tone "(The whole block Has been gazetted for industry)" demonstrates the lasting sense of safety, due to the council’s decision to pull down the house. The tone is factual and the feeling of inevitable progress reinforces a sense of loss. While human beings have an innate desire to be accepted and understood, the problematic ending of Skrzynecki’s family being “Inheritors of a key That’ll open no house When this one is pulled down” depicts a negative tone to reinforce the external forces that limit his process of accepting Australian society, and heightening the idea that he will never fully belong due to circumstances that restrict this. Richard in Be My Brother is able to deepen his connection with Amanda, signifying the importance of building relationships and in fostering a sense of belonging. His persistence of conversation is a conduit through which a connection is established and her suspicion of him is overcome. The wide shot of Richard and Amanda represents the establishment of a connection and her shift in body language, becoming more open and relaxed. Conversely, his brother Damien wears a hoodie, reflecting his embarrassment, a physical barrier to their connection. The recognition of the relationship formed between Richard and Amanda, allows the brother to break down the barriers and take off his hood. The heart- warming ending as the siblings embrace with a hug on the bus, reinforces the idea of the choice to belong, embracing their true identities as brothers. Thus, both texts explore the transient, complex and ambiguous nature of belonging and how it influences upon their relationship with the wider world or setting. Both Peter Skrzynecki and Richard explore the struggle and inherent alienation in their misunderstanding paradigms, revealing to the audience how belonging can provide a sense of deliverance to new beginnings, whether about choice or circumstance.