Romulus, My Father – Essay

Explore how perceptions of blend ining and non be seat be influenced by connections to places in Romulus, My Father. An individuals potentiality to belong is primarily dependent on their personal experience, and varies in difficulty depending on the dynamics of each individuals personality and temperament. The embellish in which an individual resides has a definitive impact upon an individuals sense of belong. Furthermore, the specific place, in relation to where the individual literally resides, too influences ones sense of belonging.In Raimond Gaitas biographical archives Romulus, My Father, the notion of belonging is strongly influenced by place. Both belonging and not belonging are explo scarlet finished the characters sense of place, Romulus and Christine respectively. Romulus is qualified to successfully passing from Yugoslavia to Australia as he effectively endeavours to integrate his native culture with Slivovitz, Yugoslavian friends and his native trade into his newfound folk. In furrow, Christine is unable to invite any means of connection to the place or landscape and as a result wricks alienated.Raimond connects to place in his own unique way, employ the landscape of rural Australia as a metaphor for belonging and by and by finding a place to call home. Ultimately, Romulus, My Father explores the hefty influence that place holds over an individuals sense of belonging. through with(predicate)out Raimond Gaitas Romulus, My Father, Romulus Gaitas sense of belonging is heavily influenced through a connection to place and landscape. Born in Yugoslavia, Romulus emigrated on an assisted departure in 1950 at the age of 28, with his young wife Christine and their four-year-old son Raimond short after the end of World War II.While the transition between countries can often hold harsh and ominous repercussions on an individuals sense of self, Romulus seems to successfully establish himself within the Australian community. Foremost, Romulu s does so though an integration of his native culture. Immediately upon arriving at Baringhup in order to work, Romulus specifically seeks out his fellow Romanians and finally finds them in Hora and Mitru. Furthermore, his frequent drinking of Slivovitz, a Romanian brandy, coupled with his commitment to the trade he perfected in Romania highlights his commitment to his native country.This patriotism is ultimately accepted by the individuals Romulus associates with, and as a result strengthens his sense of belonging. The landscape of the Australian outback also has an impact on Romulus sense of belonging. Raimond often reflects on how Romulus feels isolated from the world, as a result of being away from the winterly forests of Europe. The effect is a lithe diminution of Romulus sense of belonging as he at clock longs to return to Yugoslavia.The peppercorn tree, situated in Frogmore, symbolises Romulus tether between his proclivity to return to Yugoslavia and his current location of Australia as it represents his native country, albeit located in his newfound home. Christine, Romulus wife, in contrast to Romulus himself, has her sense of belonging wrought through a disconnection towards place and landscape. It is evident at the beginning of the chronicle that Christine feels a lack of belonging through living in Germany and as a result is the driving force behind the Gaitas perish to Australia.This act shows Christines inability to stay and commit to one place. in time upon arriving in Australia, Christine displays an inability to connect with the place she resides, and advancemore the landscape she is presented with. condescension only leaving Europe recently, Christine too seems to feel isolated by the Australian outback. The rural Australian landscape of Frogmore ultimately becomes too more than for Christine, who subtly still longs for the winterly forests of Europe.Whether it is a result of her unaccepted values in the eyes of the local community , her largely misunderstood mental illness or a strong disconnection to place and landscape, Christine is constantly on the move, which further highlighting her temporary nature. Time after time, Christine feels alienated by the landscape she surrounds herself with and ultimately feels the need to escape the alienation for good, resulting in her suicide. The dead red gum tree becomes a metaphor for her desolation, oppression and inability to become accustomed to the land.The tree, like Christine, is of complete contrast to its landscape drawing parallels to Christines alienation. The scraggy gum delineated against a dark blue background of a sky. Raimond is able to fashion his own sense of belonging through place in a way this is typically different from Romulus and Christine. The distinctive difference between Raimond and his parents is that Raimond is able to grow up in Australia. This ultimately has a major impact upon the way place shapes his sense of belonging. Raimond embra ces his Australian environment, most notably through his school.Raimond, once again unlike his parents, is able to fully embrace the Australian culture without any significant ties to the European culture. It is in this way that Raimond is able to fully feel at home within the landscape of the rural Australian outback. Raimond relishes the rural landscape, which is further explored during his epiphany. Ultimately, an individuals talent to belong is primarily dependent on their personal experience. However, the difficulties in belonging are derived from the dynamics of an individuals personality as their natural perceptions of themselves and their surrounds influence their capacity to belong.Raimond Gaitas memoir, Romulus, My Father depicts the varying difficulties in belonging through the parallel passage of Christine and Raimond asserting that Christine temporary nature prevented her from achieving a sense of belonging. Raimonds sense of belonging is shaped through coming to ter ms with his bucolic setting, in contrast to the innate connection to the land of his father. Thus, belonging is seen as a subjective notion whereby the hazards and difficulties of achieving belonging are varied dependent on the dynamics of the individuals personality and temperament.