Belonging Essay

is "happy as I have never been." This emotional paradox highlights how Feliks, despite being a migrant from war-affected Europe with limited understanding of the broader Australian community, finds happiness, while the persona, having been raised in Australia, fails to find contentment and does not appreciate the abundance of opportunities to socially and culturally belong. The persona's lack of understanding prevents him from incorporating Australian culture and society into his identity, resulting in a sense of not belonging. The image of a physical journey in "kept pace only with the Joneses/ Of his own mind's making" symbolizes a protective, isolated, and self-contained world that Feliks inhabits.

This paragraph highlights the satisfaction the persona's father feels in embracing his own knowledge of Polish culture, which allows him to maintain a strong sense of identity and belonging. The contrasting relationships between the persona and his father can be attributed to their limited understanding of the world around them, resulting in distinct identities. The persona struggles to comprehend the adult world of the Polish immigrant community to which his father belongs, evident in the line "Always shook hands too violently / I thought ... Feliks Skrzynecki." This visual imagery emphasizes the perception of a child, accentuating the unfamiliarity and alienation associated with cultural and social norms. The use of ellipsis adds tension, highlighting the persona's inability to fully grasp his father's "formal address."

The text underscores the significant age gap that separates the understanding of Polish culture, wherein a person lacks knowledge and thus restricts their strong sense of identity and belonging. The persona's father is portrayed as a "dumb prophet," an oxymoronic figure who possesses wisdom but cannot effectively

transmit this understanding to his child. At the age of thirteen, the persona forgets his first Polish word, further highlighting the generational disconnect and the inability to communicate about Polish culture with his father, Feliks. This lack of deep understanding hinders the persona's cultural assimilation and sense of belonging. Metaphorically, the persona embarks on a journey southward: "pegging my tents / Further and futher south of Hadrian's Wall," evoking the image of a soldier departing from their northern culture, much like one would leave behind Hadrian's Wall in the north of England.

The symbolism of temporary residences represents the persona's search for a new place in Australian society, separate from his father's primitive world, to belong. In the poem 'St Patrick's College', the parental desires of the persona's mother lead to misunderstandings that degrade the persona's identity, preventing him from truly finding a sense of belonging. The persona's mother enrolls him at an expensive private school with the intention of providing him with the best opportunities and education. The use of the word 'carried' in the lines 'I carried the blue, black and gold / I'd been privileged to wear' suggests that wearing the uniform was a burden for the persona, done solely to make his mother proud. The word 'privileged' indicates that the uniform was given to him as part of the costs of attending the school. These connotations reveal that there is no genuine connection between the persona and St Patrick's College, as he sees attending school as fulfilling his parents' wishes rather than building his own identity and sense of belonging.

In the poem 'Feliks Skrzynecki', the phrase 'kept pace only with the Joneses'

signifies that migrants from the persona's parents' generation strive to conform and fulfill societal expectations, aiming for what is considered the best. This creates a misunderstanding for the persona, who views attending school as solely a duty to his parents rather than a path towards personal happiness. Consequently, he lacks a sense of belonging. To establish this sense of belonging, it is crucial to acknowledge that school life offers not just education but also opportunities for personal growth and self-worth. The repetition of 'For eight years' highlights the persona's frustration; despite spending substantial time at St Patrick's College, he still fails to grasp the concept that school should provide new values and possibilities.

The persona lacks a sense of worth and belonging due to their inability to recognize the opportunities and values offered to them. The line "That darkness around me / Wasn't 'for the best' / Before I let my light shine" contrasts the shallow relationship between the persona and the school, as they view the school as hindering their ability to shine. This use of cliche highlights the persona's misunderstanding that attending an expensive school is solely for their parents' desires, leading to inauthenticity, lack of personal growth, and a lack of belonging. The depiction of the school with "outstretched arms" and a face overshadowed by clouds further emphasizes this contrasting view.

The school's initial message promotes inclusivity, security, and protection. However, this positive tone is contrasted by a second line that introduces a sense of foreboding and uncertainty. The use of pathetic fallacy further hints at the dullness and uncertainty that the persona expects to encounter at St Patrick's College. The lack of a

genuine connection to the school and a confused understanding of why they are attending prevents the persona from forming a strong identity and a sense of belonging.