Understand.
PART C: EXTENDED RESPONSE
You are to respond to the following essay question making reference to the prescribed text; Romulus, My Father by Raimond Gaita and ONE (1) related text from Part A. Word limit: 1 500
You are to respond to the following essay question making reference to the prescribed text; Romulus, My Father by Raimond Gaita and ONE (1) related text from Part A. Word limit: 1 500
Reflection is the cornerstone to understanding, seeking and gaining a sense of belonging.
Reflection on past events and expectation onto one’s future is the pivotal fragment of distinguishing, searching and attaining a sense of belonging. In order for an individual to establish a sense of belonging they must first reflect in order to chronologically then; understand, seek and find acceptance within themselves or a multifunctional society. Themes which explore the intricate concept of philosophical belonging are evident in the texts; Romulus, My Father, and Grass-skirts which travel the sense of reflective cultural and family belonging, social interactions and contextual interactions. Romulus, My Father As an autobiographical text, reveals how an individual’s reflection alters their insight into belonging. The book is focused on the character of Romulus, who came to Australia as a migrant. He often is show to be a great character of consideration and contemplation. Grass-skirts demonstrate these notions of belonging. It explores women’s struggle for belonging within decision-making institutions. They are confronted to envision their female representation in the country’s male-dominated parliament.
The bonds within the familial unit will effect one’s physiological reflection which is explored as tension is increasingly placed on it in Romulus My Father. The book is highly focused on Raimond Gaita’s Father, Romulus. He is depicted as a male of great philosophy and genius. Romulus’ intrinsic nature of intelligent, understanding and responding make him the miraculous individual he was depicted to be. Christine causes feelings of insecurity in the family unit as she betrays the natural unit by her infidelities, “She is stealing our husbands”. The use of reported speech for this comment in the memoir emphasizes its gravity to the family in their struggle sense of acceptance. Gaita employs the symbolism of a photograph to highlight the disintegration of the family dues to lack of trust, “A photograph of the period shows Mitru...my mother beside us with the demeanour of a young woman with her man and child”. This symbolism is used as the photograph catches the appearance and the truth of the situation. It is this absence of security with his mother that lets Raimond feel disconnected to her. This is highlighted through his detached tone whilst speaking of her “I did not resent him got beating my mother”. This asserts that the natural familial bonds have been broken due to her indiscretions. A window is used as a motif to emphasize this detachment as “the perspective provoked in me a pity that was both intense and disturbingly detached”. Raimond has detached himself from his mother due to his feelings of insecurity. This is juxtaposed with the extremely strong bond between him and Romulus, “strong, bare, sun darkened arms either side of me”. This is a metaphor for the secure and unshakable nature of their familial bond. Raimond’s increasing insecurity towards his mother and growth towards his father mirror the reasoning behind familial acceptance. As Raimond becomes older, he begins to mature and realise his mother’s actions, through his contemplation of past events, present and future he is able to evaluate his emotional state towards his own mother.
In Grass-skirts Revolution, finding acceptance within a family unit also includes finding a place within PNG’s clan-based society. Kidu’s struggles to integrate into communal living are central to her story. Initially, she was labelled a ‘pale interloper’, however over time this changed and the community then supported her campaign efforts. One image shows Kidu centre in sharp focus surrounded by smiling Motu locals in soft focus. This illustrates that despite her differing ethnicity, she has gained acceptance in their culture and community. Thus these texts explore the strength of familial bonds as they are subject to increasing advanced examination.
A strong sense of self identity is seen to be crucial to relate meaningfully with other individuals and therefore with one’s own thoughts. One must first interact with other individuals to gain a sense of identity in order to develop their own self-evaluation. In Romulus My Father, this is predominantly explored through cultural identity. “My father...always considered himself a Romanian”, culture transcends strict parameters as Romulus was not born in Romania. Irony is used to emphasize the crucial nature of cultural identity, as Romulus identifies himself with other marginalised societal groups, “he called himself a gipsy and later in Australia, an Aborigine”. The “lifelong friendship” of Hora and Romulus explores the inclusive nature of shared experiences. Due to the shared migrant experience, Romulus had a similar character code, “Hora...remained as steadfast as my father in his disdain for superficialities”. This deep sharing of cultural values allowed a profound sense of connection to develop and allow their friendship to withstand Romulus’ mental illness. Another example of shared experience nurturing relationships is Romulus’ second wife Milka. Romulus had lost his first wife to suicide and Milka was a “Yugoslav divorcee”. His meant they had similar life experience and shared cultural nationality. Romulus’ “respect for her independence was unusual in husbands of his vintage”. This contrast to his relationship with Christine elucidates the need for a strongly developed sense of identity to bond with others engagingly in order to develop then their own sense of belonging.
Similarly in Grass-skirts Revolution, the dichotomous effect of culture limiting or enriching belonging is explored, particularly in respect to women. The article begins with a direct quote from the Speaker of PNG’s Parliament: “I invite all Honourable Gentlemen to rise in their places”, emphasising how women are excluded from Papua New Guinean institutions of power. This is extended through a cultural allusion to the Parliament’s architecture being in the style of a Sepik spirit house, a place that women are forbidden to enter. The headline “Grass-skirts Revolution” contrasts traditional women’s clothing with the concept of upheaval-a pun on a “grassroots revolution”, suggesting community-driven change is needed to achieve the aspiration of women being elected as parliamentarians. This implies that enfranchising women with political opportunity can coexist with the preservation of PNG culture. An established sense of self identity is thus highlighted as vital to form profound reflection.
Place is explored symbolically throughout the novel to reflect feelings of connection and alienation. As the context is often the place for many of the characters to contemplate, this makes it a crucial re occurring theme in the novel. This paradox is predominantly explored through contrast, as the same landscape embodies and excludes some characters. Romulus’ father had grown up in Europe, and thus felt secure in a European setting “he longed for the generous and soft European foliage”. Indeed, the tension between the Romulus and the Australian landscape is explored as him feeling as a metaphoric “prisoner”. In conjunction, the use of authorial intrusion in “even the wonderful summer spells of the eucalypts attracted them (immigrants like Romulus) only because it promised useful oil”, highlights how even the superlative pleasures of the Australian landscape only appealed to him at a utilitarian level. As Raimond moves towards independence and a polarising opposite perspective to his father, he sees “scraggy shapes and sparse foliage...became the foci for my (his) sense of beauty”. This epitomises Raimond’s positive outlook on the landscape fostering his sense of experience of belonging in Australia. Peppercorns are symbolic of the attempts to bridge feelings of connection to the Australian landscape, “were planted to mediate between local and European landscapes”. This is employed by Gaita as a motif to demonstrate the cultural and generational influences on a sense of connection to place. Thus the stepping grounds for their personal reflection and belonging.
The ever increasing reflective belonging occurring from the themes of Cultural differences, social and individual connections and context, exceedingly contribute to one’s contemplation. The bonds within the familial unit will effect one’s physiological reflection. Similar with the sense of self identity one will alter their maturity towards self-evaluation and reflection. Romulus, My Father explores these themes along with the contextual theme which discusses individual’s different perspectives towards the land and how that affects their belonging. Grass- skirt Revolution also explores these themes with great facets, strengthening the women’s acceptance into the PGN parliament. Both texts explore how reflection is the cornerstone to understanding, seeking and gaining a sense of belonging.
The bonds within the familial unit will effect one’s physiological reflection which is explored as tension is increasingly placed on it in Romulus My Father. The book is highly focused on Raimond Gaita’s Father, Romulus. He is depicted as a male of great philosophy and genius. Romulus’ intrinsic nature of intelligent, understanding and responding make him the miraculous individual he was depicted to be. Christine causes feelings of insecurity in the family unit as she betrays the natural unit by her infidelities, “She is stealing our husbands”. The use of reported speech for this comment in the memoir emphasizes its gravity to the family in their struggle sense of acceptance. Gaita employs the symbolism of a photograph to highlight the disintegration of the family dues to lack of trust, “A photograph of the period shows Mitru...my mother beside us with the demeanour of a young woman with her man and child”. This symbolism is used as the photograph catches the appearance and the truth of the situation. It is this absence of security with his mother that lets Raimond feel disconnected to her. This is highlighted through his detached tone whilst speaking of her “I did not resent him got beating my mother”. This asserts that the natural familial bonds have been broken due to her indiscretions. A window is used as a motif to emphasize this detachment as “the perspective provoked in me a pity that was both intense and disturbingly detached”. Raimond has detached himself from his mother due to his feelings of insecurity. This is juxtaposed with the extremely strong bond between him and Romulus, “strong, bare, sun darkened arms either side of me”. This is a metaphor for the secure and unshakable nature of their familial bond. Raimond’s increasing insecurity towards his mother and growth towards his father mirror the reasoning behind familial acceptance. As Raimond becomes older, he begins to mature and realise his mother’s actions, through his contemplation of past events, present and future he is able to evaluate his emotional state towards his own mother.
In Grass-skirts Revolution, finding acceptance within a family unit also includes finding a place within PNG’s clan-based society. Kidu’s struggles to integrate into communal living are central to her story. Initially, she was labelled a ‘pale interloper’, however over time this changed and the community then supported her campaign efforts. One image shows Kidu centre in sharp focus surrounded by smiling Motu locals in soft focus. This illustrates that despite her differing ethnicity, she has gained acceptance in their culture and community. Thus these texts explore the strength of familial bonds as they are subject to increasing advanced examination.
A strong sense of self identity is seen to be crucial to relate meaningfully with other individuals and therefore with one’s own thoughts. One must first interact with other individuals to gain a sense of identity in order to develop their own self-evaluation. In Romulus My Father, this is predominantly explored through cultural identity. “My father...always considered himself a Romanian”, culture transcends strict parameters as Romulus was not born in Romania. Irony is used to emphasize the crucial nature of cultural identity, as Romulus identifies himself with other marginalised societal groups, “he called himself a gipsy and later in Australia, an Aborigine”. The “lifelong friendship” of Hora and Romulus explores the inclusive nature of shared experiences. Due to the shared migrant experience, Romulus had a similar character code, “Hora...remained as steadfast as my father in his disdain for superficialities”. This deep sharing of cultural values allowed a profound sense of connection to develop and allow their friendship to withstand Romulus’ mental illness. Another example of shared experience nurturing relationships is Romulus’ second wife Milka. Romulus had lost his first wife to suicide and Milka was a “Yugoslav divorcee”. His meant they had similar life experience and shared cultural nationality. Romulus’ “respect for her independence was unusual in husbands of his vintage”. This contrast to his relationship with Christine elucidates the need for a strongly developed sense of identity to bond with others engagingly in order to develop then their own sense of belonging.
Similarly in Grass-skirts Revolution, the dichotomous effect of culture limiting or enriching belonging is explored, particularly in respect to women. The article begins with a direct quote from the Speaker of PNG’s Parliament: “I invite all Honourable Gentlemen to rise in their places”, emphasising how women are excluded from Papua New Guinean institutions of power. This is extended through a cultural allusion to the Parliament’s architecture being in the style of a Sepik spirit house, a place that women are forbidden to enter. The headline “Grass-skirts Revolution” contrasts traditional women’s clothing with the concept of upheaval-a pun on a “grassroots revolution”, suggesting community-driven change is needed to achieve the aspiration of women being elected as parliamentarians. This implies that enfranchising women with political opportunity can coexist with the preservation of PNG culture. An established sense of self identity is thus highlighted as vital to form profound reflection.
Place is explored symbolically throughout the novel to reflect feelings of connection and alienation. As the context is often the place for many of the characters to contemplate, this makes it a crucial re occurring theme in the novel. This paradox is predominantly explored through contrast, as the same landscape embodies and excludes some characters. Romulus’ father had grown up in Europe, and thus felt secure in a European setting “he longed for the generous and soft European foliage”. Indeed, the tension between the Romulus and the Australian landscape is explored as him feeling as a metaphoric “prisoner”. In conjunction, the use of authorial intrusion in “even the wonderful summer spells of the eucalypts attracted them (immigrants like Romulus) only because it promised useful oil”, highlights how even the superlative pleasures of the Australian landscape only appealed to him at a utilitarian level. As Raimond moves towards independence and a polarising opposite perspective to his father, he sees “scraggy shapes and sparse foliage...became the foci for my (his) sense of beauty”. This epitomises Raimond’s positive outlook on the landscape fostering his sense of experience of belonging in Australia. Peppercorns are symbolic of the attempts to bridge feelings of connection to the Australian landscape, “were planted to mediate between local and European landscapes”. This is employed by Gaita as a motif to demonstrate the cultural and generational influences on a sense of connection to place. Thus the stepping grounds for their personal reflection and belonging.
The ever increasing reflective belonging occurring from the themes of Cultural differences, social and individual connections and context, exceedingly contribute to one’s contemplation. The bonds within the familial unit will effect one’s physiological reflection. Similar with the sense of self identity one will alter their maturity towards self-evaluation and reflection. Romulus, My Father explores these themes along with the contextual theme which discusses individual’s different perspectives towards the land and how that affects their belonging. Grass- skirt Revolution also explores these themes with great facets, strengthening the women’s acceptance into the PGN parliament. Both texts explore how reflection is the cornerstone to understanding, seeking and gaining a sense of belonging.