Comparing Two Poems

We are all torn between wanting to stand apart and wanting to fit in. How is this conflict explored in 2 poems and one text? (800 words)

An Amerian psychiatrist, William Glasser, once said: “We are driven by five genetic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom and fun.” As humans, the impulse to search for acceptance is present in our nature; however we are also driven by our desire to be unique. It is this conflict between wanting to stand apart and wanting to fit in that shapes our identities, and distinguishes us as a distinct species in the world. These ideas of acceptance and alienation are explored in the poems Feliks Skrzynecki and Postcard, and Randa Abedel-Fattah’s feature article Prejudice is alive and well in the legal
The idea of conflict is introduced immediately by the postcard that “haunts me.” The use of such a strong verb accentuates his response to this postcard as it differs from the typical feelings of excitement and happiness associated with a postcard. Skrzynecki’s bland, generic description of “Red buses on a bridge…High-rise flats and something…” mirrors his unemotional response to the picture- a stark contrast to his parents who would be proud or speak of their beloved homeland. As in Feliks Skrzynecki, the poet once again emphasises his parents and himself as products of different cultures. The poem is a reflection of the confusion in his mind: he appears indifferent yet he cannot deny the connection he seems to share with the city. The poet personifies the city to demonstrate its importance to its people. Although it has been destroyed and massacred, it remains unchanged and lives on in the memories of the Polish migrants, having “survived in the minds of a dying generation half a world away.” This concept is also portrayed with Feliks and his friends in Feliks Skrzynecki. Peter Skrzynecki does not have these associations with the city and hence chooses to reject it, as seen when he directly addresses it “For the moment, I repeat, I never knew you, let me be.” The use of
Her title Prejudice is alive and well in the legal profession is sarcastically informative, but also slightly annoyed in order to clearly display her stand in this case. The words ‘alive and well’ connote that not only does prejudice exist, it is flourishing and perhaps even increasing. Like Skrzynecki, the theme of cultural belonging is central to Abdel-Fattah’s argument. Muslim women who wear the hijab as a symbol of their cultural identity are marginalised in Western society- they want to fit in but also hope to be identified by their culture. “Intelligent, dynamic, capable lawyer one minute. Oppressed, passive dimwit the next.” Cynicism is used to convey the author’s disapproval and comments on the superficial nature of society in stereotyping. By opening with an anecdote concerning her friend, the author effectively structures her article to move from the specific to the general and simultaneously adds authenticity to support her opinion. As the article progresses, the tone becomes more sombre and reveals the severity of this issue. The author achieves this by using more sophisticated language. Randa Abdel-Fattah discusses how society can play a part in a person’s fight to balance conformity and