How Does Romulus My Father Relate To Belonging
‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging.’
Clearly, an individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging. However, an individual’s capacity to dictate the result of their interactions within their communities can be limited. Humans are persuasive and resilient creatures who find security by connecting with other human beings. Such a notion is confirmed through the study of both Raimond Gaitia’s 1998 memoir, Romulus, My Father , Rad Bradbury’s 1951 short story The Pedestrian. Although each are anchored by vastly different contextual influences, both explore the importance of interaction, community and family in satiating one’s inherent need to establish connections.
Romulus, My Father explores the displacement of a Romanian family upon their emigration to Australia, suggesting that interaction is essential in enriching one’s experience of belonging. The …show more content…
protagonist, Romulus believes that moving to Australia is an opportunity to belong; “it offered the hope that our family might be reunited.” However, such alienation within a foreign community impaired communication within the family unit. The new environment may well have facilitated the hope that they would become connected as a family within the new culture, thus enriching their shared experience.
Lack of interaction with other human beings can limit their sense of belonging within society. Bradbury’s, The Pedestrian ,explores the physical and social isolation of Leonard Meadwithin the television-oriented world of A.D.2053, “he was alone in this world”. Despite the greater community’s conformance to the limited interaction imposed by television, Mead disengages from the submission encouraged through television, and thus finds himself alienated from the community around him, despite its close proximity “nobody wanted me”. This alienation from his known world is heightened through Mead’s acknowledgment “he could imagine himself upon centre of a plain, a wintry, windless Arizona desert with no house in a thousand miles, and only dry river beds, the streets, for company.” Bradbury’s use of alliteration through “wintry, windless” enhances the discomfort associated with Mead’s physical isolation and encourages visual imagery connotative of abandonment. Thus, The Pedestrian suggests that limitations exist in alignment with society’s expectations (i.e. that Mead conform) and contradictory lifestyles may result in social alienation and limited hope for belonging.
Alternatively, Romulus, My Father suggests that excessive interaction within a community be constraining to self-growth. It is evident throughout that Christina is unable to sustain a connection with her husband or son. Her inability to connect to her family, encouraged Christina’s participation in a variety of destructive relationships and enhanced her alienation from her son and husband. This is best illustrated when Christina visits Raymond at school and he refuses to see her. Thus, it is evident that Christina’s limited experience within functional relationships limits her capacity to interact within this traditional family unit, hindering her capacity to truly belong.
Despite human’s innate desire to belong, some achieve this interaction via unconventional methods. Bradbury’s The Pedestrian, illustrates how one’s life can be enriched by peace without belonging to a dynamic and specific community. Although this text suggests that interaction is essential in establishing self-worth, conformity and identity, Bradbury alternatively proposes that belonging is not a crucial pre-requisite for enrichment in life. In alignment with this, Mead believes that one can have an enriched life by resisting obedience and that conformity can result in a mundane experience; “the tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people sat like the dead, the grey or multi-coloured lights touching their faces. Bradbury’s use of simile enhances the limited enrichment of the “dead” community absorbed by their viewing screen, and through the personification of the light “touching” their faces suggests that this is the only warmth they receive. Alternatively, through individualism and resistance, Mead maintains his connection with his self and imagination through “regressive tendencies”, notwithstanding that he lives in a society that is broken and limits by authorities.
Similarly, Romulus’ individuality has strong impact on the community in which he exists, including his son.
His emphasis on family relationships is unique as he remains loyal regardless of people’s damaging behaviour. This is conveyed through the betrayal of Christina and Mitru. Despite this disloyalty, Romulus persists in interacting with them, suggesting that such interaction is beneficial to his belonging. Further evidence of Romulus’ individuality is depicted by his rigid occupation with standards, such as his need to be totally honest and his high standards of craftsman’s ship. Over the years Romulus ironically stood out to position himself as a respected member of the community. Furthermore, Bradbury explores the notion of belonging achieved without human interaction Romulus’ ability to connect with nature. Romulus’ ability to anchor his identity to a physical place suggests that human interactions are indeed not essential in establishing a sense of
belonging.
Ultimately, both texts offer an understanding of how interactions with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their belonging. The Pedestrian highlights the notion that individual choice to belong may limit the quality of life experiences, suggesting that belonging is not always achieved through societal conformity. Similarly, Romulus, My Father explores the disconnect felt in a foreign society. Both protagonists ultimately find belonging in their own individuality, suggesting that belonging is not borne of interaction, but is instead enhanced by it.
Clearly, an individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging. However, an individual’s capacity to dictate the result of their interactions within their communities can be limited. Humans are persuasive and resilient creatures who find security by connecting with other human beings. Such a notion is confirmed through the study of both Raimond Gaitia’s 1998 memoir, Romulus, My Father , Rad Bradbury’s 1951 short story The Pedestrian. Although each are anchored by vastly different contextual influences, both explore the importance of interaction, community and family in satiating one’s inherent need to establish connections.
Romulus, My Father explores the displacement of a Romanian family upon their emigration to Australia, suggesting that interaction is essential in enriching one’s experience of belonging. The …show more content…
protagonist, Romulus believes that moving to Australia is an opportunity to belong; “it offered the hope that our family might be reunited.” However, such alienation within a foreign community impaired communication within the family unit. The new environment may well have facilitated the hope that they would become connected as a family within the new culture, thus enriching their shared experience.
Lack of interaction with other human beings can limit their sense of belonging within society. Bradbury’s, The Pedestrian ,explores the physical and social isolation of Leonard Meadwithin the television-oriented world of A.D.2053, “he was alone in this world”. Despite the greater community’s conformance to the limited interaction imposed by television, Mead disengages from the submission encouraged through television, and thus finds himself alienated from the community around him, despite its close proximity “nobody wanted me”. This alienation from his known world is heightened through Mead’s acknowledgment “he could imagine himself upon centre of a plain, a wintry, windless Arizona desert with no house in a thousand miles, and only dry river beds, the streets, for company.” Bradbury’s use of alliteration through “wintry, windless” enhances the discomfort associated with Mead’s physical isolation and encourages visual imagery connotative of abandonment. Thus, The Pedestrian suggests that limitations exist in alignment with society’s expectations (i.e. that Mead conform) and contradictory lifestyles may result in social alienation and limited hope for belonging.
Alternatively, Romulus, My Father suggests that excessive interaction within a community be constraining to self-growth. It is evident throughout that Christina is unable to sustain a connection with her husband or son. Her inability to connect to her family, encouraged Christina’s participation in a variety of destructive relationships and enhanced her alienation from her son and husband. This is best illustrated when Christina visits Raymond at school and he refuses to see her. Thus, it is evident that Christina’s limited experience within functional relationships limits her capacity to interact within this traditional family unit, hindering her capacity to truly belong.
Despite human’s innate desire to belong, some achieve this interaction via unconventional methods. Bradbury’s The Pedestrian, illustrates how one’s life can be enriched by peace without belonging to a dynamic and specific community. Although this text suggests that interaction is essential in establishing self-worth, conformity and identity, Bradbury alternatively proposes that belonging is not a crucial pre-requisite for enrichment in life. In alignment with this, Mead believes that one can have an enriched life by resisting obedience and that conformity can result in a mundane experience; “the tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people sat like the dead, the grey or multi-coloured lights touching their faces. Bradbury’s use of simile enhances the limited enrichment of the “dead” community absorbed by their viewing screen, and through the personification of the light “touching” their faces suggests that this is the only warmth they receive. Alternatively, through individualism and resistance, Mead maintains his connection with his self and imagination through “regressive tendencies”, notwithstanding that he lives in a society that is broken and limits by authorities.
Similarly, Romulus’ individuality has strong impact on the community in which he exists, including his son.
His emphasis on family relationships is unique as he remains loyal regardless of people’s damaging behaviour. This is conveyed through the betrayal of Christina and Mitru. Despite this disloyalty, Romulus persists in interacting with them, suggesting that such interaction is beneficial to his belonging. Further evidence of Romulus’ individuality is depicted by his rigid occupation with standards, such as his need to be totally honest and his high standards of craftsman’s ship. Over the years Romulus ironically stood out to position himself as a respected member of the community. Furthermore, Bradbury explores the notion of belonging achieved without human interaction Romulus’ ability to connect with nature. Romulus’ ability to anchor his identity to a physical place suggests that human interactions are indeed not essential in establishing a sense of
belonging.
Ultimately, both texts offer an understanding of how interactions with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their belonging. The Pedestrian highlights the notion that individual choice to belong may limit the quality of life experiences, suggesting that belonging is not always achieved through societal conformity. Similarly, Romulus, My Father explores the disconnect felt in a foreign society. Both protagonists ultimately find belonging in their own individuality, suggesting that belonging is not borne of interaction, but is instead enhanced by it.