Relationships and experiences shape an individual’s sense of belonging
Belonging means the idea of being part of something where you are accepted without compromise, conditions or limitations. Relationships with people around one’s environment and experiences through one’s life have a strong connection to shape an individual’s sense of belonging. The play Rainbow’s End by Jane Harrison demonstrates that relationships and experiences affect individuals to shape their sense of belonging.
Relationship between families usually has a great influence on shaping individual’s sense of belonging. In the play, Rainbow’s End, it is shown through contrasting Dolly and Errol. “But…a real home? A real home is where there are people looking out for each other” In this part, Dolly pauses for a moment in which punctuation is used to indicate that she is confused and disagree with Errol. While Errol thinks the ‘home’ is where he physically belongs, Dolly thinks the ‘home’ is where her family belongs together. This difference refers to their cultural background. Aboriginals believe that they are all closely related so that they always have to be together. However, Whites are usually individualists who just care about their ‘own’ family thus; they haven’t had to consider the place where they belong. Dolly and Errol’s relationships with their own community has shaped their different perception about ‘home’.
Furthermore, the play conveys that the sense of belonging can be divided by relationships people are involved. When Dolly goes to the Miss Mooroopna-Shepparton Ball, she is the only person who is an Aborigine. “They’re looking at us”, Dolly is an unwelcome guest in the Ball between Whites. Then Nancy, who is also a White, says “Love your dress, Dolly. Love your fabric [with a giggle]…….I thought we took them to the tip.” sarcastically in a derogative tone. As the White is in higher status than the Aborigine, they used to isolate and discriminate them in