Romulus My Father: Character Study
Character Study * Romulus
Romulus achieves a sense of belonging to his community through work. It is clear that Romulus feels the way to belong to a community is through hard work and through proving his ‘worth’ to that community. 1950s rural Australia tolerated immigrants, however rarely accepted them as individuals and respect usually had to be earned. This understanding of belonging develops Romulus a ‘reputation’ in his community; “his work became admired and his business prospered” (ch. 7, pg. 99). Romulus’s assimilation in the Australian culture reveals how work became a crucial factor in overcoming inherent prejudices in the Australian community. These would have previously barriers to Romulus’s sense of belonging. Romulus’s character is defined greatly between the bond he has with his work and the love he has with his tools. “He was so at ease with his materials and always so respectful of their nature that they seemed in friendship with him” (Ch. 7, pg. 97) His work serves a very important function in providing his links to the community around him and in healing him after many tragic experiences.
Romulus’s sense of belonging to family is challenged constantly by Christine’s actions. Romulus has his sense of belonging to family challenged and damaged by Christine’s mental illness. After Raimond was born, she proves herself incapable of fulfilling the motherly role in a conventional way. Therefore Romulus’s notion of a traditional family is challenged, through his role as a motherly figure in a very traditional post war Australia. Christine’s affair with Mitru is a particularly difficult obstacle to the sense of belonging Romulus is trying desperately to maintain. “He blamed her and….he pitied Mitru, believing he was caught in something he could not control, which would cause him considerable pain and perhaps consume him.” (ch. 6, p. 82). The repetition of ‘blamed’ and the accumulation of negative diction in this extract reinforce how difficult
Romulus achieves a sense of belonging to his community through work. It is clear that Romulus feels the way to belong to a community is through hard work and through proving his ‘worth’ to that community. 1950s rural Australia tolerated immigrants, however rarely accepted them as individuals and respect usually had to be earned. This understanding of belonging develops Romulus a ‘reputation’ in his community; “his work became admired and his business prospered” (ch. 7, pg. 99). Romulus’s assimilation in the Australian culture reveals how work became a crucial factor in overcoming inherent prejudices in the Australian community. These would have previously barriers to Romulus’s sense of belonging. Romulus’s character is defined greatly between the bond he has with his work and the love he has with his tools. “He was so at ease with his materials and always so respectful of their nature that they seemed in friendship with him” (Ch. 7, pg. 97) His work serves a very important function in providing his links to the community around him and in healing him after many tragic experiences.
Romulus’s sense of belonging to family is challenged constantly by Christine’s actions. Romulus has his sense of belonging to family challenged and damaged by Christine’s mental illness. After Raimond was born, she proves herself incapable of fulfilling the motherly role in a conventional way. Therefore Romulus’s notion of a traditional family is challenged, through his role as a motherly figure in a very traditional post war Australia. Christine’s affair with Mitru is a particularly difficult obstacle to the sense of belonging Romulus is trying desperately to maintain. “He blamed her and….he pitied Mitru, believing he was caught in something he could not control, which would cause him considerable pain and perhaps consume him.” (ch. 6, p. 82). The repetition of ‘blamed’ and the accumulation of negative diction in this extract reinforce how difficult