Belonging In Peter Skrzynecki's Immigrant Chronicle

The need to belong is an innate and fundamental process of human existence which can be enriched or limited through an individual’s interactions with others. An individual’s identity is formed by the way they perceive their connections with others and the world around them. Their sense of belonging is also determined not only by their own choice but also by the attitudes of others. Belonging involves a sense of well-being and connection with one’s situation and environment. A sense of belonging can result in contentment and happiness just as not belonging leads to detachment and disengagement. A selection of Peter Skrzynecki’s poems from “Immigrant Chronicle” both confirm the contention that one’s interaction with others and the world around …show more content…
Initiating with ‘My gentle father’ instantly shows the love and affiliation the persona has towards the father, also showing the admiration and the way he looks up to him. The use of emotive language manifests a tribute. This is further amplified through the line ‘Kept pace only with the Joneses of his own mind’s making’ illustrating the sense of content Felicks has, the fact that he is happy with whatever he has, he is able to belong and connect with very little. However, the same can’t be said about the persona and he uses phrases like ‘Happy as I have never been’ indicating that the persona is striving to find his identity as he questions the motives for his father’s contentment. Feliks and the persona lack of cultural similarity which ensures that they do not belong to each other as a result of the lack of shared experience as Feliks belongs to his Polish heritage and culture which the persona rejects thus they cannot interact culturally. In this poem Felicks is showing that interacting with the Polish people around him made him establish a sense of belonging. This poem overall agrees with the statement that an individual’s interaction with others can enrich their sense of belonging and make them feel more connected and is …show more content…
The character 's connection towards the patriarchal society is somewhat unimpressed, 'John is a physician and perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster! ' The use of irony and a sarcastic tone suggests a sense of alienation to society and the earthly routine. The persona here doesn’t feel connected or attached to her husband or relatives and she felt like she could not be true to herself in their presence. She always had to hide her feelings and thoughts to avoid being further constrained by them. The persona’s first impression of the wallpaper was 'committing every artistic sin '. Her rebellious attitude to the wallpaper implies the symbolic nature which becomes an allegory for patriarchal society and her lack of connection to it. This is further reinforced when she projects an image of herself attempting to escape the wallpaper (symbolising society) 'they get through, and then the pattern strangles them off '. The personification of the wallpaper represents a constricting patriarchal society preventing her from belonging to something else, and as such the wallpaper reflects her