For this essay I chose the theme “An insight into the lives of kids being raised in an broken home”. I chose this theme to address the fact that more than 28% of kiwi kids in New Zealand today come from low income families and more than 8% of kiwi kids live in both a low income household and in material hardship. I also feel very intrigued in the stories and feel a strong connection to those raised in broken homes. Although most of the sources I have chosen are not only directed at being raised in poverty, they still give an insight into the lives of children inside a broken home. The four texts I have chosen are the song “Headlights” By Eminem ft Nate Ruess; The film “Lambs” directed by Sam Kelly; The novel “Once Were Warriors” by Alan Duff
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Overall “Lambs” is a perfect example of kids being trapped in a broken home with no hope of a better life, and also shows us the struggle it takes to leave it all behind. In the scene where Jimmy is hitching a ride after he was assaulted by his abusive stepfather's friend (Terrance), after Terrance attempted to enter his sister's room, a truck pulls up and asks Jimmy whether he needs a ride. Jimmy then contemplates on whether to leave his younger siblings behind or be with his friend in Auckland to start a new life. As hard as it is to live in a broken home, it's just as hard to …show more content…
It follows the life of unemployed Māori Jake (The Muss) Heke and his family living in lower class Auckland under the treatment of outcasts. Although charming at times, Jake Heke has a extreme temper in which he inflicts on his family and complete strangers at times. His wife Beth Heke is an empowering Māori woman, who is usually victim to his regular beatings after his constant trips to the pub, and his children do as much as possible to avoid his wrath and escape their troubled lives. His eldest son Nig is intent on joining a gang, Boogie (Second eldest) is a constant trouble maker forced into a foster home and his daughter Grace Heke is usually found lost in her notebook writing stories for her two younger siblings Polly Heke and Huata Heke. A direct quote from the book “Our people once were warriors. But unlike you, Jake, they were people with mana, pride; people with spirit. If my spirit can survive living with you for eighteen years, then I can survive anything.” This gave me a true understanding of the book and its overall theme. Showing us in full effect the crisis the Māori people were and still are in today. Facing cultural identity forgetting the fact that once ago Māori were not seen as families in need of the benefit, depicted as violent thieves, with drug and alcohol issues, known to have destructive tendencies, but were great people with
Overall “Lambs” is a perfect example of kids being trapped in a broken home with no hope of a better life, and also shows us the struggle it takes to leave it all behind. In the scene where Jimmy is hitching a ride after he was assaulted by his abusive stepfather's friend (Terrance), after Terrance attempted to enter his sister's room, a truck pulls up and asks Jimmy whether he needs a ride. Jimmy then contemplates on whether to leave his younger siblings behind or be with his friend in Auckland to start a new life. As hard as it is to live in a broken home, it's just as hard to …show more content…
It follows the life of unemployed Māori Jake (The Muss) Heke and his family living in lower class Auckland under the treatment of outcasts. Although charming at times, Jake Heke has a extreme temper in which he inflicts on his family and complete strangers at times. His wife Beth Heke is an empowering Māori woman, who is usually victim to his regular beatings after his constant trips to the pub, and his children do as much as possible to avoid his wrath and escape their troubled lives. His eldest son Nig is intent on joining a gang, Boogie (Second eldest) is a constant trouble maker forced into a foster home and his daughter Grace Heke is usually found lost in her notebook writing stories for her two younger siblings Polly Heke and Huata Heke. A direct quote from the book “Our people once were warriors. But unlike you, Jake, they were people with mana, pride; people with spirit. If my spirit can survive living with you for eighteen years, then I can survive anything.” This gave me a true understanding of the book and its overall theme. Showing us in full effect the crisis the Māori people were and still are in today. Facing cultural identity forgetting the fact that once ago Māori were not seen as families in need of the benefit, depicted as violent thieves, with drug and alcohol issues, known to have destructive tendencies, but were great people with