For many, if not all individuals, belonging is a complex challenge involving identity,

relationships and connections to the greater world. An individuals choice to either

embrace or resist the challenge is heavily influenced by past experiences and the
ramifications of these experiences on an individuals sense of self-worth and ability to
trust. Both genuine relationships and connection to a particular physical environment
can also influence the response of an individual; encouraging them to embrace the
challenge of belonging by providing physical security and acceptance. These
statements are investigated in both Stephen Herrickc contemporary verse novel The
Simple Gift and Isobelle Carmodys post apocalyptic sci-fi novel Obernewtyn.
These texts also reveal that regardless of the response of the individual to the
challenge of belonging, within each person is an inherent desire to be accepted and
understood.
An individuals upbringing has a powerful formative influence on future
experiences and the individuals response to the universal challenge of belonging.
Within the verse novel The Simple Gift, Stephen Herrick continually uses high
modality metaphors such as Rain hits you in the face with the force of a fathers
punch to create a subtext revealing the abusive upbringing of the protagonist, Billy.
The symbolism of the cold, wet weather within this metaphor also expresses the
despair and isolation that has stemmed from the physical abuse Billy has suffered at
the hands of his father. Early in the novel, Herrick further develops the subtext
through flashback, where the imagery of a closing door within the metaphor And
slammed the door on my sporting childhood is used to illustrate the ignorance and
brutality of Billys father. The repetition of the phrase I was ten years old reveals the
continuity of this abuse throughout Billys childhood. The influence of these
experiences on Billys choice to resist the challenge of belonging is revealed through
the metaphor Thats me, on the deserted island of a soft lounge which once again
emphasises Billys isolation. However, Billys inherent desire to belong becomes
apparent through the contrast of the literary illusion to Goldings Lord of the Flies to
his earlier statement of Reading about people who have somewhere to sleep
tonight which reveals his search for affinity through literature.
Within Carmodys post-apocalyptic novel Obernewtyn, the protagonist,
Elspeth, similarly experiences disconnection from her parents and the lack of the
crucial presence of parental figures negatively influences her response to the
challenge of belonging. Carmody uses imagery within flashback, in a way akin to
Herrick, to create a subtext detailing the execution of Elspeths parents by an
oppressive government. The flashback Our faces stinging with red dye uses the red
dye to symbolise the painful wounds caused by the executions through its similarity
to blood, emphasising the negative consequences of the loss of her parents on the
protagonist. Furthermore, Carmody uses the metaphor Somehow we had drifted
apart, until the bonds between us were fragile indeed to illustrate how the early loss
of her parents has had a detrimental impact on the relationship she shares with her
brother, Jes. The lack of a bond between siblings is highlighted through comparison to
physical distance, whilst the connotations of fragile further emphasise the delicacy
of the tenuous relationship remaining. Although Elspeths upbringing had a powerful
influence on her response to future experiences of belonging, metaphorical language
within the quote Put the old life behind me and try to find something in this new life
emphasises that, just like Herricks protagonist, she possesses an inherent desire to
belong.
Physical security and connection to place can encourage an individual to
embrace the challenge of belonging. Within The Simple Gift, the accumulation of
visual imagery within the quote I throw one rock on the roof of each dead-beat no-
hoper shithole lonely downtrodden house emphasises the disconnection Billy feels
towards his hometown and how it causes him to resist the challenge of belonging
through acts of vandalism. In contrast, the later quote It was like a cave, a warm, safe
little cave Billys cave uses repetition of cave to emphasise the sense of
connection and shelter Billy experiences within train carriage. The use of another
character, Caitlyns, perspective also illustrates the way in which Billy has been able
to build relationships knowing that he can retreat to a place of physical security. The
intrinsic way in which physical security is linked to belonging can also be seen in the
symbolism of Old Bills simple gift, where the gift of a house is used to symbolise
many crucial aspects of belonging, including trust, understanding and acceptance.
A lack of connection to the surrounding physical environment and feelings of
insecurity can cause an individual to resist the challenge of belonging. The
disconnection of Obernewtyns protagonist is revealed through the personification
within the quote Constructed of large, rough-hewn blocks of grey stone a grey,
grim place with an oddly secretive look, where Elspeths feelings of insecurity are
seen to have physically manifested in the buildings. The repetition of the colour grey,
also used within the visual imagery of The city was grey and cold. There were no gay
crowds is used throughout the novel to represent and emphasise the continuity and
monotony of this disconnection and insecurity. The negative impact of this upon the
protagonists response to the challenge of belonging is emphasised by the unpleasant
visual imagery in the quote There were trees growing, though they were stunted and
diseased with few leaves. In addition, Carmody also uses the stunted growth of the
trees to represent the restrictions placed on Elspeths response to belonging, in
particular her choice and ability to form relationships, due to erratic relocation within
the orphan system.
Genuine relationships provide an anchor in worth, connection, identity and
purpose, qualities which allow an individual to fully embrace the challenge of
belonging. Throughout The Simple Gift, Herrick skilfully demonstrates the truth of
this statement through the development of his characters. The quote Work. I havent
worked in years. I havent done anything in years contains repetition which
demonstrates the lack of purpose and worth experienced by Old Bill. A lack of
identity and connection is also revealed through Old Bills search for an escape from
reality, which is emphasised by use of anaphora in the quote I sleep for days. I sleep
and I dont dream. However, throughout the novel, the relationship Old Bill shares
with Billy allows him to develop qualities which encourage him to embrace the
challenge of belonging. This is revealed through use of high modality repetition in the
quote I could do that. I could hop the freights I could be sure that Billy was
looking after everything I own for when I get back. The allusion to the Billy further
emphasises the link between the relationship they share and the beneficial
development of Old Bill experiences as a character, as well as his choice to embrace
the challenge of belonging.
The challenge of belonging is universal and can be either resisted or
embraced. The texts The Simple Gift and Obernewtyn reveal the complexity of
this challenge and the many factors, both inner and outer, which can have a vast
influence over an individuals response. By investigating the influence of an
individuals upbringing, the connection shared with physical environments and
formation of genuine relationships through greatly different contexts, Herrick and
Carmody encourage the reader the question their own desire to belong and the
resulting choice to either embrace or resist the universal challenge.