week 10 entry
Questions from “the hairy ape.”
Write about your own concept of belonging. To what extent and in what ways does your own identity seem to be shaped by groups, organisations, race … to which you belong?
In scene one, yank and paddy talk about “belonging”. to whom or to what does each see himself as belonging? What reasons can you think of for their obsessive concern with belonging.
To belong is to be a part of a certain group or community, or connect to a certain group or community. It is an intangible concept allowing people to establish confidence and enhances recognition of self worth. The sensation of belonging can be felt and expressed and is shaped by context encompassing social, cultural and economic organisations to which one belongs. To belong is to share a common interest, characteristic, idea or experience with another. Furthermore it is a connection shared between individuals and within groups. The concept of belonging also incorporates the thought that to belong is not always by personal decision. It may also emerge from the perceptions that society holds and places on certain groups or individuals.
Ultimately. Belonging can be considered in terms of ones identity. Groups and organisations, along with context influence a persons identity including my own. I believe the most influential organisation I belong to is my family unit. It has shaped me in primary, secondary and tertiary socialisation. It incorporates my race, religious and ethnic culture and has allowed me to express them in my own way. I belong to these groups not by choice- however within them I experience feelings of security, acceptance, self worth and appreciation. I feel these because I am not alone in my thoughts or my actions and my expressions are understood by others that also belong to the group.
Yank see’s himself as belonging to a group that runs the ship. His belief is that he has no choice but to belong to this certain group and he understands that this is where he must be. He fits in here and regards himself as ‘needed’ and ‘appreciated’ by the boat itself, regardless of the high class passengers opinions. Working on the boat with other workmen he knows he is not inferior and doesn’t have a problem with his work until the confrontation with Mildred. Paddy’s character is contrasted with Yank’s character as Paddy believes he belongs to something superior. He says “Twas them days men belonged to ships”, and goes on to tell Yank “I’ll be sittin here at me ease… thinking and dreaming dreams. Yank longs for the day when he belongs and doesn’t feel as if he belongs in the certain atmosphere he finds himself in. Yank’s use of rhetorical questions shows the audience that he belongs to this certain group and there is no choice but to conform to it. “tinkin and dreamin, what’ll that get yuh? Whats tinkin got to do wit it?”. Paddy and Yanks obsessive concern with belonging may be linked to their social status , family, and experiences
http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/oneill/gallery/images/g_04.jpg