Understanding Helping and Hindering Belonging
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- Category: English
- Date Submitted: 03/10/2011 07:52 PM
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“Understanding nourishes belonging...a lack of understanding prevents it.” Discuss this statement in relation to As You like It and two texts of your own choosing.
The thought of understanding nourishing belonging or a lack thereof preventing it is explored in a variety of situations in various texts by different composers. In As You Like It, William Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy, Jean de Florette by Marcel Pagnol and Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, it is shown how understanding can nourish belonging, while a lack of understanding may prevent it. The three composers use a variety of techniques to highlight the value of belonging and the issues that may help or hinder one in their search for belonging.
Shakespeare’s As You like It shows that a lack of understanding can prevent one from belonging. This is most evident through the characterisation of Duke Frederick and Oliver, whose lack of understanding of the importance of family brand them outsiders in their own homes. Duke Frederick stages a coup and banishes his older brother Duke Senior from the court. He cares little about the harsh treatment of his brother, telling his men to “bring him dead or living”, seeking only the power and glory afforded to Duke Senior through his status as progenitor. He further reveals his disdain for family and his love of, and need for, power by banishing his niece from the court (and banishing his own daughter in the process). Oliver too, as the younger brother of Orlando, feels he has been ill-treated because of his status as a younger brother; he believes the eldest of the De Boys is keeping family money from him that is rightfully his, and he threatens his brother, forcing him to escape to the Forest of Arden, allowing Oliver to keep the family home for himself. Both Duke Frederick and Oliver do not understand the generosity and love shown to them by their elder brothers, and in banishing them from court, have lost the only people with whom they belonged.
As You Like It...
The thought of understanding nourishing belonging or a lack thereof preventing it is explored in a variety of situations in various texts by different composers. In As You Like It, William Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy, Jean de Florette by Marcel Pagnol and Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, it is shown how understanding can nourish belonging, while a lack of understanding may prevent it. The three composers use a variety of techniques to highlight the value of belonging and the issues that may help or hinder one in their search for belonging.
Shakespeare’s As You like It shows that a lack of understanding can prevent one from belonging. This is most evident through the characterisation of Duke Frederick and Oliver, whose lack of understanding of the importance of family brand them outsiders in their own homes. Duke Frederick stages a coup and banishes his older brother Duke Senior from the court. He cares little about the harsh treatment of his brother, telling his men to “bring him dead or living”, seeking only the power and glory afforded to Duke Senior through his status as progenitor. He further reveals his disdain for family and his love of, and need for, power by banishing his niece from the court (and banishing his own daughter in the process). Oliver too, as the younger brother of Orlando, feels he has been ill-treated because of his status as a younger brother; he believes the eldest of the De Boys is keeping family money from him that is rightfully his, and he threatens his brother, forcing him to escape to the Forest of Arden, allowing Oliver to keep the family home for himself. Both Duke Frederick and Oliver do not understand the generosity and love shown to them by their elder brothers, and in banishing them from court, have lost the only people with whom they belonged.
As You Like It...