The Family and a Sense of Belonging in Literature
A family gives us a sense of guidance in terms of building our own families so that we can have a sense of belonging. Role models often pave the way for what a family should be like and as well as how a family should be structured. Belonging to a family often suggests that there will be a level of guidance as well as a sense of acceptance which is crucial in building a family.
By not being able to grow up in a family orientated household, Agnes creates her own by becoming a member of Margret’s, this allows her to finally be accepted into a positive family setting for the first time in her life. Agnes has such a strong want to be a part of a family that she becomes blind to being mistreated by Natan. To emphasise how much Agnes yearns to be in a family she says that she “was so happy to be desired”. By making this statement Agnes magnifies her desire to be a part of a family. Unfortunately, this causes her to neglect the fact that Natan is wrongfully treating her.
Providing a point of contrast, Will does know what it is like to be a component of a family. By Reid showing Sal and Will looking at the new house they built, demonstrates a warm element of family. The house symbolises where their family belongs and is a physical representation of being a part of a family. Both components of family and belonging give us a sense of guidance in terms of building our own families.
The element of belonging to a family in the narratives is the opposite of each other. This is highlighted in ‘The Secret River’ by Will and Sal being a part of a close-knit family that provides a sense of belonging. Whilst in ‘Burial Rites’ Agnes who has no biological family around does not receive the guidance or sense of belonging to a family as a child, which leads to her making poor decisions as an adult.
Throughout both narratives, the themes of family and the element of belonging create an aspect that there is a sense of protection whilst a part of a family. The sense of belonging and being in a family seems to give the impression that these elements will offer a level of safety and protection to the individuals. In contrast, despite being a white settler, Blackwood protects the Aboriginal people even though he is not one of them. Since he becomes a member of an Aboriginal tribe by having an Indigenous wife and child, he allows them to live with him in complete harmony. By Reid showing Blackwood living with the aboriginals on his land, when will and the other men come to get revenge, Reid shows how Blackwood is willing to sacrifice his own life by fighting alongside his indigenousness counterparts. By doing so we see a display of Blackwood protecting the aboriginals since he has a sense of belonging when he is with them. Paralleling to this we see a similar act of protection and respect from Margret who offers Agnes water as she arrives. Although Margret giving water to Agnes is not the equivalent to Blackwater fighting with the Aboriginals, the water she gives Agnes symbolises the protection and support she is offering her. By Kent making Margret give Agnes water focuses on the fact that she is being treated with respect as well as the water is like an offering of safety and protection while she stays with them. In this scene some of the similarities with the scene from ‘The Secret River’ is how Margret’s role for Agnes is very similar to Blackwood’s role with the Aboriginals, they both do their best to take care of them and in a way the family settings they are in creating a level of protection.
To summarize, the theme of family and a sense of belonging offers protection to the characters. The creators of both of the narratives ‘The Secret River’ and ‘Burial Rites’ show that being a part of a family does give an element of protection and safety. But in these families, the members may not be biologically related like Blackwood and Agnes.
