Journey in Rainbow’s End by Jane Harrison and Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah

It is the journey toward a sense of belonging that allows a person to understand what the concept means.

How have the composers of your set text and one text of your own choosing explored the journey toward an understanding of a sense of belonging?

Journeys assist a person’s understanding in their sense of belonging. The person’s journey is illustrated with techniques. This is explored in Rainbow’s End and Falling Leaves. The play Rainbow’s End by Harrison explores how a person discovers their sense of belonging through their newfound love on their families. Also, the novel Falling Leaves demonstrates this thesis through deprivation of one’s culture.

The discovery of family love allows a person to understand their sense of belonging. This journey is explored through the characterisation of Dolly. Initially, Dolly was uncertain in her identity and sense of belonging. However, her journey and understanding to this concept deepens after discovering the price of belonging to white society which is abandoning her family. Her horrors are illustrated with short sentences, “A better life?...Spaghetti?” The short sentences succinctly unveil her apprehension of leaving her family, initiating her journey towards this concept. She then discovers her refusal of leaving her family even though the white society provides “better” opportunities. Her discovery to this concept deepens with repetition, “Don’t matter if the floors are dirt. Don’t matter one bit—“. The repetition of the word ‘Don’t’ accentuates Dolly’s realisation of a real home. Through repetition, she discovers the concept of family love. Family love plays a vital part on Dolly’s journey as she discovers the source of her security despite the unsanitary conditions of her home by th...

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...egular practice is essential as she needs her culture to ‘drop her defences and be herself’. Her culture acts as a metaphorical shield towards England’s discrimination to different cultures, particularly Chinese. The use of first person accentuates this need. Adeline’s deprivation to her own culture explores her sense of belonging as she discovers her refusal in being disconnected. Her own culture became her sense of security as it reminds her of home.

A person’s journey toward a sense of belonging allows them to understand this concept. The assimilation did not become an obstacle to Dolly in undertaking her journey. She discovers her sense of belonging through her love for her family. Likewise, the theme of connecting with traditions despite the distance to the birth country was necessary for Adeline Yen Mah as this allows her to feel secure in a foreign country.