Rainbows end free essay sample

Belonging brings to our attention the potential that all individuals are affected by not only their choices but the attitudes of others. The Notion of time allows for an individual’s perception to change and in-turn, form different attitudes towards people as we see through the characters in Rainbows End by Jane Harrison and Othello by William Shakespeare. An individual’s choices and the attitude of others plays an important role in shaping the way that characters perceive their sense of belonging, in both negative and positive ways in â€Å"Rainbows End† through the Koori women, Nan Dear and Gladys and in â€Å"Othello† through Iago and Othello. Through the notion of time, the characters in Rainbows End and Othello undergo a transformation in their choices and attitudes to others which leads to conflict and also acceptance in society. Challenges to the basis of belonging occur with the choices and attitudes of others. The choices of an individual and the attitude of others cause an individuals sense of belonging to change and evolve. In the cases of the characters Nan Dear and Gladys in the play Rainbows End, initially their belonging was to the Flats of Mooroopna. Both women realised the importance of being accepted within society, where they differed, is in their desire to be accepted within white society in the same way that they are in Aboriginal society. The beginning of the play emphasises Gladys’ desire to assimilate. This desire is expressed through Jane Harrison’s dream sequences. In Act 1, Scene 1 the dream sequence â€Å"†¦Gladys presenting a bouquet of flowers to the QUEEN. Instead of being formal, the QUEEN pulls her into a hug† expresses her desire for assimilation and belonging into white society. Jane Harrison’s use of juxtaposition between reality and fantasy symbolises the Indigenous people as a working class society and nothing more, because in Gladys’ dream sequence, she is hugging the queen while in reality she is holding weeds. This dream sequence symbolises Gladys’ position as an aboriginal in white society, as Aboriginals had no place in mainstream society. â€Å"The Queen† represents dominant power symbolising that white society are the dominant people. This enhances Gladys’ passion to assimilate as she wants to be part of the dominant race. While Gladys’ search for acceptance lies mainly in a desire for Aboriginal culture to no longer be marginalised, Nan Dear, due to her objection of white society expresses her desire to be as far from white society as possible. In The Queens Visit in Act1, Scene 1 Nan dear reveals â€Å"they forced us to leave Cummeragunja†. The word â€Å"They† is a strong symbol referring to white society, while â€Å"us† is referring to the indigenous community or the Stolen Generations. This underpins her anger towards white society and is further expressed through her desire â€Å"to go back and die there†. This reiterates the idea of Nan Dear wanting to die with her people instead of in the presence of white society. Gladys and Nan dear’s attitude towards white society juxtapose as Gladys feels as though assimilation is the key to her sense of belonging in society while Nan Dear wants to belong in her Indigenous society. The choices and attitudes of the characters change through the interstices and the end of Rainbows End. A sense of maturity begins to evolve amongst the characters during this point in the play expressing the effects of time on an individual’s attitude. Through the interstices of Rainbows End, Nan Dear puts her self-pride and arrogance aside to see what’s important for Dolly and proves she will do anything for family. In Act 2,Scene1 Nan dears says â€Å"†¦If you still want to move to Rumbullara it’d be better for the girl† which conveys Nan Dear’s desire to help her family anywhere possible even if it means moving to housing controlled by white society and â€Å"Rent Collectors†. This statement also reiterates the notion that with time the choices of an individual can change. Rumbullara or the â€Å"concrete humpies† are a symbol of white societies control over the indigenous community. The Rumbullara housing juxtaposes the Flats, as the flats provided the women with a sense of community, while at Rumbullara they are forced to pay rent and live in a â€Å"white† way. A dramatic change in persona occurs in Gladys from dreaming about being into white culture, she now wants to improve the lives of her people and this is seen at the end on the play. In Act 2, Scene 7 â€Å"she marches up to the podium †, through the use of stage direction, Gladys’ attitude change is highlighted. She is now willing to speak on behalf of her people and fight for what is right. The reading of â€Å"the petition† also shows how her choices can change the attitudes of others around her. Again, through the use of stage direction, the attitude of others, especially the Koori Family, are expressed as â€Å"emotional† and â€Å"Joyful†. Nan dear and Gladys’ choices from the beginning and to the end of the play, juxtapose as they have gone through a transformation, which also affects the attitude of others as seen through the final scene â€Å"the petition† The idea of belonging in a society is also explored in William Shakespeare’s, â€Å"Othello†. The play is about a Venetian army general, Othello, who has just arrived home from duty. Othello is dark skinned which affects his ability to belong in a predominantly white society. The attitudes of others when Othello is in the Venetian society changes completely, Othello being constantly referred to as the â€Å"moor†, referring to him as black, by Iago and also Brabantio, shows this change in attitude. The characters associate Othello’s appearance to his identity. Through Othello’s choices, Iago, Othello’s second in charge, is able to use his own knowledge and change the attitudes of others towards Othello to manipulate him into a mad man. A Juxtaposition exists for Othello between the army and Venetian society. In the army, Othello has full control and a structure that he adheres to. Here he is looked up to and admired by his soldiers. While in society his attitudes change because of his insecurities, causing him to be easily manipulated by Iago. In Act 1, Scene 3 Iago’s hatred towards Othello is expressed through the line â€Å"I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad, that twixt my sheets†¦for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety† expresses the start of Iago’s hatred towards â€Å"the moor†, Othello, as he assumes that Othello slept with his wife. And thus, expresses how Iago will soon make Othello’s life a living hell. Iago pushes Othello to breaking point. Throughout the play Iago uses Othello’s wife, Desdemona, as a motif to play with his mind. In Act 4, Scene 1 Iago says to Othello â€Å"Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  giving Othello ideas on how to kill his wife. This will enhance the change in attitudes of Venetian society as a Killer is regarded as outsider. Furthermore Othello position in society has shifted from being a respected army general, to a murderer. The choices and attitudes of others are an important factor in the progression of the characters in their sense of belonging in Rainbows End and also Othello. Through the choices and attitudes of other characters in Rainbows End and Othello, undergo a transformation overtime in their identity and attitudes which leads to conflict but also acceptance in society. Whether characters in both â€Å"Rainbows end† and â€Å"Othello† are successful in finding a sense of belonging or not, the choices and attitudes of others will ultimately affect their perception of belonging. Points to remember for Essay: Quotes: Techniques Rainbows End â€Å"†¦Gladys presenting a bouquet of flowers to the QUEEN. Instead of being formal, the QUEEN pulls her into a hug† (DREAM SEQUENCE; ACT 1, SCENE 1) Juxtaposition between reality/fantasy Holding weeds instead of queen Symbolise position in white society; no place in mainstream society â€Å"they forced us to leave Cummeragunja† â€Å"to go back and die there† (SYMBOL; ACT 1, SCENE1) They = whites, Us = indigenous Reiterates idea of nan dear wanting to die with her people not whites Underpins anger towards white â€Å"†¦If you still want to move to Rumbullara it’d be better for the girl† (SYMBOL; ACT 2, SCENE 1) Puts self-pride/arrogance aside to do best for family Help family even if it means moving to white controlled housing â€Å"concrete humpies† symbol; white control Rumbullara juxtapose flats; flats = community, Rumbullara = control â€Å"she marches up to the podium † (STAGE DIRECTION, ACT 2 SCENE 7) Confidence Willing to fight for her people Reading of â€Å"petition†; inspires others, changes attitudes, especially koori women Othello â€Å"I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad, that twixt my sheets†¦for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety† (Act 1, Scene 3) Hatred towards othello Make his life a â€Å"living hell† Assumes othello slept with his wife â€Å"Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Act 4, Scene 1) Teaching othello to kill desdmona Iago constantly uses Desdemona as a motif to get to Othello Killers in society = outsiders Othello, shifted attitudes of others; respected general to murderer Belonging brings to our attention the potential that all individuals are affected by not only their choices but the attitudes of others. The Notion of time allows for an individual’s perception to change and in-turn, form different attitudes towards people as we see through the characters in Rainbows End by Jane Harrison and Othello by William Shakespeare. An individual’s choices and the attitude of others plays an important role in shaping the way that characters perceive their sense of belonging, in both negative and positive ways in â€Å"Rainbows End† through the Koori women, Nan Dear and Gladys and in â€Å"Othello† through Iago and Othello. Through the notion of time, the characters in Rainbows End and Othello undergo a transformation in their choices and attitudes to others which leads to conflict and also acceptance in society.