Belonging Essay (The Simple GIft)

Belonging Essay (The Simple GIft)

An Individuals sense of belonging can be enriched or hindered by their interactions with the world around them and others to an immense level. In fact I propose that it may even depend on this!
In the Simple Gift Billy’s sense of belonging is influenced majorly and if not entirely by his friends and the other people around him that he meets. Through becoming friends with Old Bill he is able to find employment and can find belonging through his job and through his sense of duty to take care of Old Bill. Through the money he earns he can improve his lifestyle and this means he is then able to improve his relationship with Caitlin who in turn finds belonging through Billy and Billy’s way of living. Billy reflexively finds his sense of belonging through Caitlin and through his relationship with her and the benefits she is able to give him such as friendship and quality foods as well as just being able to give a helping hand when he needs it.
Fearless shows a similar approach towards this statement. Huo doesn’t feel he belongs because he interacted negatively with the people around him. Through ignoring the warnings of the people around him and through his arrogance and over-confidence towards his opponents he rushed into a situation and ruined everything he had. Although he became the Champion of Tianjin he lost all of his loved ones and his best friend lost all respect for him. This shattered Huo’s sense of belonging and caused him to exile himself.
This idea is reinforced many times during the Simple Gift. Friendship, kindness, generosity and understanding are the key elements that tie the friendship of Billy, Old Bill and Caitlin together. Caitlin didn’t judge Billy when she 1st got to meet him. And because of her understanding and respect for him and his lifestyle he was open and friendly to her. This friendship gave Billy a sense of belonging and hope. When Old Bill is first seen by Billy, Billy treats Old Bill with generosity and respect and because of this...

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