Sunday, September 15, 2019
Being an Outsider is Detrimental Essay
An outsider is a person who does not belong to a particular group, who is not accepted and is consequently isolated. However, to not belong can be detrimental as we all have an intrinsic need to belong. To belong implies an understanding of the needs of the individual and the group and negotiating a way towards acceptance of those needs. On the other hand, exclusion occurs when the individual and the group fails to understand one another, which can be detrimental. These ideas are demonstrated in Alex Buzoââ¬â¢s play ââ¬Å"Norm and Ahmedâ⬠and in the poem ââ¬Å"Kimberleyâ⬠by Jackie Kay. Often we search for a sense of belonging to place and when we do not find it, we are not fulfilled. In the play, ââ¬Å"Norm and Ahmedâ⬠Ahmed, an Indian, has little connection to Australian culture and therefore sees himself as an outsider. This is immediately evident in the way he dresses in his traditional Nehru style suit which is juxtaposed to Norm, an Australian, who wears typical male western style of clothing of ââ¬Å"open-necked white shirt and grey trousers.â⬠To remind Ahmed that he is an outsider, Norm repeats the phrase ââ¬Å"a visitor to this countryâ⬠, and he also assumes that all South Asian people are Indians, stereotyping India as an uncivilised country filled with dangerous ââ¬Å"Bombay stranglersâ⬠. This metaphor shows that Norm makes sure that Ahmed is regarded as an outsider by talking in a superior tone and debasing India through juxtaposition and contrast of Sydney and Bombay as ââ¬Å"this isnââ¬â¢t India mate, youââ¬â¢re in Sydneyâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦youââ¬â¢re quite safeâ⬠. Furthermore, Norm is constantly reinforcing Ahmedââ¬â¢s ethnicity and feelings of being an outsider through derogatory terms such as ââ¬Å"boongâ⬠and ââ¬Å"chowâ⬠because he himself feels confident in being an insider of the Australian culture. Normââ¬â¢s body language described in strong present participles as ââ¬Å"prowlingâ⬠ââ¬Å"circlingâ⬠and ââ¬Å"grabbingâ⬠and stage directions reinforce Normââ¬â¢s confidence and intimidation telling Ahmed that he is an outsider. Norm believes that Ahmed is not entitled to make judgements about Australia stating ââ¬Å"I wouldnââ¬â¢t throw my weight around in someone elseââ¬â¢s country.â⬠This shows that a person of a different ethnic background will be made to feel an outsider and alienated if those of the main culture do not make an effort to include them.
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