An individuals interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their

experience of belonging
We are driven by five genetic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom and fun-
William Glaser. This theory is often pondered in regards to to belonging. In essence, humanity
contains a social imperative to belong to a person, place or community. If they do not
obtain such a connection, the effect is detrimental. This essay will examine selected poems
of Emily Dickinson: I died for beauty but was scarce, I had been hungry all these years and
I gave myself to him. In conjunction with this, Robert Redfords 1992 film, A River Runs
through It will be referred to. Such techniques which give the notion of belonging such
impact include metaphor, simile, personification and filmic devices.
Dickinsons I died for beauty but was scarce epitomises the view that as humans we all
belong to the circle of life. The poem features two personas: one having died for beauty
and the other for truth. They are instantly affiliated with each other as they both died of
noble causes and due to the close proximity of their adjoining rooms. They form a sense of
kinship and converse until the moss covered up and lips and names. The moss is symbolic
of natures power in a metaphorical sense, to silence our voices, and thus our sense of identity
and belonging. The poem has a negative connotation associated of the world; one of
harshness which ultimately limits the experience of belonging.
In regards to, I had been hungry all these years, the detriment of detachment and isolation
is evident. The persona of the poem longs for something that it has seen others posses. The
personas hunger is a metaphor for belonging. However, upon dining at the table
experiencing belonging first hand, the person feels odd, ill and hurt. To epitomise the
feeling of disorientation caused by not belong, the composer employs the simile as berry
from a mountain bush, transplanted on the road. This once again reinforces the lack of
belonging and perhaps that Dickinson had the epiphany or realised that she was not to
belong to people but to nature. This is evidenced in her, sharing a crumb with the birds.
The birds are representative of nature and therefore the wider world. It is here where
Dickinson affiliates herself as belonging to nature itself which enriches her experience with
belonging.
On the other hand, Redford depicts an intimate sense of belonging to both people and
nature. The opening scenes employ a slow camera zoom in on the family photograph. The
picture is in black and white, which orients the viewer to the context of the 1920s which is
reinforced by the costuming of the family. As the camera continues to zoom, the audience
understands that metaphorically, they will zoom in on the familys life. The picture is one of
happiness, with the family warmly embracing each other, with smiles on their faces which are
typical of a united family. In conjunction with this, the family share a close affinity to the
Blackfoot River which is the family river. It is where most of their afternoons are spent, to fly
fish. Therefore the film endeavours to depict an immense passion not only for the family and
in turn people, but also of nature in the form of the Blackfoot river which enriches the families
understanding of belonging.
Whilst the initial scenes of Redfords film depict family relationships as paramount, Dickinsons
poem, I gave myself to him is in stark contrast. The persona uses legal jargon throughout the
poem such as owe, debt and ratified when discussing marriage to another. It is
imperative to appreciate Dickinsons context, whereby marriage generally signified the loss
of identity of a women and particularly her freedom an essential component of belonging
in Glassers view. The persona furthers her disaffection for marriage by deeming it a
transaction. The euphemism for sex each night to owe furthers her contempt for the idea
of marriage. The is a plethora of reasons why the persona dislikes the idea of a seemingly
inclusive concept of marriage, however the underlying current remains the same: she is
limited by her experiences to belong. Furthermore, the persona refers to him instead of us
which infers she negates any inclusive language, something with infers belonging. The
persona is afraid to contemplate the risk of marriage and therefore to belong.
Redfords film exemplifies how loving another can have detrimental effects. In stark contrast
to the opening scenes of the film, the end finishes with a zoom out of old hands attempting
to hook a line on to a fishing rod. The aged hands are symbolic of wisdom and experience.
From the scenes prior, the viewer is alerted to Normans younger brother Pauls, tragic murder.
The line Norman is attempting to hook is symbolic of the family which is paradoxical when
compared to the life of Paul. He led a life in which he faced immense tribulations. He turned
to alcohol and gambling to deal with the issues he confronted. His rebelliousness was
foreshadowed in the beginning of the film, when he defied his Presbyterian fathers
demands. The voice over of Norman confirms his sadness I am haunted by waters as it
reminds him of his younger brother, as he was the best in the family of fly fishing. In a sense,
Redford explains how nature is immortal, especially in contrast to humanity: something
Dickinson validates in a myriad of her poems.
Both composers highlight the significance of experiences on ones viewpoint in regards to
belonging. We all contain a drive for belonging evidenced in Glassers quote. We also face
a social imperative to affiliate ourselves and seek acceptance with another or with nature. In
Dickinsons case, she chooses to alienate herself from people, and seek an affinity with
nature as she is in awe of it. Similarly, Redfords poem exemplifies natures importance