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Brief Summary Of The Poem 'Migrant Hostel'

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To be Australian is to accept all cultures – Australian authors dive into the issue that’s dividing us down. The years go by, and the opinions do not change. Migrants entering Australia from every corner of the world – looking for a new beginning – only for that beginning to end straight away. The stigma surrounding migrants has become a significant topic in Australia’s way of diversity and 012701 examines the bias Australians hold about their values, and what truly needs to be said about the segregation that occurs down under. For years, generations upon generations of Australians have been proudly and loudly singing “For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share”. If we have so much to share, why do we turn our backs …show more content…

The word "Hostel" evokes images of temporary living arrangements, typically used by travellers, migrants, or individuals in transit. It is a term commonly associated with impermanence, suggesting that the people within this setting might be in a state of limbo or flux, lacking a stable and rooted sense of home. By choosing "Migrant Hostel" as the title, the poet sets the thematic tone for the poem, indicating that the experiences of migrants will be explored within the basis of temporary accommodations, emphasising the challenges and emotional changes associated with such a lifestyle. During the Vietnam War that went from 1955-1975, Migrants who arrived in Australia were faced with many hardships, including racism and the lack of employment as they were deemed inferior due to their cultural differences against those who were Australian citizens. The assertion that "nationalities sought each other out instinctively" underscores a profound human instinct to seek connection with those who share a similar national identity. The use of the term "instinctively" is pivotal, emphasizing a deeply ingrained response tied to our survival mechanisms. This instinct becomes apparent when individuals from specific nationalities find themselves isolated and under threat, prompting a natural inclination to seek solidarity. The emphasis on instinct highlights the automatic and essential nature of these actions when individuals feel their survival, both physically and culturally, is at stake. This collective response suggests a reaction to an environment where the broader national community may not be accepting, thereby creating a compelling imperative to find a sense of belonging within their own nationality. Australian migrants face a pervasive lack of control, experiencing

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Furthermore, “Recognised by accents Partitioned off at night By memories of hunger and hate.” Adequately depicts, via diction, how migrants have commonalities in cultural background or prior experiences, allowing them to connect with one another and establish a suitable, personal feeling of belonging. Moreover relationships, experiences are as well highlighted throughout the poem, specifically through the shared experiences which all the immigrants transmit. “We lived like birds of passage” as well as “A barrier at the

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Even though they faced uncertainty about their belonging to this new environment “Stranger in a strange land. This is not my place. These are not my people.” Settling into their new found home proved to be a difficult challenge as they arrived without preparation “they will ask about us about why we came here to Australia and why we have no papers.” This proves to stall their progression to officially live in Australia.

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The repetition of the quote, "comings and goings" emphasizes the constant movement and transience of the migrants in the hostel, as migrants would be coming into shore constantly, then use of the metaphor in the quote, "nationalities sought each other out instinctively," demonstrates the loneliness that immigrants experience in their new surroundings. The use of the imagery of "birds of passage" emphasizes the temporary nature of the migrant's experience. The repetition of the phrase "for years," emphasizes the length of time that the migrants spend in the hostel, highlighting the sense of confinement and restriction that they experience. The use of these literary techniques effectively conveys the emotional impact of the migrant

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