Summary Of Migrant Chronicle By Peter Skrzynecki

The migrant experience is a contradiction itself where the desire to find a safer and better habitation is ultimately disowned with the absence of belonging and feeling at home. Peter Skrzynecki’s anthology titled ‘Immigrant Chronicle’ explores this idea, notably in the poems, ‘Migrant Hostel’ and ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’, in which he gives a further insight into the isolation and exclusion they encounter in their start of a new life. Yet it is through this challenge that migrants attempt to conquer their disconnection and learn to adapt to the mainstream of society in their own way.

The distant association that migrants have with acceptance into a community can spark feelings of seclusion, humiliation and solitude. The poem, Migrant Hostel, explores

The notion that there is a separation between the migrants and the rest of the world is suggested in the line, “A barrier at the main gate sealed off the highway from our doorstep”. The barrier is a symbol of exclusion, alluding to the idea that Skrzynecki, as well as the other migrants that resided in the hostel, were not worthy enough of being a part of Australia. Despite being in such proximity to the country of Australia itself, they are still far from engaging in its culture and affirming as citizens. Thus, stimulating a sense of alienation and rejection. This is further supported by a simile that refers to the barrier, “...as it rose and fell like a finger pointed in reprimand or shame”. The finger is a symbol of disgrace, mocking the migrants as they pass the gate that impedes them from taking another step into a more stable future. In addition, the words, ‘reprimand’ and ‘shame’ have negative connotations that influence the reader to come to the realisation that the migrants were looked down upon as inferior and unworthy of living a more normal life. Thereby, enabling the audience to empathise with them and view the experience from a different perspective. Skrzynecki also highlights the

Peter Skrzynecki pays a tribute to his father and gives the audience an insight into the opposing approaches in which other migrants may have embarked on in order to assimilate into a new society. This aspect of the migrant experience can be seen as a fork in the path towards their future. One of this route is epitomized through Feliks’ attitude towards assimilation, where he “Kept pace only with the Joneses, Of his own mind's making”. The poem’s commencement with this cliche allows the audience to draw connections between arrival in a new nation and the urge to emulate its customs. However, rather than conforming to society’s mainstream, he alternatively sets his own standards and is more inclined to proceed on the trail advancing further from Australia’s set of normality. In doing so, Feliks is able to seek solace and comfort through another means. The simile, “Loved his garden like an only child,” highlights the extent of how much Peter’s father adored his garden as well as its significance in his life. Additionally, it also emphasises the sense of inclusion that his garden emanated. Thus, engendering a sense of feeling more at home. On the other hand, Peter is quite