Skrzynecki essay

In this poem, Skrzynecki demonstrates how Feliks’ bond with his home country of Poland and his desire to continue to belong there, play a defining role in shaping his own individual identity in his new country, Australia.

In Peter Skrzynecki’s poem “Feliks Skrzynecki”, the protagonist chooses not to belong to his new environment. Instead he strengthens his bond with his home country which in turn heightens his sense of personal identity.

The poem explores the relationship between the poet and his father and their contrasting experiences of belonging in a new land Point: the poem opens with a positive description of Peter Skrzynecki’s father and his detachment from the consumer competitiveness of his neighbours.

Also, Skrzynecki ironically demonstrates how the garden is the father’s “only child” when in fact he was Feliks’ only child. There are emotions of irritation as the garden has been personified as his child while Feliks’ real son has been deprived of paternal influence.