Romulus, My Father – Quotes Bank

Chapter 1
“At the time my parents met, my father was involved in a minor way in the black market” Thoughts of cultural influence, Anecdote
This supports reasons for Christina’s parents’ thoughts of Romulus. Furthermore, this separates Romulus from those of the ‘middle classes’, showing his connection to the lower classes and a sense of unfamiliarity with her parents.

“she showed signs of an illness that was to become increasingly severe in the coming decade. She seemed incapable of taking care of me” Judgement of parental roles and family, Criticism
This highlights the greater importance of Romulus on Raimond’s life as well as the weaker role of his mother. Belonging is shown as it portrays and foreshadows the despise that his mother will receive from others, creating a sense of not belonging in both the family and as a parent.

“He cried bitterly, not because of lost employment prospects, but because his love of learning would never be fulfilled.” His greater knowledge and ability and willingness to learn separate him from others, Pathos ‘cried bitterly’ creates a sense of sorrow towards Romulus. ‘His love of learning would never be fulfilled.’ Suggest that Romulus was isolated, being unable to fulfil his love of learning with the capabilities of his education.

Chapter 2
“We could not go with him to Cairn Curran because the camp to which he was sent was for immigrant men only. There was an adjacent family camp, but only Australians could live in it.” This created a sense of separation within the family, highlighting the restriction placed upon foreigners at the time, limiting communication within the family.

“Though the landscape was one of rare beauty, to a European or English eye it sees desolate, and even after more than forty years my father could not become reconciled to it.” Lack of cultural connection

This shows Romulus’ constant isolation which he felt whilst in Australia. His failure to reconcile with the land shows his disconnection from the culture.

“As soon as my father arrived at the camp in May 1950, he asked the man who greeted new arrivals whether there were any other Romanians.” Cultural connection
This shows that Romulus seeked friendship on a cultural connection, one that he would soo find in Hora and Mitru.

“They were well educated, having completed high school in Romania, but they had been denied university study because they refused to join the Communist Party groups” Moral displacement
Mitru and Hora’s distate for the Romanian Communist government caused them to flee the country.

“New Australians (as immigrants were called)”