The Confliction that Arises With Boundaries

The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, presents its readers with the conflict between tradition and contemporary beliefs. Ihimaera’s character Kahu is undeservingly placed into a one-sided relationship between her and her great grandfather. Her grandfather Koro, creates a boundary in the relationship between he and Kahu, and consequently is blind to her special talents and intelligence. “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost, “Slam, Dunk, and Hook” by Yusef Komunyakaa, “The Game” by Judth Ortiz Cofer, and Death of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs all encompass the principle of a boundary. Each passage in their own means, deals with the confliction and trouble that boundaries present.

“Mending Wall” by Robert Frost offers the construction of a fence between two neighbors as a boundary. This boundary creates the issue a lack of communication between the neighbors. Even though it is stated numerous times that “Good fences make good neighbors”, one must understand that this statement creates a boundary in its own sense. The phrase supports the mentality for one to leave their self in solitude and “wall” people off by not expressing their true being. Furthermore, the real, physical fence obstructs any type of intimacy that can be shared with another person.

Although the boundary presented in “Slam, Dunk, and Hook” is not the same type of boundary that is present in The Whale Rider and “Mending Wall”, it is still clear that boundary is present. Yusef uses a basketball team with an undying love for the game. The team is portrayed as unstoppable and are compared to “sea monsters” and referred to as “beautiful and dangerous”. The team however, is the boundary on its own. No one, not even “bad angels” could outdo the skills of the “Beautiful and dangerous”. This team is described as the obstacle that cannot be overcome except by something or someone better than they.

The boundary in “The Game” closely parallels the boundary that Kahu faced with her great grandfather. A young child in a loving family is considered “special” by others for she was deformed from birth. Even her own mother cannot accept her daughter despite her many lovely and innocent childish behaviors. This poem presents its reader with the reality that this poor young girl must live with. However, the child is lost in a play-time world where she and her friend are able to be normal. She does not have to worry about the cruelness that can be shunned upon her.

Jane Jacobs give her readers the idea of physical boundaries that create social barriers between people. She speaks of the isolation felt in both the projects and developed areas of the city. These areas are generally marked off by objects such as bridges, roads, and literally with the old pun “on the other side of the tracks”. The separation of these areas creates a larger feeling of tension and gives no chance of any insight as to the way other people and cultures act and live. Unless these boundaries are broken down there will never be a complete development of an area considered the projects.