Belonging is an intrinsic human need, existing on both a physical and psychological level. It is about the feeling of connection with people, objects or places, and therefore many consider that achieving a sense of belonging allows one to live a more positive and optimistic life. As such, belonging is a value that society places paramount importance on. However, despite the constructive influences formed by belonging, it inevitably coexists with its destructive counterpart, alienation, quite simply because where one belongs, one is elsewhere alienated. Raimond Gaita's 1998 biographical memoir, Romulus, My Father, and Hayao Miyazaki's 2001 animated film, Spirited Away, both explore the concepts of belonging and alienation in depth, employing various literary techniques and cinematographic to express these ideas. They both emphasize that by experiencing belonging, one can exist peacefully in a community enjoying an essence of self-security. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayA sense of belonging is essential to an individual's successful functioning in a given society and is catalyzed by interactions with and acceptance by others. A simple sense of acceptance gives a feeling that one's existence is recognized and that one's life has a purpose. In Romulus, My Father, Romulus' selfless treatment of Raimond "he denied himself so that I would have more, he fainted on more than one occasion", establishes a strong paternal relationship between the two, their allowing one to continue living despite the difficulties endured such as "times were hard, with serious shortages of everything". We see that even though Gaita is ignored by her mother Christine, her strong bond with her father allows her to continue living unhindered and with little psychological impact. The juxtaposition of "my father's devoted care" and "his neglect" contrasts Christine's treatment of Gaita with that of Romulus and highlights how this strengthened their bond. Thus, it accentuates how he matured with an optimistic psyche due to Romulus's positive treatment during his youth. Similarly, the scene in Spirited Away where Rin helps Chihiro find work in the spirit world's bathhouse highlights Rin's acceptance of Chihiro despite Chihiro being a human. This is expressed through the concerned tone of his question “Are you feeling well?” shown in the wide angle shot gently capturing her petting Chihiro. A sense of belonging culminates with such recognition, and Chihiro is thus able to live well in this completely different society despite her rejection by everyone else. This hostility is captured by the staging of Chihiro standing in front of a group of workers looking at her with disgust, reinforced by one worker's hyperbole "she's going to stink up the whole place". Chihiro's ability to endure the difficulties of her isolation is evident in her confident tone when she repeatedly asks Yubaba for work: "Please, can't you give me a job?" Her sense of belonging to Rin despite her exclusion by others is similar to Gaita's bond with Romulus, regardless of Christine's neglect. Both texts effectively reinforce the importance of interactions with others in acquiring a sense of belonging. One of the fundamental aspects of belonging is the essence of self-security that it offers, and it is through this that one is protected from the psychological distress caused..