An identity is a role played by each individual expressed with new customs and a

different lifestyle based on self-decisions. The central idea about identity is that, it is

constantly changing depending on the situation they are facing. Some individuals are

secure with their personal identity while many are unsure causing them to change, to fit

in to society. The poem ‘At Mornington’ by Gwen Harwood and the short fantasy film

Cirque Du Soleil: Journey of Man by Keith Melton both illustrates the concept of

changing identity. Through the application of reading and understanding the texts, we

are able to learn about time, death and existence from the natural world as basic aspect

of the living world, giving us a particular idea about identity.

Gwen Hardwood’s poem ‘At Mornington’ begins with the persona’s childhood memory,

an age where the persona is unsure of her personal identity. The poem commences with

the poet recalling her first visit to the sea as a child. “They told me that when I was

taken/To the sea‘s edge…” By using the first person persona, Hardwood is implying that

this memory is a memory she herself may not essentially remember but has been told

by her parents. Childhood is a time without fear or responsibility, “…I leapt from my

father’s arms…” This image shows her change into adulthood, leaving her father and

taking responsibility of self. Harwood uses biblical allusion to help the persona make a

framework of an ideal identity, making the persona think she can flout the laws of

nature and “…walk on water…” like Jesus Christ and that “…It was only a matter of

balance…” portraying that the persona is highly spirited and ready for upcoming

challenges. The persona’s childhood memories are described as a “…Iridescent,

fugitive…” Harwood uses these adjectives to express her memories as a significant and

detailed part of her identity and how it slowly escapes her mind. Through the use of

childhood memories Harwood’s persona reveals the main idea about changing identity

to fit in, to certain groups.

In the poem ‘At Mornington’ Harwood embraces nature using images of water, “…the

sea’s edge…streaming with water…I could walk on water…pitcher of water…” Harwood

uses this metaphor of water, to show, life’s flow is unstoppable. Just like water. The final

stanza reminds the reader that there is no returning to the days of her joyous childhood,

a fearless identity that changed over a period of age. This poem reflects the idea that our

identity changes constantly, because we are unsure of who we are but it is these

childhood memories that give us an understanding of ourselves, “…Like light on the face

of the waters / That bear me away for ever.” This central idea is also conveyed in the

short film, through the actors and the setting.

The short fantasy film by Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man directed by Keith Melton

depicts the stages of a young boy to adulthood. The young boy constantly changes his

identity, searching for an ideal identity to adapt to. Cirque du Soleil’s fantasy film is

beautifully presented film with celebrations of colour, light, music and costume

combined with various natural and historical landmarks. The short film opens with an

explosion of light and sound that represents the beginning of the universe; the Taiko

drummers play a continuous rhythmic beat to represent the heartbeat of the first life.

The great journey of life begins with synchronized underwater swimmers symbolizing

the water creatures. The director Keith Melton then takes the audience to a forest on

land a biblical allusion of the Garden of Eden, where the young child meets his

mentors/parents, styled as clowns, the two Flounes. Melton styles the Flounes in

primary colours, to show that childhood is a simple stage of development, a time

without responsibility and fear, a time where identity wasn’t judged. The journey of

self-discovery soon ends as the bird-like acrobats take him from the Flounes to the next

stage, adolescent. In his adolescent stage, the young boy explores the desert seeking

fulfilment, as he watches a man spin a large cube of metal tubing, he realizes that life is

hard, and he will need certain skills to continue his journey. The Flounes follow the

child, in hope to get him back. Melton uses aerial shot to move on to the next stage of

development. The transformation into a young man. This stage is depicted in a beautiful,

well-maintained garden, where two figures dance in a pond. The two figures like statues

perform a balancing act, supporting each other’s weight. Melton uses this circus act to

show and give the young man an understanding of love & trust, transforming him into a

man. This transformation is soon changed with the strong winds and lightening, that

devilish stilt-walker offers the young man wealth in the form of a golden hat in exchange

for his brown humble hat, making him choose the wrong path to happiness, changing

his humble identity to an immoral identity. Through the stages of life, the persona

achieved an understanding of self by constantly changing his identity to find the perfect

match.

The final stage of development, the middle aged man leads with a lonely life when a

young girl comes to return the old humble hat, as he rejects her; the room becomes full

with acrobats. Melton uses these acrobats to reconnect the man with the true meaning

of self & love which he has forgotten in his pursuit of power and wealth. He soon

understands his mistake and takes his humble hat back restoring his happiness and his

true identity. This short fantasy film by Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man reflects the

main idea, that we constantly change our identity to suit our self-decisions, though they

are wrong most of the time, we learn from our mistakes, giving us an understanding of

self.

Gwen Harwood’s poem ‘At Mornington’ and the short fantasy film by Cirque du Soleil:

Journey of Man directed by Keith Melton both depict the stages of human development

from birth to maturity in a kind of visual parable. Through the analysis of both texts, we

understand that each text offers us particular idea about identity. Both composers

develop and demonstrate, through a variety of techniques, that our identity is

constantly changing through the expectation of others and the different lifestyle around

us, so we can fit in.

Ebin Abraham