Tony Loneman would be an interesting character to examine for this prompt. Because he suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, Tony has always struggled with fitting into any society. Even his last name is symbolic of his societal isolation. His facial differences make him an easy object of discrimination, and he even sees himself as a monster.
When Octavio invites Tony to participate in their plans to rob the Big Oakland Powwow, Tony finally finds some form of acceptance. This group relies on him for the success of their plans, and Tony is trusted to purchase the needed bullets and to stash them where the powwow will be held. Tony's involvement isn't based in a sinister desire for evil or to inflict harm on others; instead, he complacently goes along with the orchestrated plans because within this little group, he feels valued.
When he arrives a the powwow on the day...
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of the planned robbery, Tony suddenly finds a new sense of belonging which is based in his cultural identity. As he takes a train to the coliseum, he is dressed in full regalia. Tony realizes that people are staring at him, but not because of his facial deformities, which he has become so accustomed to. Instead, they are staring at him because of his cultural identity, and this idea resonates within Tony. For perhaps the first time, Tony feels in control of the way people perceive him, and his ride on the train demonstrates a new strength that is based in a sense of belonging to his culture.
This new sense of identity transforms Tony, and he refuses to participate in the robbery at the powwow. In the chaos that follows, he fires at Carlos and Charles and then dies himself from gunshot wounds.
Ultimately, Tony loses his life and the false sense of belonging that Octavio and his group provide. Octavio doesn't really value Tony, and Tony doesn't truly belong to their group. Instead, the group uses Tony, exploiting his need for belonging in order to further their own purposes.
Tony's need to belong isn't fulfilled by his family; his physical differences are a direct result of his own mother's failure to prioritize his needs during her pregnancy. He doesn't find belonging in his peer group, either, as he finally comes to terms with their manipulative control over him. Yet in his final moments, Tony does find a sense of belonging within his culture, and he sacrifices himself for a purpose larger than his own need for acceptance.
The need to belong is demonstrated in many characters in this novel. Be sure to check out the character analysis section of the eNotes study guide for more help with this topic.