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Analysis Of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman

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The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Anne Fadiman introduces the reader to the Hmong culture and to the Lee’s family experience with western medicine. Throughout the book it talks of the past interactions of the Hmong and Americans, showing reasoning why the Hmong already mistrust Americans and western medicine. Following World War II, the Hmong culture was rejected and ridiculed by the Chinese for not assimilating with their culture, causing many to move to the U.S. Upon arrival, they were still ridiculed, harassed, and violated. In the Hmong’s eyes, they deserved respect and welfare for their sacrifices in the war.
The Hmong practice traditional healing and sacrifices and saw America as a place they could continue doing so. Soon, they learned that American doctors did not respect their traditional beliefs in medicine and saw western medicine as the “right way.” Doctors grew angry that their Hmong patients would not agree with their treatments. The Lee’s are one of many who experienced this first hand. …show more content…

Her parents saw this as qaug dab peg, “the spirit catches you and you fall down,” that Lia’s soul was scared out of her. In their eyes the seizures were sacred as she could be chosen as a ‘tvix neebs’ or ‘shaman.’ Although still worried, they took Lia to Merced Community Medical Center. Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy. The Lee’s wanted to do half western medicine as well as half traditional healing to try to get Lia’s soul to return, but they were unhappy with the side effects from the prescribed medications. Therefore, they would not give Lia her full complicated order of

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