There is often a time in Asian Americans’ lives when they experience a cultural disconnect: being too “White” for their Asian relatives, yet too “Asian” for their White peers. These feelings are true for Jay Reguero, the protagonist of Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay. Throughout the novel, Jay, a Filipino-American, struggles with feeling like an outsider in the Philippines because he cannot speak his mother tongue and has spent his entire life in the U.S. During his time in the Philippines, he attempts to connect with his culture but he is constantly reminded of how little he knows and understands about the Philippines. Therefore, this novel is about Jay’s struggle with his cultural identity and his feelings of guilt from not connecting
This parallel timeline demonstrates the connections between past and present disasters as well as the long-lasting effects they have on individuals and communities. The masterful use of literary elements such as vivid imagery, symbolism, and narrative structure demonstrates the devastating effects that trauma has had on the protagonist's identity and the greater Indigenous community. In order to help the reader better understand the terrible repercussions of generational trauma on Saul Indian Horse's identity and the greater Indigenous community, Richard Wagamese skillfully employs the evocative power of images to clearly convey the painful experiences the protagonist, Saul Indian Horse, endures. Saul's terrifying voyage is brought to life for the reader by Wagamese through the expert use of imagery, which also reveals the severe psychological effects of trauma on Saul.
In “Drifters” the family’s constantly changing location results in them unable to set up roots in a community and live a fulfilling lifestyle. The symbolism of the “green tomatoes” shows the mother’s frustration about being unable to set up roots in a permanent location and live a fulfilling and productive life, resulting in a lack of belonging to a community. Similarly, the contrast between her hands which were “bright with berries” when they first arrived, with “the blackberrycanes with their last shrivelled fruit” when they depart highlight how her hopes of a happy and productive life have deteriorated with the prospect of having to leave. In contrast to the mother’s perspective on leaving, the youngest daughter’s is “beaming because she wasn’t” happy there. Through exploring the contrasting perspectives of the mother and the youngest daughter, the Dawe shows how moving communities have different effects on people.
The historical fiction genre offers social commentary on society by giving us insight into people’s perspectives and social experiences in the past. We must listen to and learn from the social commentary given by historical fiction, because we can use it to help us build a better society. This is evident through the book “American Indian Stories,” by Zitkala-Sa and my personal experience. In the historical fiction “American Indian Stories,” Zitkala-Sa provides social commentary by illustrating her perspective of assimilation and observations of other Native Americans through fictional characters.
Richard Wagamese's novel "Indian Horse" delves deep into the profound impact of trauma on the protagonist, Saul Indian Horse. Set against the backdrop of systemic oppression and cultural erasure, Saul's journey is marked by a series of harrowing experiences that shape his identity and sense of self. In this essay, we explore the multifaceted traumas Saul endures and their enduring effects on his psyche. "I knew it was wrong to want to be Indian, to want to stay Indian when everyone else was trying to leave that part of themselves behind. I knew it was wrong because I was weak and looking backward, and I was wrong because I didn't care.
After reading “A message to the 21st century”, “ My daughter and God”, and “Arrival gates” The main theme in all if these essays is, In order to move forward after tragedy, one must look towards self reflection. In A message to the 21st century (AUTHOR) looks at the horrific past of the 20th century then breaks it down to humanity 's misunderstanding of ideals, as many of them contradict each other. My daughter and God tells the story of an intense car accident and how it makes each of the family members to look within them selve to find what they believe is the meaning of life. “Arrival Gates” is about a reporter finding peace in the aftermath of disastrous events that happened in Japan. All of these essays show introspection and how it helps
The unique culture in the novel shows a different role women had in society, a different symbolism for land and how wealth changed a person and his
B: Australians are used to thinking that a journey is physical but they never think that the journey could be a spiritual one. In Jackie French’s 1993 novel, ‘Walking the Boundaries’ Martin, the main character, goes on a physical and spiritual journey where he learns about his family’s past and the importance of looking after the land. A: Thesis Statement: Jackie French uses third person narrative, an obvious plot and descriptive language to intrigue and engage the reader to see the physical and spiritual journey that Martin goes on.
Culture is something that is important to everyone. When a person goes from one place to another, the shock of the different culture can be considerably large on a person’s character and their identity as a whole. In Into the Beautiful North, Urrea illuminates cultural collision and its affect on character’s sense of identity through Nayeli’s naivety and her reaction towards how America truly is throughout her journey. Nayeli’s naivety really stems from her home of Tres Camarones.
one’s identity, supernatural events or healing. Boyden employs a unique circular narrative style to create contrasts and emphasize how each character
The power of stories manifests itself in literature, film, and more generally life. Stories inspire, provide hope, and bring understanding. Leslie Marmon Silko’s novel Ceremony permeates the strength of stories. Ceremony follows the story of Tayo, a half white Native American plagued by the invasion of European culture, as well as his own past of war and loss. However, through the folk stories of his Laguna culture, as well as the advice he has been given to embrace his past, Tayo is able to see the world more clearly.
The novel, “There There” by Tommy Orange follows the stories of a plethora of characters, sharing many unique experiences with the readers. Themes of gender, identity, community, race, and assimilation can be seen throughout these stories, as the characters experience them firsthand. The journeys these characters experience connect these themes to the terms culture, multiracial person, and stereotype through showcasing the impact that these terms have on the characters and their stories. Culture is a term referring to the practices, arts, and achievements of a nation or group of people. Strong traces of culture can be seen throughout the novel, as the characters all have unique experiences with the same culture.
In "Abundance," the protagonist grapples with his biracial heritage and struggles with finding a sense of belonging. As a Filipino-American, he is caught between two cultures, trying to navigate the expectations and stereotypes imposed on him by society. Similarly, in "Where the Dead Sit Talking," Sequoyah, as a Native American in foster care, wrestles with questions of his own cultural identity and the impacts of intergenerational trauma. Both novels shed light on the complexities of identity formation, highlighting the difficulties and internal conflicts experienced by marginalized individuals in a society that often marginalizes and erases their
In the novel, Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, nine distinct stories are told that depict families or people of Indian descent who experience different situations and circumstances that affect their lives. Many themes arise throughout the stories, but one that is prevalent through two specific stories, Mrs.Sen’s and Interpreter of Maladies, is the idea of cultural assimilation. Mrs.Sen’s and Interpreter of Maladies both portray the idea of cultural assimilation, but in different ways. Mrs.Sen’s is an example of a woman who resisted cultural assimilation in order to preserve her Indian heritage, while Interpreter of Maladies is a story that depicts a family who have fallen victim to cultural assimilation, thus losing a sense of connection to their Indian roots and being conformed into American culture. Lahiri uses the recurring motif of physical objects and actions to illustrate the various effects cultural assimilation has on certain people.
With the novel being read from a ‘twelve’ year old whose history motivates his understanding, perception and interpretation of the events he encounters and interprets to the reader,
