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What Is The Theme Of Two Ways To Belong In America

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The short story Two Ways to Belong in America revolves around two Indian immigrant sisters who migrated to America and the author, Mukherjee shares their experiences as immigrants. The author desires to comply with American culture while her sister fervently believes in connecting with her homeland and keeping true to her cultural beliefs and identity. Mukherjee later is able to sympathize with her sister’s sense of betrayal from the government as she lives in Canada. The author delves into living as an immigrant in America and the emotional toll that comes with it. The author first describes their similar upbringing and later shifts the focus to their divergent paths and dreams. The author uses rhetorical devices to reveal that not every …show more content…

Mhurkerjee uses repetition to develop this idea of their divergent perspectives by saying, “I am an American citizen, she is not.” “I am moved that thousands of long-term residents are finally taking the oath of citizenship. She is not” (Mukherjee 272). This use of repetition highlights the tensions between their contrasting beliefs. Murkhjee upholds a sense of pride in being an American citizen as she describes herself as being an “American.” Her sister on the other hand holds less enthusiasm for the idea of citizenship. In addition, Mhurkjee uses the term “scapegoating of aliens” to emphasize the unfair treatment immigrants face on a daily basis. This reveals why one of the sisters is more inclined to continue her Indian heritage because America at the time was less accepting of immigrants. The author also uses juxtaposition in an emotional context to put across their opposing perspectives when it comes to the choices that they have made in their lives and their integration into the country. It’s clear emotions play a big part in their stances, for example, when Mira talks with her she says, "I feel used," Mira raged on the phone the other night. "I feel manipulated and discarded” (Mukherjee 273). This emotional outburst is because of a new immigrant policy put in place. She is frustrated because of her professional contributions to the community and the policy being

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