Thursday, July 26, 2007
"Resistance is Futile"
Sui Sin's "Leaves from the Mental Portfolio of an Eurasian" and Zitkala-Sa's "The School Days of an Indian Girl" discuss assimilation into a culture close, yet emotionally distant, to one's own. In "Leaves", it should be noted that the protagonist is not solely of Chinese descent. Similarly, the heroine of "School Days" is Native American. Such simple distinctions estrange them from those who share a culture not far removed from their own. The differences lie in the approach, but probably correspond with maturity. The woman of "Leaves" seems to be recollecting from adulthood while the girl of "School Days" relives the horror of her transition. Between woman and girl, experience and inexperience, it is no surprise that one adapts and dismisses more easily than the other. Conclusively, what is horror, what is extreme and unspeakable as committed by imperialism, seems to be defined by age, experience, and relation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I kind of got the impression that the woman in the Eurasian story became more angered about the racial hatred she encountered than the girl in Leaves because she actively stood up against those who criticized the Chinese and the Indian girl, though she was still slightly bitter, she assimilated to the point of winning American contests. I also thought that there was a connectivity between the expereinces of the women so that when you say is horror that is defined by age, experience and relation I thought that for two different people their similarities were vast and I was confused by your comment. Thanks.
Post a Comment