The Statue Of Liberty At Ellis Island - 991 Words

America is a melting pot of culture. The statue of liberty at Ellis Island has welcomed hundreds of thousands of immigrants into this country since the early 1900s. Although the immigrant families knew it was important to learn the American language and American culture, they also wanted to keep alive their rich heritage and pass it onto their children. This was often a struggle as their children attended American schools and picked up on the American culture ways quicker than their elder parents. Often these children, especially the teenagers, would struggle with embarrassment over the ways their family was different from other American families. One author who wrote about this struggle was Amy Tan. What readers appreciate about Amy†¦show more content†¦This was what inspired her to write stories about the relationships between Chinese women and their Chinese-American daughters. In the narrative â€Å"Fish Cheeks†, Amy Tan shares a story of young love which reveals the conflict of shame and pride that she felt about her Chinese heritage. The narrative begins by telling how a young Chinese girl has a crush on the minister’s son, Robert who is American. When the daughter finds out her parents have invited the minister and his family over to eat, she starts to panic. All she could think was, â€Å"What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas? What would he think of our noisy Chinese relatives who lacked proper American manners? What terrible disappointment would he feel upon seeing not a roasted turkey and sweet potatoes but Chinese food?† Here is where Amy Tan first hints at the shame she has about her culture. She was already embarrassed before the dinner even happened. Tan continues to provide a vivid image of the special meal her mother has prepared. For example she describes the fish as â€Å"a slimy rock cod with bulging eyes†, and she makes the fish seem almost human as it â€Å"pleads† not to be dropped into the hot oil. Tan uses a simile to describe the tofu. â⠂¬Å"Tofu, which looked like stacked wedges of rubbery white sponges.† Tan compares the markings on the squid to a bicycle tire, so that one can imagine the deep cuts made by the knife. She includes this description

Cultural Acceptance in Marjane Satrapis Persepolis

Whitfield Logan English 102 Ighade 4-7-14 Cultural Acceptance in Persepolis Marjane Satrapi‘s graphic novel Persepolis is an autobiography that depicts her childhood up to her early adult years in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. Throughout the novel Satrapi incorporates character development, religion, and the conflict of freedom vs. confinement in order to develop a greater appreciation between two opposing eastern and western cultures. When analyzing the current relationship between eastern and western cultures, it seems as if tensions and conflict arise from a complex and layered set of problems. These issues range from political, economic and military stances to opposing cultural beliefs. The genesis of these†¦show more content†¦Satrapi’s parents’ desire for her education is what initially keeps the family from leaving. The reason then becomes the militant control of the city and the constant fighting that prevents them. Eventually Satrapi’s parents see how dangerous it is and send her away, yet they make the choice to stay. It seems odd that her parents wouldn’t leave with her. When analyzing the statistical data presented in the â€Å"Middle East Research Information Project,† the casualties witnessed by Marjane and her family, â€Å"rose near eight thousand just in their hometown† (MERIP, 3). The death of Iranian citizens was not only brought by the fighting of the Mujahedeen rebel army, but anyone that was seen as a threat to their new ideals. Executions were common and always practiced in public according to Keith Jones’s article, â€Å"Tragedy of the Iranian Revolution.† In the face of this present danger it is hard for the reader to comprehend the logic in wanting to stay amongst the violence. What Satrapi presents as reasoning to the reader is the fact that her parents have always lived in Iran. They don’t know anything else. To evacuate raises a lot more internal conflicts for her parents than it would for their daughter who has not had time to settle in one area. Ultimately the decision not to leave goes beyond cultural ties, educational reasoning, or even being forced to stay. There is a natural tendency for man to become complacent andShow MoreRelatedMarjane Satrapi’s Challenging of Stereotypes in Persepolis Essay example1112 Words   |  5 PagesIn Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis , Satrapi states that her goal in writing the book was to dispel many of the hasty generalizations made by the western world about Iran, a principal sentiment being that the country is little more than a nation founded by fundamentalists and home to terrorists and extremists. To combat the misconception, Satrapi enlists the assistance examples of barriers and dissent towards the new conservative regime in Iran from her adolescence. By employing eventsRead MoreMarjane Satrapi’s Challenging of Stereotypes in Persepolis1059 Words   |  4 PagesMarjane Satrapi’s Challenging of Stereotypes in Persepolis In Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, Satrapi states that her goal in writing the book was to dispel many of the hasty generalizations made by the Western world about Iran, a principal sentiment being that the country is little more than a nation founded by fundamentalists and home to terrorists and extremists. To combat the misconception, Satrapi enlists the assistance of examples from her adolescence of barriers and dissent towardsRead More Marjane Satrapis Persepolis3668 Words   |  15 Pagesin the sudden transition. As a member of the Iranian diaspora, Marjane Satrapi endured many hardships in her efforts to transition from Middle Eastern culture to a more modernist Western culture. 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One impression that I held about the people of Iran prior to reading Persepolis was that they lived theirRead MoreIdenitity in Marjarie Satcapi ´s Persepolis1940 Words   |  8 PagesDuring our class discussions, the issue of identity in Marjane Satrapi’s novel, Persepolis (2004), became a contentious issue. The question was asked whether Persepolis might be understood to being in-dialogue with western ways of seeing and did the effects of modernization influence the identity of Marjane’s protagonist in Persepolis. How does the novel involve the issue of identity? I will extend the argument and, through the exploration of Marji’s changing ideologies, I will attempt to prove

Serena Joy is the most powerful female presence in the hierarchy of Gileadean women Essay Example For Students

Serena Joy is the most powerful female presence in the hierarchy of Gileadean women Essay Serena Joy is the most powerful female presence in the hierarchy of Gileadean women; she is the central character in the dystopian novel, signifying the foundation for the Gileadean regime. Atwood uses Serena Joy as a symbol for the present dystopian society, justifying why the society of Gilead arose and how its oppression had infiltrated the lives of unsuspecting people. Atwood individualises the character of Serena Joy, as her high status in the society demands power and the domination over the inferior members of the Commanders household, such as Offred à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a handmaid. This shows that Serena Joy has a sense of control, using this privilege to become a woman who might bend the rules; this is similar to the Commander, as Serena Joy is able to associate herself with the black market, for example exchanging trade for relics of the past such as cigarettes. Through the black market, Atwood suggests that Serena Joy is a representation of a society based on a biblical view, thriving to become pure and perfect on the surface, yet the powerful figures that should exemplify obedience to the rules are constantly exploiting their authority. Additionally, the presentation of Serena Joy as a character it made interesting by her contradiction of accepting the new-found Gileadean society; it is plain that she resents the arrangement of having a handmaid in the house keenly as a violation of her marriage; My husband. I want that to be clear. Till death do us part. Also, having a handmaid is a continual reminder of her crippled condition to not have children, and her fading feminine charms during her youth. Atwood demonstrates a sense of hatred and jealousy within Serena Joy, which is directed towards Offred as she is unintentionally an intruder and is invading Serena Joys private life. Eventually, this jealousy enables Serena Joy to try to obliviate Offred by fixing it up with Nick. Also, Serena Joy indicates that she is willing to help Offred by showing her a picture, something you want. However, all these actions are a result of Serena Joys self-interest and her manipulative personality, theres a hint of her former small-screen mannequins allure, flickering over her face like momentary static. Consequently, Atwood highlights Serena Joys roguish actions caused by jealousy and a desire for revenge upon the very person who has been deprived her of possession of the Commander; she deliberately withheld the news of Offreds lost daughter and the photograph that Offred has been longing for. Atwoods creation of Serena Joy and the presentation of her character are interesting, as Serena Joy emerges with natural power and a high status from her previous life as a media personality. Serena Joy has an aura of charismatic characteristics, which she used to present speeches about the sanctity of the home, about how women should stay at home. Yet this is another contradiction of Serena Joys acceptance of Gileadean society, as she doesnt make speeches anymore. She has become speechless, because she stays in her home, but it doesnt seem to agree with her. Therefore, Atwood constructs a form of inner rebellion within Serena Joy, to be individual and different from the other women in society; how furious she must be, now that shes been taken at her word. Likewise, Atwoods portrayal of Serena Joy as a name is equivalent to her fame and glory; however, it is also a faÃÆ' §ade that conceals her true character only to encourage more popularity. Serena Joy was never her real name, not even then. Her real name was Pam. This is an interesting factor about the presentation of Serena Joy as it is a contrast; Serena Joy is neither serene nor joyful, it was a creation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Serena Joy it would say on the bottle, with a womans head in cut-paper silhouette on a pink oval background with scalloped gold edges, to promote a celebrity reputation. However, Serena Joy may have been a somewhat malicious invention by our author Offred, resulting in spiteful sarcasm towards the Commanders wife. Antigone EssaySimilarly, Atwood also emphasises a sense of self-promotion in creating Serena Joy, as she craves attention, though many people said shed put the bomb in her own car for sympathy. Yet, with the sudden transformation of society, Serena Joys past glory has been fragmented and forgotten as she is now considered a defeated woman and the have been unable to bear children, a comment remarked by Aunt Lydia. Nevertheless, Atwood presents Serena Joys character with subtlety as she is helpless and resorts to accusing Offred for her loss of love from the Commander, I trusted you, I tried to help you, Behind my back. You could have left me something. Offred says that, I was taking away something from her, although she didnt know it, demeaning Serena joys power and superiority. Through Serena Joys loss, Atwood demonstrates the harsh and bitter reality of Gileadean society and the fact that all members within the society were affected and had to suffer. Atwoods intention through Serena Joy is to warn todays society that in order to survive hardship, people have to be united and equality and freedom are essential in human life. Through Atwoods creation of Gilead, she clearly shows the critical friction between various groups of people, such as the handmaids and the wives. Offred remembers her feminist mother, You wanted a womans culture. Well, now there is one. This isnt what you meant, but it exists. Be thankful for small mercies. Atwood creates a world of corruption and unease; there is oppression and it has perceptibly infiltrated the lives of unsuspecting people, and Serena Joy is one of them.