An American Brat

An American Brat, by Bapsi Sidhwa was an interesting read. I was suprirsed with this novel becasue I expected another novel similar to The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf. This novel explored the life of Feroza as she left her home in Pakistan and traveled to America. The trip was orginally thought to be a short vacation or holiday, but ended up as a study abroad opportunity. Feroza's parents originally intended for her to travel to America because they thought that she was "'becoming more and more backward everyday'" (9). Her parents hoped that Feroza would realize her values and morals and become more "forward" in America and the experience that would come along with it. It seemed, though, that just the opposite occurred. When Feroza first came to America, it did seem as though she would resist being Americanized unlike Manek, especially with some of her more unfortunate encounters. A description of her first feelings and impression is explained when the author writes, "Feroza hugged the adventure of her travel to America to herself throughout the flight. As she hurtled through space, she became conscious of the gravitational pull of the country she was leaving behind" (52). She realized that she was leaving her traditional lifestyle behind, but felt its presence still after she left. Feroza was at first resistant to Manek and his American "teachings". Throughout the novel though, Feroza's own experiences Americanized her in more ways than Manek could and in more ways he was himself. This change could mostly related to Feroza's roommate Jo. The quote in the novel that sums up their relationship states, "Feroza felt that living with Jo helped her much to understand American's and their exotic culture - how much an abstract word like "freedom" could encompass and how many rights the individual had and, most important, that those rights were not active, not, as in Pakistan..." (171). Feroza took this influence and teaching and applied to her own life and Americanized herself with her relationships and her activities in everyday life by getting a job as a bartender and her relationship with Sashi. It is interesting that she assumes and describes the American culture as "exotic." The novel does not state how Jo felt about Feroza's culture, and if she felt the same thing. It is probable to assume that Jo, like most other Americans perceive Feroza's culture as more exotic. The experience of "freedome" in America is what appears exotic to Feroza, but what about the Indian culture appears exotic to Jo, or the other Americans? Feroza finds this type of life "unnatural" especially if it were transposed into her culture.

Another interesting point throughout the novel was the theme of sexuality and how femenism affected the lives of the women. Feroza was able to see the differences in the culture through Jo. Jo was a very sexual and "free" human being. Feroza saw Jo as being the exact opposite of her own culture. Jo's lifestyle was a lifestyle that Pakistanian women could only live through marriage. This is shown in the novel when it is stated, "The denial of even her most insignificant wish was followed like: "You'll reign like a queen in your husband's house. You can do as you wish once you're married."... Their marriages would unshackle them, open their lives to adventure and knowledge of the world, give them the freedom that is each individual's due" (219). Jo lived this freedom without being married. Even with marriage, the women in Pakistan were still under their hunband's house. There were untold and unconscious similarities in America and with Jo that perhaps Feroza and the Pakistan culture though that Feroza did not realize. Jo, for example, seemed almost enslaved by her cycle that went through and evolved around the various men in her life. Her relationships determined her current mental state. In this way both cultures are heavily influenced in negative ways by men. Another interesting thing to point out with Feroza's quote about marriage is that the idea of freedom was something that every individual had in America, and in Pakistan women could only have freedom if married to a man. Is this freedom that women experience in America more of a myth than reality that Feroza believes it is? Feroza fails to see the impact that men can have in American culture.

Breath, Eyes, Memory

The novel, Breath, Eyes, Memory, by Edwidge Danticat depicts the importance of a woman's sexuality. Sexuality both confines and frees the women in this novel. It is very evident that Sophie's mother was a prisoner to her sexuality as a result of being raped when she was young. This instance forever affected her. It was interesting to note that the grandmother stopped "testing" her after this instant becuase it was obvious she was no longer considered "pure" in the virginal sense. I believe that failing this "test" helped Sophie's mother be ashamed of her sexuality. It did not help to mend the wounds from the rape. These instances gave Sophie's mother a negative view of sexuality which she unconciously passed on to Sophie. Sophie was unable to see her mother as a sexual human being, even after her mother got pregnant. The book states, "Too sexual to be linked with your mother? I think you have a Madonna image of your mother. Part of you feels that this child is a testimonial of her true sexuality. It's a child she concieved willingly. Maybe she is not able to face that" (220). Sophie's therapist sees that through what Sophie says her mother is unable to face her sexulaity and embrace it. Instead she is constantly confined and enslaved by it and all the negative feelings that come along with it that have forever been instilled. I believe that this enslavement is what eventually caused her to kill herself. There was no way to free herself from these negative feelings. Sophie was similarily enslaved by the negativity associated with her sexuality. The "testing" experience as a child was obviously very traumatizing, but also forced Sophie to see that expressing her sexuality in any way was not appropriate and considered a bad thing. This played out in her in married life when she was unable to have relations with her husband. She felt these things as more of a duty, than acts of love and affection. I do not know if Sophie's self mutalation actuality gave her a sense a freedom. The book states, "I was bound to be happy in a place called Providence. A place that destiny was calling me to. Fate! A town named after the Creator, the Almighty. Who would not want to live there?" (89). It seems that it did because she left and got married and went to a place where she thought she would be happy, but the affects of it afterword seem to only negatively affect her sexuality. It is interesting to consider both Sophie and her mother at this point. Her mother would have rather been "tested" than raped, and when the "testing" stopped it had a more negative affect on her allowing her to relive the rape and further instilling in her that she was unpure. Sophie, on the other hand would do anything to stop the testing, and went so far to mutalate herself so that her mother would think she was unpure. Why was purity so much more important for her mother, and why did not Sophie EVER tell her mother what happened? Another thing to consider, why did not Tante Atie or her grandmother ever "test" Sophie?

The joys of motherhood correction

The correct page number for the second quote is 205 not 25. Thanks.

The JOYS of Motherhood

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Buchi Emechta does a great job of describing both the joys and hardships of motherhood, especially for Nigerian women in particular. By the end of the novel,
I felt horrible for Nnu Ego and her husband, Nnaife. The end of the novel was very ironic. In their culture nothing was held at a higher standard than becoming a mother, and it was an even higher honor if those children were sons. The importance of children can be demonstrated in the novel when Nnu Ego's first husband is glad she is leaving. He says, "Let her go," he consoled himself, "she is as barren as a desert" (39). A wife was not worth much if she did not have children to carry the family name on. After Nnu Ego leaves and marries Nnaife she does become pregnant and throughout the novel nine children with seven that survive. However, even with all these children, she does not feel honorable most of the time, and ironically, her husband does not feel lucky at all by the end of the novel. The children have not been a blessing, they have broken him and he feels that they will kill him before he is ready. It is interesting to think if it would have been drastically different had the family moved back to Ibuza, where things were much simplier. Nnaife was a "modern" man when compared to the men of Ibuza, but when his family matured, he retreated back to his traditional Ibuza values. I feel that this was the beginning of his downfall. He had worked so hard his entire life, and had pressured his oldest son Oshia to be the best man that he could be, yet by the end of the novel he was blaming Oshia for killing him and not taking care of him. The son, though, felt that the best way he could take care of his parents was by studying hard and going to school so that the could eventually make all the money in the world. He had developed this idea from both his parents, yet he was scolded for it when acting that way himself. Both he and Nnu Ego had raised these children in a modern, urban like setting. The children had not been exposed to the traditional values of Ibuza, which both their parents held inside them. When the children matured and got older it seemed like they disappointed their parents more often than not. This was because they did not understand the importance of taking care of your parents in old age, and marrying within your tribe; they did not understand the importance of traditional Ibuza values that their parents had because they had not been broughout up that way for most of their life. Nnanife thoughts about his matured children are expressed when the novel states, "Why, he had thought the woman's children were a blessing to him. Now he was beginning to see that they were a curse" (25). It would be interesting to see how much joy the children would have brought had they been raised with the traditional Ibuza values.

Annie John

The novel, Annie John, by Jamaica Kincaid depicted a mother daughter relationship that is not atypical for most mothers and daughters. The relationship between Annie and her mother, though, was unique in that most girls grow to relate more to their mothers, and often after rebelious period grow more fond of their mothers. This was not the case with Annie John. She was constantly emotionally distant from her mother. Throughout the novel it appeared that she wanted to get closer with her mother and reconnect, but something inside her was much stronger that forced her to pull away. For example, at the end of the novel Kincaid writes, "Big tears streamed down her face, and it must have been that - for I could not bear to see my mother cry - which started me crying too" (147). She loved her mother and was so distant from her at the same time; so much so that when they embraced it brought her out of this emotional state and back to her resentful feelings. Annie seemed to replace the lack of affection she recieved from her mother and put into an obsession with the girls her in class. This affection she felt for them replaced any emotionally attachment that she felt toward her mother. These relationships filled the void that Annie probably felt growing up; however, they filled the void only temporarily. Annie was looking for something more than what these girls had to offer. Her childhood "love" gradually became an annoyance that Annie could hardly stand. This relationship suffered the same way her relationship with her mother suffered. These troublesome relationships affected Annie's evolving personality and identity. Annie became very independent, but longed for the affection and acceptance of elders that she encountered. It seemed that she was subconsciously attempting to prove her mother wrong if she could gain the affection and acceptance from other older women (i.e. her teachers and other people that had authority over her). In this way her mother would have no reason to disprove of Annie and her actions. I believe that Annie misunderstood several things about her mother. When Annie reflects on her dreams of her mother killing her and she killing her mother. She applies this to her own life and instances and tries to determine if it is either she or her mother who "wins". I do not believe that Annie's mother was ever out to intentionally upset Annie. She was doing things that she believed would protect and benefit her in the long wrong, and Annie did not understand these things. Overall the relationship between Annie and her mother is very troublesome that accounts for the relationships that Annie has with others. These relationships, including the one with her mother, cause Annie internal conflict that shapes her identity.

The House on Mango Street

The book, The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros was difficult for me to relate to. Esperanza describes the various people in her community. It is evident by her writing that she is constantly striving for and wanting more than what is offered to her. Esperanza's descriptions are evidence of her resentment and frustration with her family and friends. Despite her feelings, she does seem to feel at ease with the people and the community around her. It was interesting to read where Esperanza talks about people who come into their neighborhood by mistake. She states, "Those who don't know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think we are dangerous....All brown all around, we are safe. But watch us drive into a neighborhood of another color and our knees go shakity-shake..." (33-34). So even though Esperanza strives to be someone other than who she is, she is scared of the people who have the lifestyle she desires. She evidently sees herself as different and inferior to people who are a different color than she is.

The chapter "Linoleum Roses" is a chapter about how Sally marries into an unpleasant lifestyle. Esperanza has always looked up to Sally becasue she was pretty and therefore, Esperanza believed she had more experiences. It is evident in this chapter that Esperanza knows that the lifestyle Sally has choosen is not right because she was too young and was not ready to get married; however, Esperanza is willing to justify Sally actions becuase she is so desperate for a lifestyle other than her own. It appears that it is not just the house that Esperanza desires, it is a stereotypical lifestyle of the suburban community. Esperanza attempts to justify Sally's marriage because she can escape her current situation and have her husband and house, "her pillowcases and her plates" (124). She points out that Sally is afraid of her husband, but goes on to lighten the situation by describing the things inside the home she can look at. The idea of a house is such an important concept for Esperanza; if she only had a home everything would be perfect. This belief was so strong for Esperanza that she did not concern herself with her friend's unhappy lifestyle.

The Girl in The Tangerine Scarf

It was interesting how throughout the beginning of the novel, Khadra and her family did not associate themselves with Americans. They were separate people. Americans were dirty, selfish, malicious, promiscuous, and money-minded. Khadra identified herself through Muslim. When the family had to become citizens of America, it was painful for her, so much so that she had difficulty pretending that she would honor and love this country above all else. A dramatic thing happened to Khadra when they went on haj. Khadra's experience with REAL Muslims was not anything like she had expected it to be. The trip starts with her diappointment that she will not be able to pray at the mosque. Khadra does not understand this and is deeply hurt. Because she is a woman it means that she is inferior in that country. Khadra is not accustom to this kind of oppression. More importantly, she can hardly believe this is a custom of her religion. To make matters worse, she encounters some other young Arabs while she is there. Immediately, she is assumed different because she is from America; however, it seems as though she is more Arab and Muslim than any of the people she meets during this experience. She is shocked by their perverted behavior and disrespect for women, and the women's disrespect for themselves. The novel states, "And even though she was in a Muslim country at this moment, and not just any Muslim country but the Muslim country...she had never felt so far from home. There was a nip in the air all of a sudden" (177). It appears as though Khadra has lost her identity. It was very difficult for her to relate to people in America, and finally in the place she thought she belonged, she feels like she does not belong at all. It was as if something has left her during this experience. She feels cold; more alone than ever before. I believe that this was a major turning point in Khadra's life.

Kindred

Dana brought up an interesting point in the book. She stated, "Time passed. Kevin and I became more a part of the household, familiar, accepted, accepting. How easily we seemed to acclimatize... it seemed as though we should have a harder time adjusting to this particular segment of history" (p. 97). Both she and Kevin were accepting the mentality and customs of the people and culture of the time period. Dana was not surprised that she had, but at how easily and fast she had done it. In a matter of days she had accepted her submissive role as a woman, and a black woman at that: she had no rights, she had assumed the role of being a mere piece of property. Looking at our life today, or at least from the mid 20th century on, I dare say that unfortunately this could happen to society as a whole if we stop attempting to make progress toward total equality of race and sexes. This idea of freedom and equality for everyone is a fairly new concept considering how long slavery went on (and continues to go on)around the world. It would be easier to regress if we do not make a collaborative effort to continue working toward a place where everyone is treated equally. After Dana had experienced the lifestyle of past times, I was surprised to find that she was no more outspoken about women rights. I got the opposite impression in fact. She had been beat down and the experienced affected her to a point where I think she lost site of she deserved being an African American woman. She felt sorry her ancestors, and realized the endured so much more than she ever could, but I did not get the impression that she came out of believing she was a more empowered woman. The experience humbled her as opposed to strengthening her.

Kevin was also an interesting character throughout the book. I feel that he was at times, at a greater risk for harm during that time period than Dana. Kevin was not ignorant, and believed that African Americans were human beings that deserved the same respect and opportunities as everyone else. He did not see African Americans as being any different than he. This mentality was dangerous during that time. It was not even possible for him to pretend he accepted this lifestyle. As a result, he was looked upon as being foolish by Tom Weylin and was almost killed while trying to help slaves during the five years Dana was gone. Kevin was more dangerous to the community because of his thoughts were radical for the time period, and no one could stop him because he was a free white man. Dana on the other hand, was little threat to the community had she attempted to voice her thoughts and opinions of that time period she would merely be reprimanded by her owner and what she had said would have little bearing on the community.

The Bluest Eyes

A common theme throughout the book was acceptance. Whether it be acceptance in family or community, each character experienced their own struggle with standing above the stereotypes created by their society. One character that stood out in particular, other than Pecola, was Cholly. It was impossible to feel any remorse or sympathy for Cholly basically throughout the entire novel. His behavior and personality was repulsive and he was a poor excuse for a husband and father. The author provoked these feelings throughout the entire novel. Cholly had a time of redemtion though when the author glimpsed into his life. It was easier to understand why he had become the way he had. He had no faith in friends, family, or anyone for that matter. He had no family, his mother had a abandon him and his father rejected him. There was not much talk about his friends, and the older white men who harassed him at one point during his youth haunted him for the rest of his life. No matter how hard Cholly tried, he could not find someone or someplace that he could resolve his internal conflicts. Unfortunately, he ended up a drunk and a deadbeat with little hope of a promising future. Cholly could have been the place of blame for much a of the Breedlove's problems, but Cholly could not help himself. He had hit rock bottom with little hope of coming up, and in all honesty, I can not blame him. Mrs. Breedlove's tactics did not help the situation much. Maybe if Cholly had been given a break from family and the society he could have rose above the imaged society had created, and perhaps gotten his life if order so that maybe he would not have raped and impregnated is own daughter.