Wherever You Go, There You Are
Bringing tradition to the progressive customs of a country, foreign and new, can be a difficult process for those who immigrate to the United States. Many times, immigrants find difficulty in maintaining their history and traditions when leading the American kind of lifestyle. Specifically, the author Bharati Mukherjee, exposes the difficulties of adjusting to the American lifestyle within the short story “A Father.” Similarly, the poem “A Bedtime Story” by Mitsuye Yamada helps to progress the idea that we do not need to forget stories from our culture in order to live in a new place. Finally, the poem “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” by Joy Harjo expresses the notion that no matter where you may travel throughout your life, we are all connected through nature despite our differing cultures and lifestyles.
Mr. Bhowmick, a native of India, a husband, a father, and finally, an immigrant to the United States, finds difficulty in keeping his Indian traditions alive while living in Detroit. As the narrator of the poem presents the story, the reader understands that this family’s move to the U.S. has not been an easy one. In fact, it appears that the new lifestyle has caused certain difficulties within his relationships, especially between his wife, his daughter and even his gods. As the story progresses and the narrator reveals more information about the Bhomick family, we can understand the struggle and stress this family must endure as they figuratively are pulled in two opposing directions from two very distinct cultures. Specifically for Mr. Bhomick, “a dozen times a day he [makes] these small trade offs between new-world reasonableness and old world beliefs” (661). Interestingly, however, in spite of his rigorous religious practices, Mr. Bhomick is surprisingly open to the realization of his daughter’s pregnancy. Although it may be hard for him to come to terms with the fact that the child’s father could be an American, he becomes acclimated to the possibility. Unfortunately, however, when he learns that in fact, there is no real father for the unborn child and that his daughter chose to be artificially inseminated the culture shock proves to be too great for Mr. Bhomick.
The essence of preserving culture and tradition is also expressed within the poem “A Bedtime Story,” written by Mitsuye Yamada. As the speaker is tucked into bed by his father, he is told the story of an old Japanese legend in which a beggar woman travels from village to village, in search of shelter for the night. When no one answers her plea, she spends the night under the stars in a valley—appreciating the opportunity to spend a beautiful night under the stars. The father is trying to lead his child to understand that there is good and beauty in every situation and nature. In the setting of their Seattle, hilltop home, a deeper meaning can be understood as the child questions “that’s the end?” (Line 45). Growing up within the urban United States, away from true Japanese culture, the child does not fully understand the implications of his papa’s story.
As the previous pieces expose the need for cultural traditions to be passed throughout the generations, the final piece “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” progresses the idea that despite our cultural differences, we can find beauty and a connection in nature. By connecting past cultural values with the present, one can find that all humans “revolve together in the dark sky on the path to the milky way” (line 11-12).
To know were you are going it is important to know where you have been. This idea is especially important for those who are immigrants to new places across the globe. For many, the differences are distinct between their native culture and the new culture that they are experiencing—making the adjustment to a new way of life very difficult. The story and poems discussed within this selection of literature offer a resolution to the problem of bridging the wide gap between the cultures, new and old. Essentially, they bring attention to the importance of integrating past experiences into new life situations.
Mr. Bhowmick, a native of India, a husband, a father, and finally, an immigrant to the United States, finds difficulty in keeping his Indian traditions alive while living in Detroit. As the narrator of the poem presents the story, the reader understands that this family’s move to the U.S. has not been an easy one. In fact, it appears that the new lifestyle has caused certain difficulties within his relationships, especially between his wife, his daughter and even his gods. As the story progresses and the narrator reveals more information about the Bhomick family, we can understand the struggle and stress this family must endure as they figuratively are pulled in two opposing directions from two very distinct cultures. Specifically for Mr. Bhomick, “a dozen times a day he [makes] these small trade offs between new-world reasonableness and old world beliefs” (661). Interestingly, however, in spite of his rigorous religious practices, Mr. Bhomick is surprisingly open to the realization of his daughter’s pregnancy. Although it may be hard for him to come to terms with the fact that the child’s father could be an American, he becomes acclimated to the possibility. Unfortunately, however, when he learns that in fact, there is no real father for the unborn child and that his daughter chose to be artificially inseminated the culture shock proves to be too great for Mr. Bhomick.
The essence of preserving culture and tradition is also expressed within the poem “A Bedtime Story,” written by Mitsuye Yamada. As the speaker is tucked into bed by his father, he is told the story of an old Japanese legend in which a beggar woman travels from village to village, in search of shelter for the night. When no one answers her plea, she spends the night under the stars in a valley—appreciating the opportunity to spend a beautiful night under the stars. The father is trying to lead his child to understand that there is good and beauty in every situation and nature. In the setting of their Seattle, hilltop home, a deeper meaning can be understood as the child questions “that’s the end?” (Line 45). Growing up within the urban United States, away from true Japanese culture, the child does not fully understand the implications of his papa’s story.
As the previous pieces expose the need for cultural traditions to be passed throughout the generations, the final piece “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” progresses the idea that despite our cultural differences, we can find beauty and a connection in nature. By connecting past cultural values with the present, one can find that all humans “revolve together in the dark sky on the path to the milky way” (line 11-12).
To know were you are going it is important to know where you have been. This idea is especially important for those who are immigrants to new places across the globe. For many, the differences are distinct between their native culture and the new culture that they are experiencing—making the adjustment to a new way of life very difficult. The story and poems discussed within this selection of literature offer a resolution to the problem of bridging the wide gap between the cultures, new and old. Essentially, they bring attention to the importance of integrating past experiences into new life situations.
posted by Molly F. @ 8:25 PM
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