The Quest to Overcome Mental Imprisonment in A Good Fall by Ha Jin - Essay Example

The quest to overcome Mental Imprisonment in “A Good Fall” “A Good Fall” by Ha Jin narrates short stories that are all set in Flushing part of New York with captivating experiences of the characters being and embodiment the transitional nature of their lives in multiethnic society. In this regard, Flushing acts as a space between China, which is their motherland, and the American society which they hope to integrate into. The character are therefore caught in-between their past Chinese culture and the vision of where they want to be which results in a fusion of despair and optimism due to the fact that life in Flushing does not deliver the promise of material wealth or the freedom from obligations experienced in China as some immigrants expected. The characters are hit by reality which is a new environment that although different from the usual life in China, imposes a new kind of harsh limitations that often experienced in crisis that molds a new, and at times unwanted, transitional identity for the Chinese immigrants. This essay contrasts the concepts of freedom and imprisonment in “A Good Fall” with “The House behind a Weeping Cherry as the emigrants attempt to break away from the limitations presented by life in Flushing in order to achieve a more purposeful life. "The House behind a Weeping Cherry" In the "The House behind a Weeping Cherry" (Jin 195) the main characters are depicted as living inside a prison due to the circumstances they find themselves in while in New York. "The House behind a Weeping Cherry" begins with Wanren contemplating his next move after his roommate had moved meaning he had to shoulder all the rent by himself. This was going to be a daunting task for Wanren as he could not shoulder all the rent by himself. It could have been easier for Wanren to move to a new place but the apartment is located continently near his workplace. Wanren is therefore caught between finding a new apartment which will further incontinence him work as he will have to travel from the new place to his workplace or pay more which will further complicate his financial situation as a migrant without any proper skill. Therefore, Wanren is caught in a mental prison with all his options having a negative impact on his financial and social status. Wanren is however saved from these possibilities when Mrs. Chen presents him with an alternative of driving the girls to see their clients in exchange for Wanren maintain his rent was it was. Wanren is however not salvaged from his imprisonment as he is now forced to break the law by being initiated into something illicit playing part in a prostitution syndicate as a driver this goes contrary to his earlier expectation as he had hoped to get a college education when he come to America. The characters in “The House behind a Weeping Cherry" are not only imprisoned by their financial realities, they are also victims of “their own complacency with set routine” (Breakthrough Writer). Wanren had developed a friendship with the girls and feels that if he were to live he was bound to face loneliness in the new place due to lack of friends. Although Lili and Nana do not have to pay Croc, they do not want to leave the job as they are satisfied with it. The fact that Nana had a Canadian green card and Lili held a student visa means they could find something else to do but they are caught up in prostitution to think of something better for themselves. Huong is also imprisoned by her the circumstances she finds herself in as cannot stop making money through prostitution due to her responsibility to her family back at home who expect to get money from her every month. Her situation is further complicated by the fact that she must complete paying the remaining 18,000 dollars to Croc as part of the fees for smuggling her to America. Although Huong wants to take up a job as a sewer, it will not pay enough therefore cannot sustain the monthly payments to Croc and still sent some to her parents. Huong is therefore, caught in a mental prison with limited real solutions to her predicaments as a prostitute who is abused by her clients but cannot seem to find a way out (Jin 203). Huong willingness and readiness to quit prostitution is underlined by her rejoinder that she will only stop being a prostitute when when Wanren finds a job that is well paying enough to cover the payment to Croc and the rest which she sends back home. “A Good Fall” In “A Good Fall” Ganchin is imprisoned by his rigid lifestyle that does not allow him to adapt quickly to new reality. Having spent his entire life as a monk, Ganchin does not have an idea over what else he could do when Zong sends him away without paying him. Ganchin cannot go back home since he has debt that he had not paid back while he cannot stay in America since he knows he is an alien in addition to not being able to sustain himself. Ganchin’s pride is also part of his imprisonment as he refuses help from the only person who cared for him, Cindy. This is demonstrated by Cindy’s concern that Ganchin had lived a life that is different from that of the rest in society with her advice to him being “Why not return to this earthly life?” (Jin 224). Further mental imprisonment and lack of freedom is exemplified by Ganchin’s perception about finding a new occupation and source of livelihood. Ganchin is convinced that he cannot find any other means to earn a living apart from being a monk and practicing kung fu. When Cindy suggests he should look for an alternative occupation instead of regarding the years he had worked under Zong, Ganchin laments, that But I’ve never worked outside a temple and don’t have any skill” (Jin 225). Ganchin seems to find every reason to convince himself and others around him that he has no other option in life except to die. He cannot even be convinced that his skills as an expert in martial arts could be used outside the temple. Cindy’s suggestion that Ganchin can still use his skills in teaching martial arts outside of the temple is met by his objection of the proposal when he says, “for that I’ll have to know some English, won’t I” (Jin 225). However, as time proceeds, Ganchin realizes that he needs to adapt to his new surrounding and lifestyle by for instance dropping his vegan tradition and starts eating meat and seafood since he was no longer sure of his next meal while he had to “rely on leftovers his friend brings him from a restaurant” (Jin 227). However, these changes are not adequate to guarantee Ganchin success in America which drives him further into sense helplessness with all hope seemly lost, consequently, Ganchin resorts to suicide as the only way out his desperate situation. Based on my interview with James Clear, having “negative emotions program your brain to do a specific action” that the mind presumes will present the solution. James Clear alleges when one’s mind is focused on a specific negative issue the mind becomes narrow and focuses in thinking about the issue. The mind is then prevented from having a positive thought with the solution determined by the mind being the only option. This is the situation that Ganchin finds himself in as his mind narrows to suicide as the only solution to his predicaments in life. However, his survival from the suicide attempt presents him with another opportunity to live a new life as his case is highlighted in the media propelling him to a celebrity status. As he now with the help of an attorney presented by Cindy hopes to challenge both his compensation from Zong and his extradition back to china. From the foregoing, a number of characters in both A Good Fall” and The House behind a Weeping Cherry" are imprisoned by the way of life that they choose for themselves. The characters are called upon to transform their ways of thinking for them to overcome their limitation in life. The characters in the two short stories decide to escape from their difficult lives where Wanren and Huong ran away from Croc and prostitution but Ganchin chooses suicide as the way out of his troubles. Although Ganchin seems to be fully liberated, he does not achieve his new celebrity status without having to drop some of the things he had valued in life which all revolved around being a monk. He becomes a new person who can now have an intimate relationship with a woman and live outside his natural territory, the temple. For Wanren and Huong, their future is still marred with a lot of uncertainty as it is not known how their debtor will react to their escape and how long they will be on the run before they are caught. The author has therefore presented liberation from mental imprisonment as coming with a price as the characters have to give up an aspect of their usual lives to escape the limitations that prevailed in a former life. Works Cited Clear, James. How Positive Thinking Builds Your Skills, Boosts Your Health, and Improves Your Work. nd. Web. 15 April 2014 Jin, Ha. A Good Fall. New York: Pantheon Books. 2009. Print. Breakthrough Writer. Lesson #3: “The House Behind a Weeping Cherry” 195 and “A “Good Fall” 221. typepad. 08 Dec 2010. Web. 15 April 2014. Read More