How I Got That Name - Essay Example

How I Got That by Marilyn Chin The poem “How I Got That is part of ‘The Phoenix Gone, The Terrace Empty’ published in 1994. The poem tackles the issue of cultural assimilation and consistently exploits this theme throughout the poem. Chin’s other poems also explore this theme and describe her personal struggle and turmoil as she integrated into the American society. They display her unwilling and resolved nature of not letting go off her heritage while at the same time having the urge to integrate into the American society (Cucinella 155). She experiences Chinese stereotypes firsthand and describes these experiences as dehumanizing to Chinese Americans. “How I Got My Name” depicts how the poet got her name ‘Marilyn’ and further illustrates social issues revolving family, and Americanization. As a reader, it is apparent that Chin is comfortable in her own voice as she tells her life experiences. In terms of structure, the poem is a four-stanza poem that utilizes free verse. It flow is natural and conversational, Chin’s tone changes from stanza to stanza. She incorporates irony, assonance, alliteration and other literary devices to add on to the flow of the poem (Cucinella 56). Its subtle complexity is reason for its continued popularity among audiences from all lifestyles in America. The subtitle to this poem is “an essay on assimilation” and this highlights the main theme that the poem tackles. Assimilation in America is difficult and the poem aptly captures her struggle (Cucinella 157). In addition, the subtitle signals to the reader that one should be sensitive and attentive to Chin’s struggle. Chin shares, both directly and indirectly, her experiences as a foreigner in America. Her father gives her the name ‘Marilyn’ derived from the legendary actress Marilyn Monroe. Her father’s choice of name illustrates that he had already envisioned his family as Americans; which they were not (Cucinella 54). Additionally, the name also depicted the influence that American pop culture had on Chin’s father. Her father easily assimilated into the American culture and wished his family would also follow suit. Despite being assimilated quickly, the family stayed true to its Chinese traditions and culture. Her father was the patriarch of the family and nobody dared to question his authority and decisions. Throughout the poem, Chin hints at the internal struggle she underwent as she integrated into the American culture. The second stanza provides proof “The further west we go, we’ll hit east; the deeper we dig, we’ll find China” (Cucinella 158). These stanzas show her attempts of clinging onto her Chinese roots despite being an American. Her intent throughout the poem is to gain a healthy balance between the two cultures, but she realizes the difficult nature of this task. The third stanza depicts the struggle she undergoes as with her dual identity; affecting her from within and without. The family patriarch, who Chin believes is in heaven, is unhappy with the assimilation of the family into the American culture. The patriarch, according to Chin, views her as a disgrace and unworthy; Chin is not “quite boiled, not quite cooked” (Cucinella 157). In addition, the outside world is not accepting either, they view her as an assimilated woman; stuck between two cultures. In summary, Chin starts out confident in her identity but as the poem progresses her confidence slowly wears off. White Trash Primer by Lacy M. Johnson The White Trash Primer is Lacy’s memoir of the life of a girl from her childhood to her adulthood. The girl, according to Lacy, lives in rural America and is an average child compared to her peers. Her family worked on the farm for sustenance and other needs. As time passed, the girl’s life changes and she starts maturing. Her family situation, on the other hand, worsened over time, as they became poorer (Johnson 4). In terms of wealth, her family resorted to working at Wal-Mart from owning their own land and selling their produce. This downward shift of her family lifestyles greatly affects the girl’s life. She became depressed and starts to think of herself as “white trash”. Using this illustration, the author tries to enlighten metropolitan folk on what it means to be poor (Bakersfield.edu 2014). The poor undergo hardships that are unimaginable for the rich. Johnson shares the girl’s story from a unique point of view that emotionally involves the reader. The girl undergoes all manners of hardships; from drastic lifestyle changes to being raped. Johnson does not leave out any detail in illuminating the horrendous experience the girl experiences. Her experiences convince her that she is “white trash” and she wallows in her current circumstances. However, according to the reader the girl is a survivor who goes to all ends to overcome her unfavorable circumstances. Once her family loses their farmland, the girl attempts to get a job at the local Wal-Mart, and she gets her application denied. Nevertheless, she does not give up after this first attempt, and she repeatedly applies for the position until she gets it (Johnson 21). This experience displays her resolve of life despite being denied severally. At her job, she becomes frugal in order to save up money for her family. Johnson further states that the girl is in college and works forty hours a week at her new job. Her life at the time is full of hardships, and the writer thinks nothing else could go wrong. In her Wal-Mart job, she meets a fellow workmate who introduces her to a new line of work. Her coworker starts hooking her up with older men. She goes to dates with some men who later have sex with her. The men take the girl shopping and, on weekends, take her to posh places (Johnson 32). Later on, she meets with an individual who makes her change her lifestyle. This man, who owns a Harley Davidson motorcycle, treats her better than he treats the other men. The man treats her better without expecting anything in return. This experience becomes a revelation and the girl starts to change her life (Johnson 36). In the process of change, she quits her Wal-Mart job and starts being a full-time student. During her graduation, her family attends the ceremony and she is happy. In short, the girl did what was required of her and she survived. The narrator of this memoir is a survivor, as is evident from her struggle. She does what is necessary of her as her family struggles financially. She takes up a job at the local Wal-Mart and saves funds for herself and her family. All her actions are necessary for her survival. She has sexual relations with older men who would in turn buy her clothes and help her escape from her poor existence. She would have continued trading sexual favors for money until she met the Harley-Davidson man. In summary, the narrator was faced with these hardships at an early age and she had to mature rapidly. Work Cited Cucinella, Catherine. Poetics Of The Body. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. Print. Cucinella, Catherine. Contemporary American Women Poets: An A-to-Z Guide. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2002. Print. Johnson, Lacy M. Trespasses. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2012. Print. Www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu,. Jamie Arneson -- Cultural Identity. N.p., 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. Read More