How does Being an Outsider Affect Ones Life - Assignment Example

Q1. Identify the other in one text, why are these characters outsiders How does being an outsider affect their lives Immigrants face many problems when they move to a new country. They have to adapt to a different culture. They may have to learn a language and new skills, to be able to earn a living and give up the way of life they are used to. It is a difficult change for anyone to make. In The Other Family, Bannerji (1990) highlights the problems faced by an immigrant family, in Canada. The immigrants do not look like the Canadians and feel like outsiders. In the story, a mother who is an immigrant is upset because she feels that her daughter is rejecting her. There is a deep sense of insecurity in the mother. She feels the child wants to be like the locals, who stand for authority and have the power to crush little people like her, anytime. She feels that the daughter is rejecting her, to gain acceptance in the new world, of which they are now a part. Immigrants may feel like outsiders, who have to gain acceptance to become a part of their new world. To gain acceptance they will have to give up their own individuality. This gives them a feeling of insecurity and helplessness. At times they may experience a feeling of despair about not having any control over their life and family. Immigrants give up everything to move to another country, so for them there is a lot at stake. They have nothing to return to if things do not work out, in their new home. This can have a profound effect on their lives, because they have to adapt and be successful. References Bannerji, H. (1990). The Other Family. (pp 141- 145). Oxford University Press. Q2. What issues do immigrants face as they try to adapt to their new culture (based on two works) Immigrants have to cope with many problems of adaptation. They have to adapt to a new culture that is usually very different from their own. They may have to learn a new language and about how to behave in their new country. They have to learn new skills, to find employment. In The Jade Peony, Choy (1995) highlights the problems faced by immigrants who have a very limited knowledge of English and a different accent. They are mocked or ignored by many people and this can be very humiliating for a person, who is trying to adapt to life in a strange land. In The Jade Peony, the teacher Miss Doyle is a very helpful person. She is dedicated to helping her students to learn the English language. She works hard to build their fluency in English, while developing their confidence. She tries to teach them values that help to build character. Miss Doyle comes across as a kind person who cares for her students. This shows that there always people who respect the immigrants as human beings and are willing to help them to create a new life, in their new home. In the Canadian Experience, by Clark, we can see how difficult it is for immigrants to make a career in their new country. They have to be ready to take up new types of work that they know nothing about. All immigrants are not able to adjust to their new surroundings. Long periods of unemployment due to an inability to adapt, can drive a person to suicide. In this story, the actress is always willing to help the hero to break out of the problems that surround him. This shows that there are always people who are willing to help immigrants to create a new life. References Choy, W. (1995). The Jade Peony: A novel. (pp173-184). Douglas and McIntyre Clark, A. The Canadian Experience. (pp 49- 63) Q3. The past carries the present like a child on its shoulders. Explain the meaning of this referring to two works The past carries the present like a child on its shoulders. This holds true for immigrants who leave their homeland and move to another country, with a different language and culture. They have to try to forget the way of life that they are used to. Yet, immigrants cannot erase their history and their emotional attachment to their homeland remains with them all their lives. In the Canadian Experience, by Clark, the hero of the story is an immigrant from Barbados. He has been in and out of several low-paying jobs and has not been able to find regular employment. His has immigrated against the wishes of his father who owns a plantation in Barbados. He lacks the ambition and the fighting spirit to be successful in his new country of residence. He has never been in a competitive situation and is not able to cope with the pressure. His present is influenced by his past to such an extent that he becomes suicidal. In Joe the Painter, by King, a pageant is organized for the centennial celebrations of a town. A massacre of Red Indians, which is a part of the town's history, is depicted realistically, in the pageant. This depiction of the massacre that actually happened in the past makes many people uncomfortable. It is something they would rather forget. The mayor of the town says that the pageant is not appropriate. The town's present is based on its history, which includes the massacre, even if people would rather forget it. The past carries the present like a child on its shoulders and it continues to influence the present, whether we like it, or not. References Clark, A. The Canadian Experience. (pp 49- 63) King, T. Joe the Painter. (pp 99-120) Q4. In Jade Peony, Sekky says that in Miss Doyle's classroom he glimpsed paradise. During YOUR EXPERIENCE in Canada, where have you had this experience and why or if not, why not In The Jade Peony, by Choy (1995), Sekky says that in Miss Doyle's classroom, he glimpsed paradise. This is because in Miss Doyle's classroom, they are all treated as equals. Their clothes, looks, accents and backgrounds do not matter. This is very different from what they have to face on the streets of their new country, as immigrants. They are usually mocked or ignored because of their poor English and accent. This can be very humiliating. They are often asked why they don't speak English and made to feel inferior. Miss Doyle never laughs at them or ignores them. She gives them her undivided attention when they speak and tells them that they are very brave. She does not allow anyone else to make fun of them in the classroom. She builds their fluency in English and gives them the self-confidence, they desperately needed. Miss Doyle's classroom is like a paradise where they are all equal. During my experience in Canada, I have found my classrooms to be very similar to Miss Doyle's classroom in The Jade Peony. In the classroom, we are treated as equals and I feel that I am no different from anyone else. I can express myself without any fear of being laughed at, or ignored. Outside the classroom I occasionally face situations where I am reminded of my background. I have learned to take this in my stride. I do not react to such situations and always try to think about the bright side. I focus on all the wonderful opportunities this country has given to me. References Choy, W. (1995). The Jade Peony: A novel. (pp173-184), Douglas and McIntyre Read More