The Diamond Grill and The Soucouyant: Stories of Rediscovering Cultural Identity - Book Report/Review Example

The Diamond Grill and The Soucouyant: Stories of Rediscovering Cultural Identity Introduction Racial discrimination is an issue that is as old as times. The Diamond Grill by Fred Wah and The Soucouyant by David Chariandy are two novels that dare to tackle the issues regarding cultural ethnicity. Both novels did not only use strong poetic, literary themes. They also go beyond cultural and racial themes. Furthermore, the stories courageously dramatize the unfair, if not unequal treatment of the society to a foreign culture. Both the authors of the novels earn a lot of criticisms from fellow novelists since their masterpieces are set in Canada, the place they call their own and yet separate them from the society because of the cultural differences in their bloodlines. This paper attempts to present two stories (The Diamond Grill and The Suocouyant) with different themes but both leads to rediscovering both the authors ethnicity. Let me begin this paper by giving a short background of the two stories. Rediscovering of Cultural Past and Ethnicity Chariandy (1997) said “My past is a foreign word.” It’s just his momentary stab at summarizing a tricky situation.” This statement just proves that any person cannot just totally leave behind his cultural identity and bloodline even if he/she moves to a foreign land. This is what connects him/her to the cultural past whether it is in terms of food or native delicacy or cultural beliefs or traditions. Both stories were written for Canadian literature by authors from different races although they have already lived their lives in the Canadian society that greatly influenced their way of thinking and life style. Wah uses his love of food and distinctive taste on Chinese food to retrace his Chinese origins. The Diamond Grill In his childhood years, Wah was a picture of a confused child due to his “mixed blood”. He narrated it like “When it comes to Chinese cafes and Chinatowns, I would rather be transparent. Camouflaged enough so they know I am there but can’t see me, can’t get to me. I need a clear coast to get away. Invisible. I do not know who I am in this territory and maybe I do not want to.” (The Diamond Grill, p.2 par. 1) This is the stage in his life when even he, himself, was ashamed if not too scared to admit his Chinese ethnicity. He was aloof to mingle with other Chinese children because that would cause the society to discriminate him. His life has been a journey of search for his own racial cultural identity. Among the symbolical foods that can be found in the café are sugar donuts, birds nest soup, salisbury steak, gai lan, mixed grills, ginger, milkshakes and lo bok. Wah uses the following to represent taste as a point of reception. The following foods were based on the author’s personal experience. It helps him remember his childhood memories, the events he had witnessed as he was growing up, and the places he has been to. It resembles his cultural identity and Chinese bloodline. It is probably one of the most remarkable symbol in his book is the description Wah used in Diamond Grill was his own feeling in making a lotus beef. Wah as quoted by Aisnworth (1997) viewed it this way. "He moves the taste of the delicate nut- like lotus root suspended in the salty-sweet beef broth. This silent rehearsal of memory of taste moves into his mind so that the first language behind his closed eyes is a dreamy play-by-play about making beef and lotus root soup... He feels his tongue start to move as his mouth waters at the palpable flavour of words." Wahs tastes and preferences act in this way as the tag of his identity. He is a Chinese by blood and his Chinese ethnicity will be innate in him. It brings him back to the memories of his childhood years. His culture undeniably what becomes the distinction of his identity. The Suocouyant This story also touches much of cultural distinction. In the story, the mother who is suffering from dementia brought her sickness back to her life in Trinidad during the World War II. She also reminisces her sons childhood years in Ontario. Those memories were used in the story to connect the present and the past. In the first part of the story, the mother mentioned about the use of aloe vera in treating burns. This is a manifestation that despite her dying memories, she can still remember something indigenous that is a part of her cultural past. The use of aloe vera is a natural way of treatment. On the other hand, what plays the vital role in the story is the suocouyant. The suocouyant resembles an evil spirit in the Caribbean folklore. The haunting of the Suocouyant in the story also signifies the past that haunts the cultural memories of both the mother and the son. The belief in the suocouyant signifies the past that has long been not dwelt because of the different foreign culture in Canada where they have long been settled. Although it they have lived there for a long time, their cultural background is still a part of their being. It is something undeniable. How they become what they are at present is a mixture of their past and the influence of the society they belong to at the present time. Comparison and Contrast of the Two Stories Similarly, both the novels uses poetic literary style in presenting the message the authors wanted their readers to digest. Both novels use elements that represent cultural legacy. The Diamond Grill uses the functions of the tongue to trace back the Chinese culture and his Chinese ethnicity. The Suocouyant uses the Caribbean folklore to signify the life in Trinidad which was the origins of the author’s bloodline. The two stories both tackle history and culture in rediscovering their individual identity. It is synthesis of one’s past and how it affects and influence the person in his/her present life and in the society they interact with in the present time. In addition, both the stories use personal accounts of two different families. Wah based his story on the retelling of his own family’s experiences regarding racial discrimination. It is what brought his interests to understand his Chinese origins better and learn about Chinese culture more. In the same way, The Suocouyant is based on a story of a mother who is suffering from dementia and her young son who comes back after two years of being away. He then, deals with the dying memory of her mother and the presence of a mysterious young woman. The story then goes back and forth to the mother’s past, his childhood and the present life they have. Both themes are about rediscovering of cultural past and reminiscing cultural memories. The settings of the story also both take place in Canada. Moreover, both the stories courageously discuss racism and discrimination because of the authors’ exposition of cultural symbolism. They both gained criticisms in their novel. However, their literary masterpieces are more realistic and challenging. Their courage to go beyond, if not against the standards of Canadian literary is fair enough to consider them such writers of their own distinction. The authors are Canadian by citizenship but their literary approach find their way back to their origins and ethnicity. That is what made them unique. It might not have made them to be recognized as the best novelists and yet, it made them more remarkable. Their literary works might have gained a lot of criticisms but it has made them gained respect among its readers and fellow novelists at the same time. On the contrary, The Diamond Grill uses more indirect approach by using the sense of taste compared to The Soucouyant which is more direct by using the Caribbean folklore. Since it is a superstitious belief, it is more cultural in approach. Food, however, can be a unique trademark of a culture and yet it is not a strong cultural representation. Of course, the authors use different approach in writing. Wah uses neither a strong poetic style while Chariandy uses a somewhat personal narrative. Furthermore, the time settings of the stories are also different. The Soucouyant is a flashback of the past and the present. It is somewhat a connection of different time space. On the other hand, The Diamond Grill deals more with the present time. It uses the childhood memories of the author itself as he recalls his childhood memories. It is also less dramatic compared to the latter since the latter uses an illness to represent for a human touch. Chariandy also touches a bitter childhood memories instead of happy ones because of sense of belongingness due to racism and discrimination. Wah uses the same experiences as far as his family is concerned, yet his tastes and preferences in food made the emotions lighter. In a way, The Soucouyant is a novel of forgetting with regards to the past of the mother’s kept secrets in the past while The Diamond Grill is a savoring taste of childhood memories. These are two opposing emotions incorporated in the presentation of the same sentiments in the two novels. Conclusion As a conclusion, these two novels do not just deal with cultural roots of the authors. It brings them their cultural identity and individualism. They were both raised and live in Canada but their bloodlines remain innate in them. It also brings them the challenge to know their history and culture better. The challenge in their works is to gain recognition and respect from their colleagues in the literary arena. The courage in bringing up the racism and discrimination in the society you consider your own is in one way or another, a means of criticizing what you have lived with seeing yourself as one of them and yet different. Wah and Chariandy came from different cultural origins. However, they have the same sentiments and use those sentiments in creating literary masterpieces that courageously expose the reality behind racial and cultural discrimination and their rediscovering of their cultural past out of those odd experiences they had. There is a cultural dilemma in every individual. Our childhood experiences and memories will always be a part of what we are and who we are at present. Every person’s identity is greatly influenced and affected not only of how one’s family raised the person. Culture, beliefs and way of discipline will always take part in the formation of an individual. Whether there are external influences, one’s ethnicity and cultural origins will be innate in a person’s individuality. A person’s bloodline is what flows in his vein whether he/she lives in a different society and embraces a different culture. This is what the two novels reflect. What the authors wrote and presented in the novels are the mirrors of their own souls. It is not actually about race and culture. It is about humanity and being human. It is about finding a person’s identity and individuality. References and Works Cited: Chariandy, D. (1969). The Soucouyant. Arsenal Pulp Press. April 03, 2010. Ainsworth C. (1997). The Diamond Grill: A Review. The Peak. Simon Fraser University Newspaper. April 02, 2010. Wah, Fred. (1996). The Diamond Grill. Ne West Publishing Limited. Read More