After completely "A Pair of Tickets" and the House on Mango Street selections, respond to the following prompt. Be sure to complete at least 2 paragraphs of your own and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. I hoping to see some great discussion!
This is due by Sunday, November 8th at midnight
Please respond:
After reading selections from both Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros, discuss the cultural differences between each author. For example, both main characters, Jing Mei, and Esperanza feel a sense of not belonging. Use both texts to support your ideas. (You may need to read more selections out of House on Mango Street) Discuss each author's tone, and the decision to use specific dialect. What do you believe to be the theme of each piece? Was it effective? Back up your points.
Next, discuss the historical implications of the text. During the early and mid 20th century, immigration was not only on the rise, but a controversial issue. How do you believe these authors captured the issues of immigration; both from society's perspective and the perspective of the immigrant?
I realize this post is long, so please take your time and think about each question thoroughly. I want you to use some of your own interpretation. Approach this as if you are speaking to a well-educated audience. Arguments are fine, but casual talk is not. Do your best, you have 5 days to do this, so DO NOT wait unil the last minute!
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Cisneros and Tan both add part of their own culture into their writing, which gives each of the stories a special meaning. Cisneros adds a lot of her Mexican heritage into her stories; she often uses Spanish words, and writes about different traditions in the Mexican culture. Tan writes about returning to China, and her feelings toward her culture after rejecting it for so long before. In House on Mango Street, the main Character Esperanza talks about her life, and neighborhood and people around her, but she often feels out of place, and wants to get out of her neighborhood, a place that she is ashamed of. In, in the beginning Jing Mei describes how she always denied being Chinese. The characters of these stories are very rejecting of their culture, and in a way are ashamed of it, they do not see the significance of their diversity. I think the theme of A Pair of Tickets is Jing Mei finding her identity as a Chinese woman, and being proud of it. The theme of House on Mango Street is very similar, it is a theme of Esperanza’s ability to learn and understand her ethnic diversity, and the importance of it. In the beginning, the tone of the book was dislike for their own culture; they did not fully understand or appreciate the culture. Esperanza expresses many times that she wishes to move away to a nicer house. She is ashamed of her house and the neighborhood she lives in, and she hates the bad name they have, just because of where they live and who they are. After they experience and learn about it, they begin to understand the meaning of the diversity.
ReplyDeleteIn House on Mango Street, Cisneros often throws in some Spanish words, while Tan uses some Chinese. They often refer to many of their individual traditions, for example in House on Mango Street, on page 63 they refer to espiritus, or the spirits, a Mexican tradition that believes in spirits of the dead. Also in A Pair of Tickets, on page 157, they refer to “baby milk names”, a tradition where they make a name for children used to discourage ghosts from stealing children. It is in these traditions that we are able to see the diversity of these cultures, and the great pride they should have for each culture. House on Mango Street definitely captured the issue of immigration very well, especially in the chapter Those Who Don’t. They describe how others view them, and how “they think were dangerous”. This statement is very true, because often times people will see a Mexican, and think they are simply there to do bad, and hurt others, but most of the times that is not true, it is just a misinterpretation most people have because of the stereotypes. Society is often very cruel to others who are “different”, when immigration began to rise, it became a controversial issue. People did not want others who were “different” in their country, because supposedly it was “theirs”. They felt as though the immigrants were “invading”, but why, they didn’t own it. Just in the same way their ancestors came, Germans and French and English were also immigrants when they came over many years ago, so what ‘s the difference, just because they came later, did they miss the cut off date for coming here or what? In conclusion, these authors did a great job in writing from the perspective of an immigrant, describing what an immigrant would feel and see in a new country.
In these two stories I find many similarities between the two main characters and their story. Really, the main difference between them is that one is chinese and one is mexican. The tone in both of the readings is one of distain, one of disgust. They are both upset with their cultures for all the troubles that comes with it and all the things that don't come with it. The theme of the house on mango street seems to be a sense of finding her belonging to the culture. This is the same for a pair of tickets except she needs to find it through her relation to her immediate family. I think that these methods were effective to display to the reader the gradual progression of development of the characters as well as instill the sense of the specific setting. On page 28 in House on Mango Street Cisneros talks of the racial implications that her culture gives off. This makes them different and hated which is why she resents her culture. On page 156 of A Pair of Tickets Tan talks of her character's unique disposition in her culture. Because she is only half chinese she doesn't quite look chinese. She has a love hate relationship with her culture because she still feels hated as a chinese woman but really recieves no benifit of being one because not even her own people will recognize her and so in that she feels she does not belong to the Chinese race and heritage.
ReplyDeleteI feel that both authors described the situation from both sides of the story. Others did not want them there, and they were unsure if they should be there. American society feels threatened by immigration because of the same reasons these characters feel left out. Americans do not want America to have little pockets of China and Mexico and Ireland and whever else people have come from. That is what foreign people do when they come here; they flock together and once again separate themselves from the world outside of their specific culture. Immigrants like the characters feel threatened and intimidated by America which is why many of them do not involve themselves in American customs. They do not want to be rejected. In conclusion I felt both stories did a good job of showing the feelings of the characters and displaying their relationship with the world and troubles around them.
In response to Liz:
ReplyDeleteLiz you talked about stereotypes in your response and I understand where you are coming from and I see how stereotypes have a negative effect on you. When I see Liz Rodriguez I think of a well rounded, positive person who is highly in touch with her culture and that is something to be respected. However you are an example of an exception to the stereotype. Many of the Mexicans I see are not like you and therefore distinguish themselves. People always get mad at other people for stereotyping groups. What they do not realize is that that group sterotypes themselves. If they did not want to be noticably different then they would not act that way. But they do so therefore society notices and gives them racial slurs fitting of the type. Like people have the right to act and dress how they wish, like thuglifes in this stereotypical instance, I have the right to react to their actions how I wish.
Between Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros, the biggest cultural difference is the background of the two families. Jing Mei being a little Chinese girl and Esperanza being a Hispanic are different geographically. They have come from two completely different parts of the world but they have the same struggles. Jing Mei has a had a difficult relating to her ethnic background, “when I was fifteen and had vigorously denied that I had any Chinese whatsoever below my skin.” Jing Mei couldn’t find her identity, because she didn’t look Chinese she said she wasn’t. The theme of “A Pair of Tickets” is Jing Mei finding her identity and being accepting of that. Esperanza also had a hard time with relating herself to her ethnicity. Esperanza sees how the stereotype describes the Hispanic people and she is put down because of that. “Those who don’t know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think we’re dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake.” (28) Esperanza doesn’t believe she is accepted anywhere she talks to her friends and they don’t know what she is talking about, “Look at that house, I said, it looks like Mexico. Rachel and Lucy look at me like I’m crazy.” (17) The theme of The House on Mango Street is Esperanza finding who she is and being sucure with herself and being proud.
ReplyDeleteAmy Tan and Sandra Cisneros captured the issues of immigration in everyday situations. In The House on Mango Street captures the issues by telling stories of what Esperanza experiences and feels about what is happening around her at the time. Even though the authors are writing about different groups of people, they capture the essence of real people living through real problems they had of not being accepted. Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros did a great job of telling a story of problems that immigrants live through on a daily lifestyle.
"A Pair of Tickets" and The House on Mango Street both portray characters who fel as though they do not fit in with those who share their culture. In Tan's short story, Jing-Mei has lost her mother and is about to meet several relatives for the first time, in China. While she can understand some Mandarin she cannot read or speak Chinese very well. Additionally, she feels like her sisters will resent her for the loss of their mother, her father has met all of these people before, and they are all speaking a language she cannot communicate with. In The House on Mango Street Esperanza has white friends and is experiencing racial steryotypes. She feels isolated and different, like she is driving others away because of where she comes from. "In the meantime they'll just have to move a little farther north from Mango Street, a little farther away every time people like us keep moving in" (Cisneros 13).
ReplyDeleteI believe the theme of "A Pair of Tickets" is acceptance of who you are, or more specifically, who Jing-Mei thinks she is or should be. She states the throughout her childhood she denied being Chinese and that her mother claimed that it was in her blood and she couldn't change it. When Jing-Mei travels to China with her father she has a sort of inward tug-of-war with who she thought she was and who she feels she is now.
I believe the theme of The House on Mango Street is Esperanza's desire to not be a racial steryotype, to be different than her culture. The following quote indicates she strives not to meet her falimy's/culture's expectations:
"In the movies there is always theone with red red lips whos is beautiful and cruel. She is the one who drives the men crazy and laughs them all away. Her power is her own. She will not give it away. I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate' (89). Both themes were clear but only because they were both written in first person. It is easier when the characters talk to the readers.
Both authors portray the difficulty of immigration. Tan and Cisneros shows readers how often immigrants are running away from their culture or attempting to better themselves. Cisneros writes how society does not appove of immigration, how people shun those who come into our country because of pride, fear, or simple arrogance.
In response to Adam:
ReplyDeleteI really like your last paragraph and your point that, though they are from two different cultures and are two different people, they relay the same message. Also, your quotes proved your points well.
Both Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros have many cultural differences between them, which come out in their writings. One is Mexican, and the other Chinese, and each uses the experiences in their lives, and with their cultures as examples in their writing. Cisneros uses stories from growing up in a Latino section of Chicago and how that affected who she became today, and how she became more accepting of her own culture, while Tan’s story, “A pair of Tickets”, echoes what she went through in her life, and how she started to accept her Chinese American identity. Each author felt a sense of not completely belonging to their culture, but in different ways. Cisneros feels like she is part of the culture, but does not like her neighborhood and the things that happen there, so she feels separated and wants to leave. “No, this is not my house I say and shake my head as if shaking could undo the year I’ve lived here…Not me. Not until somebody makes it better (107).” Tan doesn’t really fell like a part of her culture either, but hers is more within her family. “…I was fifteen and had vigorously denied that I had any Chinese whatsoever below my skin.” Both stories had similar themes, which were about finding their identities in their cultures, and feeling accepted and a part of them. Each author was very effective in their writing, and very convincing.
ReplyDeleteCisneros and Tan both captured the issues of immigration both from society’s and the immigrant’s perspectives in their writings. Society’s perspective is that sometimes other ethnicities are not always welcome, and sometimes there are problems because of that. Americans didn’t want tons of other people coming into their land. From the perspective of the immigrant, they felt unwanted and separated because of they were a different culture or race. All they were trying to do was make a better life for themselves, but were sometimes mistreated because of their ethnicity.
In response to liz fred:
ReplyDeleteI liked it when you said,"Both themes were clear but only because they were both written in first person. It is easier when the characters talk to the readers." From a literary standpoint I view this as an easy way for the author to communicate to the reader. I think this is why those Women of America books did so well. I'm refering to the books that were like the diary of some girl who was set in a historic situation or time like the civil war. I feel like with these types of writings where the character talks to the reader makes it easy to see the proggression of the character, like not a static character but the other type of character that I can't remember the label of. The one that shows change. I feel that this technique makes it so that it feels like the reader is there with the character, involved and immersed. A well fitting technique for these stories and their themes.
In response to Parker:
ReplyDeleteI like how you said both characters felt disconnected to their cultures but differently. I felt like one of them was running away from her culture while the other was attempting to embrace it.
Both of the authors of these stories seem to be annoyed that they were born how they were. Amy Tan eludes to the fact that she did not even view herself as a Chinese person, and thinks that she is just like her white friends. Sandra Cisneros feels shame for the way that other people perceive her culture. Throughout some of the stories, she is being stereotyped by6 those around her. She also feels put down when her white friends do not understand her. She is ashamed that when other people see the people in her neighborhood they think that they are dangerous and she feels put down because of it. Both of their tones show that they are disappointed in their ethnicity sometimes, but when it comes down to it, they both become proud of who they are. The theme in both of these stories is finding out who you are, and being proud of it. The dialect that these two authors use, serve to help the reader understand theirtr5 cultures more, and to help the reader understand what they were feeling. I think that both of the authors did a good job of conveying their message.
ReplyDeleteIn this story Sandra Cisneros did a good job of discussing the hardships of immigration. She related how the main character was having a hard time fitting in with all of her white friends. She was used to doing things differently back home and it was hard for her to be criticized for the things she said, and the way that she acted. Tan also shows the difficulties of immigration. The main character wanted really badly to not act like she was Chinese. She wanted her mother not to talk like she was Chinese, because people stereotyped them when she spoke in broken English, and it made her mother look like she wasn't smart. Both of the authors also capture ho society reacted to different cultures. Sandra Cisnero relates how people were scared to walk through their neighborhood because they were afraid of Mexicans. In "Two Tickets", the girl tells how people reacted to her mother when she talked to them, and they realized she was Chinese. They looked down on her, and sometimes even refused her service. I think that both authors did a good job of relating the racial stereotypes that people had regarding different cultures.
In response to Zack
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that there are reasons for the stereotypes that are given to them. Some stereotypes are uncalled for and aren't right. As long as people can realize that there are exceptions to the stereotype, and they don't judge someone without first finding out how they really are. It's hard for me to hear people giving Mexicans some stereotypes, but then i realize that they are kind of right and it wouldn't be right for me to just call them racist if they have a point.
"A Pair of Tickets", by Amy Tan, and "The House on Mango Street", by Sandra Cisneros, are both short stories that can be compared to one another because of the cultural differences each story has. Cisneros is a Mexican author and her background and heritage are shown throughout her writings. The main character in "The House on Mango Street" is Esperanza, she is a young girl who is ashamed of where she comes from and is trying to find herself. She has a constant struggle trying to understand why people look at her in a different way, and realizes that her neighborhood is quite different from the rest. "Those who don't know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think were dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake" (28). Esperanza is very aware that the people of difference race than she is don't exactly want to have anything to do with her. Esperanza wants to get away, she wants to find a place where she feels accepted. In "A Pair of Tickets", Amy Tan writes about Jing Mei who is the main character. She is a girl who had awlays rejected her culture. She felt like she was on the outside looking in, as if she didn't belong in her family. "But today I realize I've never really known what it means to be Chinese. I am thirty-six years old. My mother is dead and I am on a train, carrying with me her dreams of coming home. I am going to China (153). Jing Mei felt like she owed it to her mother to at least go home to China and see her culture for herself. She felt so far away from being Chinese, so she wanted to visit China to try to understand where she came from a little better. A similarity between these two characters is the fact that both girls felt so ashamed and distant from their true cultures. They weren't very accepting of who they were, and tried to find their identity somehow. The mexican and chinese cultures are quite different from one another, but yet the two stories can intertwine with eachother. They both have certain dialect and each author adds their own cultural touch. There are different experiences that each Esperanza and Jing Mei had but yet the two girls handled them in the same rejecting way, where they felt as if they didn't belong. There was a very specific way each author portrayed their writing. It was all effective and accurate in letting the reader in on how each culture went. It was easy to depict a sense of what the Chinese and Mexican race went through, and how they handled being apart of their own culture. On page 88 and 89 in "The House on Mango Street", Esperanza talks about how she wants to stand up and be different. "...but I have decided not to grow up tame like the others who lay their necks on the threshold waiting for the ball and chain...I have begun my own quiet war." Esperanza wants so dearly to start a different life for herself. She wants to be powerful and doesn't want to live in her old, run down, neighborhood for the rest of her life. She wants to be different than what people see of her. In "A Pair of Tickets", Jing Mei was in complete denial that she was even Chinese. '"Cannot be helped," my mother said when I was fifteen and had vigorously denied that I had any Chinese whatsoever below my skin. I was a sophomore at Galileo High in San Francisco, and all my Caucasian friends agreed: I was about as Chinese as they were"' (152). Jing Mei was confused and couldn't even understand her own heritage and how she was apart of it.
ReplyDeleteBoth Sandra Cisneros and Amy Tan captured the issue of immigratin immensely well. The characters in the story knew that society looked at them in a different way. Immigrants coming to America were not necessarily looked at in a positive light. The two authors do a nice job of explaining each culture and the lifestyle's that came with them. Through these stories, it was easy to see that immigration was indeed a controversial topic along with the fact that it was on the rise and becoming more and more of a popular topic. Also, both stories did an accurate job of describing what exactly it would be like to be in an immigrants shoes. How difficult it would be to be apart of a heritage that was rejected and looked down upon in so many ways. Both authors captured the true meaning of the mexican and chinese cultures.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Parker
ReplyDeleteI like when you said that there are problems that rise when other ethnicities come into your country. It causes problems because they are different and sometimes people don't like it. You summed up pretty much all of what racism comes down to.
In response to Liz F: I totally agree with what you said the themes were in each story. I viewed them in the same way you did and I liked that you said they were easy to point out because of the fact they were both in first person. It is definetly easier to understand and connect to the story when the characters do talk to the reader. And what Zach also said to your response I agree with. I liked how you thought the technique the authors used made it seem like we, as readers, were right there with the character.
ReplyDeleteBoth authors convey the same basic message in their stories, and in a sense, portray themselves through their main characters. Neither of their main characters feel a sense of belonging to the culture that both of their families have grown up in. Neither Jing Mei nor Esperanza quite understand their culture and all the things that come with it, which could be a reason neither of them have come to terms with fully accepting their heritage.
ReplyDeleteIn "A Pair of Tickets," Jing Mei travels to China after her mother's death to be introduced to family she's never met before. She feels as though this side of her family won't be accepting of her just because of her American background, and the fact she's been there for so long. She feels out of place when her father speaks to her relatives in a language that she doesn't understand, and thinks that her sisters already have preconceived notions as to why she's in China speaking of their mother's death. Because of the fact that communication with her family is difficult, along with her dismissal of her family's culture, she feels as though she doesn't belong. She feels farther away from her family now than ever before, and realizes that where she's from doesn't change who her family is. For example, when Jing Mei meets her sisters for the first time, they immediately recognize who she is from the picture that she had sent them. They all come together to hug, and Jing Mei's sisters say the word 'mama' as if their mother was right there with them. This shows that her sisters are fully accepting of her, regardless of the fact they haven't seen her. Therefore, through Tan's character of Jing Mei, the theme of family unity stands out to me most in the way that her family came together after being separated for so long by distance.
In "The House on Mango Street," Cisneros explains how Esperanza is feeling extremely distant from her Mexican heritage. She explains how Esperanza feels as though she is nothing more than a mere stereotype, and that things weren't ever going to change for her. Regardless of the fact that she has friends that are of a different race than she is, she still feels as though her Mexican background is pushing everyone away from her. She didn't understand why people didn't just get to know her, because she thought that maybe then they wouldn't think about her and her family and friends the way that they did before. She didn't see why she was looked at so differently, or why people wouldn't move into her neighborhood just because everyone living on the block was Mexican. She didn't get why they thought she was dangerous, or why people felt uneasy driving through the neighborhood, because she was no different than anyone else. Cisneros effectively conveys the theme of her story through Esperanza. The fact that she wanted so badly to be different than those around her thought she was was the main theme of the story.
The immigration issue of our society has implanted fear into those seeking a fresh start in a different country. I'm not saying that I'm for the people who come here that aren't legal or anything like that, I'm saying that because of the stereotypes people have of different cultures and ethnicities, those people are afraid to relocate, mainly because of the ridicule they could possibly be facing in their new home. Regardless of the fact that the immigrants were only looking to better the lives of themselves and their families, the bitterness people have towards immigrants make them feel unwelcome in the new country.
To Liz F.
ReplyDeleteLike Zach said, I liked how you said it was easier to gather the information you needed because of the fact that both of the stories were written in first person. The idea that the characters are speaking directly to the audience makes it easier to understand what they're saying, and the message that they're trying to convey to their audience.
To Audrey.
I liked what you said about both of the author's effectively capturing the feelings that the immigrants would have moving to a new country. None of us REALLY know what it would be like to pick up and move with our families to somewhere completely out of our element, so I agree with you when you say that they made it easy to understand that none of us have any clue as to how hard making a move like that would be.
In response to Adam: I agree with what you said about the two authors capturing the experiences and the two different cultures through their writings. You made a great point when you said that even though the two authors were writings about completely different cultures, they still captured the meaning of each culture and the real life experiences that came with the characters.
ReplyDeleteIn both stories, “A Pair of Tickets” and the House on Mango Street, both authors use narration and description to tell a story about an individual seeking and establishing their own identity because they do not know where they belong. In both stories, the authors tie their own culture and heritage to help tell the story. In “A Pair of Tickets”, Jing-Mei travels with her father to meet with family she has never known. In the beginning of the story, she feels out of place because even though she is Chinese, she is different from the rest of her family. For example, when unlike the rest of her short family, Jing-Mei is very tall. “Even without makeup, I could never pass for true Chinese. I stand five-foot-six, and my head pokes above the crowd so that I am eye level only with other tourists.” (156) Since she was raised in America and doesn’t even look like the rest of her family, Jing-Mei tells denies her Chinese heritage and won’t accept it Later on, however, she discovers that she actually loves her Chinese family and they share mush in common. At last, she has found her identity. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the themes of “A Pair of Tickets are the challenge of cultural differences and accepting one’s heritage as part of one’s identity.
ReplyDeleteIn her story, Cisneros tells the tale of Esperanza, a Chicana (Mexican-American girl) whose family moves onto Mango Street when she is twelve. In the story, Esperanza significantly matures both sexually and emotionally. She is tired of being stereotyped and is determined to be different from both the stereotypical Mexican and what her family expects of her. “In the movies there is always the one with red lips who is beautiful and cruel. She is the one who drives the men crazy and laughs them all away. Her power is her own. She will not give it away. I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate' (89). In the story, she is also far different from her white friends because of her own unique experiences and heritage. The main themes of this story are the struggle for self-definition and finding self-definition though one’s culture.
Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros captured the issues of immigration in everyday situations. In her story, Cisneros tells of how Esperanza is treated and viewed because of her Latino heritage. Everyone expects her to be just like the stereotypical Mexican, but she proves that although culture is part one’s identity, everyone is unique and build their own identity. In “A Pair of Tickets”, Tan confronts the immigration issue by providing a first-person story of a woman whose family immigrated from China and how she learns to blend her Chinese and American heritage/experiences and finds comfort in them. Essentially, both authors are successful in demonstrating how immigrants are faced with the decision of holding to their old customs and not conforming the new land they live in, abandoning those customs To conform, or blending the culture of both and taking root from there.
In response to Parker:
ReplyDeleteI think you summed up the immigration controversy well when you said: "Society’s perspective is that sometimes other ethnicities are not always welcome, and sometimes there are problems because of that. Americans didn’t want tons of other people coming into their land. From the perspective of the immigrant, they felt unwanted and separated because of they were a different culture or race. All they were trying to do was make a better life for themselves, but were sometimes mistreated because of their ethnicity." The pint is that they Were trying to make a better life for themselves, and how they were treated because of their culture or race was an obstacle they had to overcome
In response to Liz Fred:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the theme of Tan's story.You said:"I believe the theme of "A Pair of Tickets" is acceptance of who you are, or more specifically, who Jing-Mei thinks she is or should be." Throughout the story, Jing-Mei is having a hard time connecting with her Chinese heritage and accepting it as a part of her. In the end, she learned to accept and embrace her Chinese blood.
Cisneros and Tan are both very influenced by their own cultures and this is seen in their writting. They both reject their own heritiage. This is seen in both authors works works when they speak of the lands which their faimies are from. Tan describes her character Jing Mei and how she has rarely felt chinese and disregards the label in her own life. It is only when she is an adult and on the train to China that she truly begins to feel a sense of belonging to her heritage. She realizes why her mother wants her to go to her home country and why it is so important for her as a person to return to China(153). The theme in Tan's writing comes straight from this feeling and is the importance of finding herself and unsterstanding heritage and chinese identity. She uses a tone of nervousness and apprehension to help describe her feelings of going to China to visit the family that she has never known or seen. They speak a completely different language and she feels that her sisters might reject her for how American she has become in living away from China.
ReplyDeleteCisneros on the other hand, uses Esperanza and shows how she accepts that she is Mexican but rejects the past that she has come from. In "A House on Mango Street" she gives glimpses into the life of Esperanza and shows how her character is feeling distant from her strong cultural background due to the stereotype placed on her. "Those who don't know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think we're dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake"(28). She feels out of place in America even while she is with her friends who accept her. Esperanza is ashamed of her heritage and where she has come from. The theme of the book is her struggles to find herself and come to terms with her past and her ties to her Mexican culture.
I believe that both authors captured the ideas of immigration and what was going on at the time when immigration was on the rise. Cisneros especially captures her audience and describes the feeling of American towards the Mexican immigrants. She tells of feeling of rejection, hate, and alarm. People did not understand the Mexican culture and related the people to violence and povery. American did not want to associate with them.
In "A Pair of Tickets" Tan looks at the other side and describes the apprihension of Jing Mie who has moved away from China and is now returning for the first time. She has a sence of fear the the people there, her sisters especially, will reject her for becoming too American and losing a sense of chinese heritage. What she doesnt expect is how well is is accepted by her culture and by her family.
In response to Liz R:
I like that you comment on how both authors use the language of their own countries to communicate the heritage and tradition of the culture. I also just like everything you say about how society views immigrants and the misinterpretation that comes through the view that society holds. It is true, Mexican people are not ususally looking to hurt anyone or do something bad and harmful. It is just the way that people have come to see them and it is not right. We need to be more understanding of other cultures and become more accepting of immigrants, for they are not here to do bad, they are trying to make it like everyone else. :)
In response to Meghan:
I like that you touch on the fact the even though Esperanza has white friends who gladly accept her, she still has a sense of being avoided by Americans. She still feels as if her skin color is pushing people away from her. You said that her sense of longing to finally fit in and not be looked at differntly just because of her race was the theme of the story and I have to agree with you. Esperanza does have a great longing to fit in and it drives her to have a differnt life for herself.
I think both Amy Tan and Sanda Cisneros themed their stories to help readers understand more about adapting in different cultures and about the differences within cultures. It's hard for us to understand how those who have immigrated or who are the minority in a specific location. Even Sandra Cisneros says, "They are the only ones who understand me. I am the only one who understands them" (74).
ReplyDeleteAlthough immigration was not that big of an issue back when each of these stories were written, being in a different place than what was home to Tan and Cisneros made them feel alone and out of place. They did not feel they belonged, and others looked upon them as beings who did not belong where they were at. In Amy Tan's story, she mentioned about how she could not understand the language very well, but after some time she felt more comfortable because she was with her family, which is where she was meant to be.
In response to Zach's response to Liz R...
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you explained that there are exceptions to the stereotypes. There are some of those people who fit the stereotypes and others who don't. I don't have much to expand upon this, though, unfortunately.
The themes in both "A Pair of Tickets" and "House on Mango Street" are very oviouse. The theme is very similar in both stories. They are both about immigrants learning to fit in and find their place and in life. Both Jing-Mei and Esperanza are trying to find a way to fit in. Jing-Mei is a Chinees girl and she travels with her father to visit her family that she has never met, and even though she is Chineese she does not fit in with the rest of her family. "I could never pass for Chineese. I stand six-foot six" (156). Jing-Mei feels very lost and does not feel like she shares anything with her family, but later on she discovers that she actually has a lot in common with her family. The story "House on Mango Street" is very similar to this. The only difference is that it is about a Mexican girl named Esperanza that is having a hard time finding her way in life and fitting in. At the end of this story she eventually finds where she belongs and who she is. Very similar to the other story. Therefor, it is obvious to see that both of these stories have similar themes and that is finding ones place in life even though you may feel very different from everyone else.
ReplyDeleteBoth Amy Tan and Cisneros Capture the issues of immigration mostly from the immigrant themselves, but you can also see the reactions to immigration from other people. In the story "House on Mango Street", Cisneros shows how Esperanza, being the immigrant, wants to fit in with society around her, and how the white kids dont really allow her to fit in because of their reactions to her because she is an immigrant from Mexico. Amy Tan also shows how Jing-Mei does not fit in with her family, but her family excepts her and shows her that she is not really that different from them, so there is a little bit of a difference in how other people react to her, sut there is still that feeling of not belonging from Jing-Mei. This really gives a little insite into what the daily issues with immigration were like in the 20 th century.
In response to Meghan...
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about how the issue of immigration as instilled fear in people. Those who do choose to move to a new location can be scared to be there, so they want to stay with those of the same race. Hence why some of the areas in Colorado are primarily one ethnicity of people. Then tend to group together and stay close to each other, because they are frightened to move to a place where they feel they don't belong.
In response to Liz Fred:
ReplyDeleteI pretty much agree with everything you said. I think that this it was a lot easier to find the themes of these stories because the author is actually talking to the reader in first person. This makes it much easier to understand and you the reader doesn't have to do quite as much interpreting what the author meant with what they said.
In response to Zach's response to Liz R:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on that Zach. It is as if groups of people enjoy their stereotypes and that they actually try to fit them. In addition i think that in stereotypes there is an awful lot of truth simply because people don't try to change other peoples perception of them and instead they actually try to fit it.
In response to Nathans response to Liz F:
ReplyDeleteI agree that Jing-Mei not only accepted her chinese blood, but i think that she accepted her family too. To me, troughout the story, she seemed kind of distant from her family and her heritage, like Tan was, and at the end truly accepted them.
In Response to Zach:
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you worded your comment, stating that it is not everyone that fits the stereotype, and I do believe that there is that group of people that choose to stereotype themselves, and so it gives a bad name to the rest of us, because that is how everyone sees us, ruining it for everyone else, because not everyone is like that.
In Response to Liz Fred:
I like the comment where you said that people are running away from their culture in order to better themselves, and I agree with the part that they want to better themselves, but disagree with the part where you say that they are running away from their culture, this may be true in some cases, but not so true in most, because people actually bring their culture with them, in order to feel more at home in their "new home", this is why you see so much diversity in America, and this is why you see so many different cultures here, because they bring it with them, not running away from it.
In response to everyone:
ReplyDeleteWhether or not who puts stereotypes on different ethnic group isn’t the problem. I don’t care if it’s the group themselves or another group judging them. The fact is that everyone deserves the “American Dream” and when stereotypes stops people from being successful that’s the problem. Believe it or not some people get offended when stereotypes are about them. Nothing should stop a person’s dream when they come to America and it’s wrong that people should feel disgraced about their ethnic background!
In response to Audrey:
ReplyDeleteI really liked when you said Esperanza and Jing Mei went through different experiences but handled them the same way of feeling rejected. I also like when you said that Esperanza wants to get out of the neighborhood that she lives in and do better for herself. That’s what we all want to do improve our living and by doing that we need to be successful.
Well known for their writtings on cultural difference and personal struggle with that, Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros paint a vivid picture to readers about their culture. Jing Mei and Esperanza felt ashamed of their heritage and wished for their life to be different. There are mostly similarities found between the stories, "The House on Mango Street" and "A Pair of Tickets," however, the two most obvious cultural differences are that Jing Mei was a Chineese girl and Esparanza is Mexican. Also, it could be infered by the reader that Jing Mei and her family were more financially stable then Esperanza.
ReplyDeleteJing Mei, in "A Pair of Tickets," was continually upset and uncomfotable knowing that she was Chineese. She never really felt like it, but others around her told her differently. "all my Caucasian friends agreed:I was about as Chineese as they were(152)." Her mother stated once, "Once you are born Chineese, you cannot help but feel and think Chineese(153)." One of the main reasons she wishes to deny her culture, is because she doesn't feel like she really fits in.“Even without makeup, I could never pass for true Chinese. I stand five-foot-six, and my head pokes above the crowd so that I am eye level only with other tourists(156).” "A Pair of Tickets," ends up with the conclusion of her actually accepting her cultural and realizing that she is proud of where she comes from, despite the long road leading up to that point.
"The House of Mango Street," Esperanza is a little Mexican girl who wishes the negativaty of her neighborhood and her people didn't exist. Cisneros writtes from the perspective of a young girl living in a poor neighborhood, observing life, well her life. Although she is young, and says things simply, she understands the sterotype placed upon her. She hates it. "Those who don't know us come into our neighborhood scared. They think we are dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake(28)." In the chapter, "A House of My Own," it is evident that Esperanza wants more out of her life then what she already has. "Not a flat. Not an apartment in back. Not a man's house. Not a daddy's house. A house all my own. With my porch and my pillow, my pretty purple petunais. My books and my stores. My two shoes waiting beside the bed. Nobody to shake a stick at. Nobody's garbage to pick up after(108)."
The theme of both stories was pretty evident through Tan's and Cisneros writtings. Both Jing Mei and Esperanza struggled with their cultural diversity, however came to somewhat of a revealation that they are who they are, and must accept it. This doesn't have to mean accepting the steryotypes that go along with their races, but enoying their culture and who they are. Cisneros story is written through the eyes of a young girl. This adds to the euthentisity of the novel and a more personable feel. Immagration was and is a conversial topic because the human race has a problem with others who are "different" then them. This will make the immagrant feel unwanted and rejected in many ways and situations. Sterotypes can often lead to hostility and pain.
Both Tan and Cisneros add a lot of their culture into their writing. Tan created the sense of not belonging in her own heritage. She doesn’t always understand that she is Chinese. She finally realizes, “now I also see what part of me is Chinese. It is so obvious. It is my family. It is in our blood”. Cisneros used a different style to show not belonging. Esperanza shows how others that come into her neighborhood are afraid. But she says that she is afraid to go into their neighborhoods. Tan uses the tone to portray that she doesn’t always fit in, even in her own culture. She shows the Chinese culture through traditions and names. She says, “I think it’s funny she has just called my father “Little Wild Goose.” It must be his baby milk name, the name used to discourage ghosts from stealing children”. Cisneros writes about Esperanza, even showing the attention span of a child, or the stream of consciousness. She shows that Mexican culture through traditions, houses, and food. She wrote, “And then she made me stand up on a box of books and point. That one? She said, pointing to a row of ugly three-flat, the ones even the raggedy men are ashamed to go into. Yes, I nodded even though I knew that wasn’t my house and started to cry. I always cry when nuns yell at me, even if they’re not yelling”(45). The theme of Tan’s story is that the main character rejects her culture, and then comes to embrace it. The theme is similar to Cisneros’ stories. Esperanza doesn’t like her culture or her house. She then comes to realize that she wants to leave to come back for the ones she left behind. She says, “They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind” (110). Both were effective and portrayed that the characters come to embrace their cultures that they had rejected for so long.
ReplyDeleteIn both texts, it is clear the traditions and culture in both, whether it be from ‘baby names to discourage ghosts’ to a ‘rice sandwich.’ Tan showed how rejected immigrants were through the main character. Jing for most all of her life has rejected her culture in order to fit in more. Immigration was not wanted by all but there was still a China town. Only in the end does Jing understand how her culture is a part of her and that she should embrace it. Cisneros writes similarly. Esperanza is ashamed most of the time of her house or not having red heels. Cisneros writes how the people of the time were afraid of Mexican neighborhoods. She writes, “Those who don’t know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think we’re dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake” (28). Esperanza shows that she is not afraid and she eventually comes to embrace her culture.
In response to Liz R.:
ReplyDeleteEsperanza does really begin to understand the meaning of diversity. Both main characters for the two stories do. I think both of them don’t embrace it at first because everyone around them wants their culture to be stifled. The characters finally learn to embrace their culture and be proud of it.
In response to Nathan:
ReplyDeleteI agree that both authors used a story to show how the characters were finding their identity. Neither wants to be the stereotype of their culture, so they reject it. they come to realize that they are not stereotypes, but embracing their culture is actually a good thing.
Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros have a large cultural difference, but they both connect to one another. In " A house on Mango street" the theme portrayed, easily, through out is the re occurring theme is of a sense of being known, accepted, and feeling comfortable with one's self. Linking to " A Pair of Tickets" both story's have the same cultural references, but of different races. In both short stories one can see the difficulty of possession and self worth or dignity. Being a Chinese kid and not looking the part is difficult and hard. I can under stand that one may not feel accepted in there own race. Usually Chinese people are short, tinted skin, and have slanted eyes. Jing Mei feels out of place it says that she is five foot six and light skinned, "Even without makeup, I could never pass for true Chinese. I stand five-foot-six, and my head pokes above the crowd so that I am eye level only with other tourists(156).” While her journey to accepting her self is faced we can also see that little Esperanza, in another short story, is faced with the same complications, but with different view points. Esperanza has a hard time accepting her for her she lives in a house that " looks like mexico" and her friends always make fun of her. She doesn't truly have a best friend and wants to be different, but feels like she cant because then she wouldn't be like "family" any more. Different stereotypes are seen through out both stories, and even i made one about Jing Mei. Stereotypes are seen every where in every way and both short stories exemplify how they look and could be handled. Many people can come across as scared or tempted just by looking at something or someone and judging it. Esperanza talks briefly about her neighborhood and its appearances, "Those who don't know any better come into our neighborhood scared. They think we're dangerous. They think we will attack them with shiny knives. They are stupid people who are lost and got here by mistake"(28). What one may see appears to be naked to another's eyes. In both cases one is judged by how they look, where they live, and how / where they're grown up. These stories are every day life for a lot us.
ReplyDeleteIn today's society people play there different roles. This might sound racist or whatever, but I'm not trying to be and I'm not. Today white people are seen as cocky, rich, and snobs, or just straight up trash. Black people are seen as athletes that try hard and ear what they have, but can also be poor and outcast that stay in groups. Asians are seen as the commercial people; they all own business' and have awesome food or own restaurants, like Pho; down the street. Different races have there own classifications in everyday life. How we act and what we do judges who we are. Immigration in society and for the immigrant him/ her selves can be played out through both stories. In "A pair of tickets" Jing Mei is not classified like one can be seen to be; she is different making her life harder and her more confused about her self. A immigrant, as i see it, is one that travels to a place where he or she is not used to therefore being the outcast in that society. When someone is in a different place then they seem to be more quite or hesitant in their actions. The others around watch what they do and they play like the viewers. Immigration is a huge part in society today still and we still judge people if there not from around here. We view them as outcast or secretly say things about them or just think them. Based off of how and what they do we put them into a stereotype just as the two short stories do with Jing Mei and Esperanza.
In Response to Tyler Roberts:
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are a lot of people that do fit there sterotype. Thats why we have them...because they are true to a certain extent, however, I am not sure if they try and fit them. If so many races are angry at a certain reputation they get, why would they purposely fall into themselves? I think that they feel like they have no hope of getting better or finding success, so instead they just don't try. It is the mindset of "if I don't try, then I can't fail."
A question for everyone:
We all touched on immagration and had many similar ideas. Such as not accepting people that are different then us, and then in turn having the other race feel like outcasts and rejected. When did this negative connotation of immagration begin? After all, isn't that how America and the United States came to be? Immagrants?
In response to Tina:
ReplyDeleteI don't think Jing Mei rejects her culture, but rather she feels uncomfortable with her own adherence so she feels like an outcast. I do agree with you that through out both stories i think both characters would stand up for there cultures no matter what. Good flow, and it communicates what you want to say clearly.
In response to Adam:
ReplyDeleteYou tell 'em Adam!!
Inresponse to Erin:
I think you are absolutely right to ask that question. Our country was founded upon those who came here from England and then all the countries that followed. But it is a good question, where did the stereotypes come from? I can understand how people would look down on Mexicans and disregard their race, no offense to anyone, but i find myself doing it. I don't want to sound like a hypocrite so I'll openly admit it. We all think we are better than someone else and for Americans to think that way about Mexicans is very easy. Mexco in general is not a wealthy country and the vast majority of the population live in poverty so it is easy for us to look at them and see ourselves as better. My question to that is "What are we doing about it?" We as a people have so much we can give to help and yet we are selfish and won't do it. Not because we can't but because we don't want to. I'll stop this rant here but you do raise a good question.
In response to Erin:
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Esperanza and Jing Mei "felt ashamed of their heritage". Each character had different flaws of their own as; we see in our selves everyday. They both can't see them selves fitting in with others around them or there culture like students entering high school. When someone transfers schools or something there usually shy or try to find a "group" in which they see them selves with. I rarely see anyone walk into a group in which they feel like they would be a outcast. Through out each story we can see that both characters are scared to be them because they don't think that its the right thing to do, or that they might not be good enough. As one learns to grow up and stand up for their beliefs, culture, and dignity, other's can see and respect that pride. A presentation of one self can judge the future of that person and who/ what they will have in their lives. Heritage, culture, and religious belief's plays a big role in today's society and one could feel none accepted, but in the end i think there not ashamed just blind in what they think they don't have to proud in. ( if that makes sense to you...)
ADAM! I LOVE THAT YOU STOOD UP LIKE THAT! I TOTALLY AGREE! woot woot=D the " american dream" should stand for any one. All people are equal and should have the right to undergo different things through out life. They shouldn't be judged on their race or background. EVERYONE IS CREATED EQUAL! we all have a chance to live our dreams and accomplish what we feel can be done, but its up to us to set that path or to let what others say draw us back.
ReplyDeleteAmy Tan and Sandra Cisneros are both authors who portray cultural differences through their writings. Even though they were both from different cultures, I believe that that is the only main difference behind their stories. In Amy Tan’s short story “A Pair of Tickets”, Jing Mei is Chinese girl who had always rejected her culture. “I was fifteen and had vigorously denied that I had any Chinese whatsoever below my skin.” Due to the death of her mother, she was forced to travel to China to meet some relatives. In Cisneros book The House on Mango Street she portrays a young Mexican girl named Esperanza who didn’t quite long for what her culture had to present to her and didn‘t want to fit the normal stereotype of her culture. She didn’t want to get married and she wasn’t quite like the people she hung around. She had friends who had been white but didn’t quite understand her.
ReplyDeleteThe general theme of a sense of longing in their cultures. Jing Mei was uncomfortable and didn’t know how to speak much Mandarin which everyone around her knew how to. She rejected it because it was different from the other people that she was constantly around. Esperanza often felt that she didn’t want to get married nor stay under her parents household which was the case for most Mexican woman. She wanted to have the privilege to be free to experience things.
Another main problem that helped to portray this cultural theme in the two writings was the issue of immigration. In the time period these were written, immigration was a major problem that many people didn’t accept. The authors really portrayed how many people didn’t understand their cultures. Cisneros supports this when Esperanza points out a house and says that it reminds her of Mexico, but her white friends look at her as if she were crazy. Tan supports the idea through when Jing Mei talks about how her white friends think of her as much Chinese as they were. These girls both had problems of acceptance of their cultures and longed for a different way of life. The authors were very clear and precise with their themes and getting their ideas across very vividly.
Amy and Sandra have differences in their writings, but their stories are actuall very similar. Both of the stories describe a sense of wanting to belong. I find the only big difference to be that the two stories touch down on two different ethnicities. It would be hard not iftting in where you feel like your'e supposed to belong. I suppose that negative stereotypes often separate us from where we feel we belong, and i think that both of these short stories focus on this point. People are quick to judge others, and it comes with no suprise that the victims often feel isolated.
ReplyDeleteJing Mei is a chineese girl who doesn't get why she doesn't fit the picture of the stereotypical Asian. She knows she doesn't look it, but she feels like she shouldn't be grouped in that category. "All my Caucasian friends agreed: i was about as Chineese as they were."(152)At fisrt, she is confused about why things are the way they were, but in the end she realizes the importance of her heritage, and comes to accept who she is. Esperanza, just like Jing Mei seems to have difficulty coming to grips with her ethnicity. Esperanza wishes that people woildn't think less of her because of the place she lives, or her culture. Esperanza also eventually discovers that her culture and heritage are valuable and of worth.
In response to Destiny's response to Erin:
ReplyDeletei also don't really think that they are ashamed of their heritage, but i get where you're coming from Erin. I just think they were tired of stereotypes and not understanding why things were the way they were.
In response to Adam:
I think it's true that all people have the right to live the American dream. after all, we were a country founded on immigration. "The Great Melting Pot" is a pretty self explanitory title.
The cultural differances between these two authors are obvious, one is Chinese and one is Hispanic or Mexican. While Cisneros grows up involved in her culture she rejects it in some ways and does not agree or like what is going on around her. "No, this is not my house I say and shake my head as if shaking could undo the year I’ve lived here. I don't belong. I don't ever want to come from here" (107). Tan on the other hand stresses the cultural outcast from a standpoint of Jing mei not growing up in China or around any Chinese culture, she grew up complelty american and only realized her chinses background later in life as she felt the family blood she had. "And now I also see what part of me is Chinese. It is so obvious. It is my family. It is in our blood" (166)
ReplyDeleteBoth authors seem to be stressing a theme of a soul searching and identity search in their life. Trying to fit into a culture they feel an outcast of.
Tan seemed to have no problem with immigration as in her story the main character was shaped from immigration. A chinese girl who was born and grew up in America who did not see the chinese culture in her at all. Cisneros had a more shaded view on immigration and the implications it had on her race. Yet the hispanic race dos typically recieve more grief, if you will, for immigration.
In response to Mark. I deffinatly agree with your first paragraph, and I enjoyed the point you made about the isolation felt from the judgement passed. Also I thought the theme was a sense of wanting to belong and I agree there.
ReplyDeleteIn response to
Parker
I liked your first paragraph alot and really liked the qoute of Cisneros you used. Finding identity as a theme was my choice also, I like how you made the point of the characters wanting to be accepted. Immigrants do feel unwanted or not accepted alot of the time especially because they are not used to a brand new culture that they are thrown into. Your second paragraph made sense and your arguements overall were good.
In response to Destiny,
ReplyDeleteWhen you responded to Erin’s post I can see where you are coming from when you talk about them not feeling they fit into their culture. I feel like you created a very good point that I didn’t necessarily think about until I went back over the stories. Well done in supporting your claim throughout your prompt as well. I don’t think that they despised their culture but that they just didn’t quite fit into them.
In response to Parker
You did a very good job in relaying your general idea of the two stories. I thought you portrayed the authors and their viewpoints very well. You sounded very intellectual throughout your prompt response. You said that each author felt a sense of not belonging which I completely agreed with.