The proccess of assimilating Essay Example for Free

The proccess of assimilating Essay This essay explores the proccess of assimilating into the American society after a famiy moves to the USA from China in In The American Society, by Gish Jen. It also explores the irony in the title of the piece. In The American Society, by Gish Jen, is a lurid portrayal of an Asian-American family who immigrated to the United Statesaddressing both the struggles and fortunes that Americas opportunities have offered the family as they leave their old life in China. Now, the father must make something of himself and his family, in a time when America meant vast possibilities, but also being labeled as a foreigner. The mother in the story smugly declares, But this is the U-S-of-A! (542), proclaiming her pride in the opportunities accessible in her new home. Though, as the family begins to assimilate into the American society, they find that while success brings them respect and affluence, it may not automatically make them fit into the new culture. The title itself is a direct inference to the transformation the family is forced to undergo. The first half of the story is suitably entitled His Own Society, describing the familys journey towards coming to terms with the American society. When the mother is thinking of joining the country club she states, Your father doesnt believe in joining the American Society. He wants to have his own society (542). This line echoes the ever-present theme in the story of assimilation, and the fathers hesitation with adjustment. For people who come from cultures that are significantly different from the freethinking America, the process of acculturation can be awkward and even caustic. In the story, the father opens his own pancake house, and the family begins to encounter success. They then attempt to fit into their new society by buying a station wagon and recliner: typical American items. Throughout the rest of this first section of the story you see the actual internal core of His own society: His work relations, friends, and family in both America and China. His Society works well for himhes successful and happy. The second half of the storys title is fitting as well: dubbed The American Society(548). This section is where you really see the heart wrenching  depiction of the familys attempt to fit into their new society. A symbolic image found in the account, that most directly represents the familys integration into society is seen in the fathers clothing. It explains that the father, has no use for nice cloths, and would wear only ten-year-old shirts, with grease-spotted pants, to show how little he cared about what anyone thought(542). Yet, later in the story, he finds himself wearing an expensive suit to a country club affair. This sudden change shows the fathers eventual willingness to modify when left with no choice. Although at first he seems to blends in, one predicament sets off his insecurities and he launches his expensive jacket into the pool (550). With this gesture, he seems to give up on The American Society and resort back to his own familiar one with his familyit was good enough for him. In actuality, I think that is truly the best thing about America: There isnt really an American Society. We have so many diverse people and we are therefore free to choose our own society; the title of the story almost falsely suggests that there can be just one culture, while also satirizing the fact that some believe there to be one. The most interesting part of this story was that along the journey towards assimilation he finds that His Own Society was essentially the best one for him and his family to be members of, and that our country permits this because we have freedom, liberty, and justice for all! Through this story, you follow the Asian-American family as they encounter struggles as well as luck, as they assimilate into the American Society. You meet the same turmoil that the family stumbles upon as they enter a completely new world. The title suggests that there is an exact way to act while living in the American society, but as Jen depicts the fathers own society, readers come to realize that this unique society works just as well.

Global Warming: A Theory of Accelerating Process of Climate Change Ess

Abstract: Theory of global warming explaining the phenomena of accelerating change in the number and size of weather-related disturbances. This is a synthesis of three books: Al Gore's an inconvenient truth, Stuart Kauffman's At Home in the Universe, and Dr. James Lovelock's Gaia: A new look at life on Earth, presenting a theory predicting the general parameters of global warming over the coming years. 1. Introduction. This paper is intended as a starting point for creating a framework within which to discuss and analyze what appears to be a substantial change in worldwide climate. It is essentially a synthesis of three books: (1.) an inconvenient truth, the crisis of global warming, written by Al Gore (2007), (2.) At Home in the Universe, The Search for the Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity, by Stuart Kauffman (1995), and, (3) Gaia: A new look at life on Earth, by Dr. James Lovelock (1979) (see, also, Wikipedia.org, â€Å"Gaia Theory†). Kauffman’s book, At Home in the Universe (herein â€Å"Universe†), is a wide-ranging collection of connected thoughts that present and support a unifying theory for all processes of self-organization. Gore’s book, an inconvenient truth (herein â€Å"Inconvenient Truth†), is primarily referenced for the proposition that the totality of human activity (or more broadly, life’s activities) here on Earth, if left unchecked, has and will result in more and greater weather dislocations and disturbances arising from a general warming of the biosphere, and, that the trend to date displays an acceleration forming a rising an asymptotic curve (the first half of a sigmoidal curve). Lovelock’s Book, Gaia: A new look at life on Earth (herein â€Å"Gaia†) is presented as an extension of the theory pr... ...xes and tax breaks, government programs, trade sanctions, etc.) over the course of human existence represents an â€Å"error catastrophe†, such that the collective effect over time has been to steer human activity away from proper compromise and optimization, and toward over-population, and misapplication of resources, such that we are now experiencing the total and collective historical and current effect of those collective errors upon the biosphere. Seen in this light, our efforts and attempts to begin working toward conservation and population control, and away from pollution and misapplication of resources, is yet another example of the â€Å"system† (Gaia) attempting to evolve toward a more fit social structure, and to dampen the disturbances that are taking the system away from its state space attractor (its tendency toward homeostasis in the current configuration).

Review Literary Terms Essay

Imagination is the power to create. It is the key component to literature. Without imagination, there won’t be an interesting story, I believe. Imagination is not only important to the writer, it helps the reader broaden their interpretation of the story. â€Å"When you allow reading to unlock your imagination, your connection sets the stage for intellectual engagement. It allows the experience of reading literature to include the pursuit of ideas and knowledge.† (Clugston, R.W 2010). With imagination comes genre. Choosing what category or type of literature. It can be a short story, poem, or drama. â€Å"It can be used to make broad distinctions or to identify specific categories within a broad category. The short story and the novel, for example, are specific literary genres within the broad category of fiction.†(Clugston, R.W.2010). I think another very important component to literature is the tone. Setting the tone will let the reader know what attitude the literary work is going. For example, â€Å"the final lines in Updike’s poem create an initial feeling of sympathy, which is likely to become empathy if the reader reflects on the dog’s predicament in not being able to communicate its final struggle.† (Clugston, R.W 2010). Tone is followed by image. Image represents the experience that go through your senses, the idea. Writers use specific language to describe the imagery. Again, in Frost’s and Updike’s poems about the dog, â€Å"In Frost’s image of an old dog there’s an initial feeling of sadness, but if the reader reflects on what the poem has to say about the inevitable life cycle that both the dog and the speaker face, sadness is likely to fade somewhat into acceptance.† Reference Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Blindness, Sight and Eyes in Sophocles Oedipus The King...

The Deeper Meaning of Sight and Eyes in Sophocles Oedipus The King In Sophocles play, Oedipus The King, the continuous references to eyes and sight possess a much deeper meaning than the literal message. These allusions are united with several basic underlying themes. The story contains common Ancient Greek philosophies, including those of Plato and Parmenides, which are often discussed and explained during such references. A third notion is the punishment of those who violate the law of the Gods. The repeated mentioning of sight and eyes signify the numerous ancient Greek beliefs present in the story. During the Theban Trilogy, there are two major philosophical ideals present. The first, and most significant is the ever†¦show more content†¦The other philosophies present come from two people, Parmenides and Plato. Parmenides theorized that things do not change, and therefore that mans senses were inaccurate and unreliable. A blind prophet Tiresius informs Oedipus of what has happened. Abhorred, Oedipus did not even consider that Tiresias was telling the truth. Instead, he accused the soothsayer of lying and insulting him by stating that your riddance is a blessing. (41) Oedipus is truly the blind one, as he restricts himself to the literal meaning of the tale of the oracle. Unwilling to see what was before him, the overwhelming evidence of his crimes, Oedipus looked for others to blame. Another parallel to being sighted, but blind, is present in Platos Myth of The Cave. Just as the cave dwellers did not want to explore the world outside, Oedipus did not want his fate. Oed ipus is the cave dweller and Tiresius is the enlightened one who cast off his fetters and sees the true world, the world of ideas. Punishment is another element in Hellenistic life. For attempting to escape his destiny, Oedipus is punished by Apollo. However, Oedipus goes beyond what the Gods decreed by blinding himself and then leaving Thebes in exile. The city and even more, his children, are only reminders of his malfeasance. Leaving Thebes is also an attempt to distance himselfShow MoreRelatedSight And Blindness In Oedipus The King789 Words   |  4 PagesCaleb Cho Ms. Kim English 373H 5-October- 2017 Tension Between â€Å"Sight† and â€Å"Blindness† Essay - Rough Draft Deep in the forest lived a blind man named Carl. Once a week Carl would travel to the nearest city to buy supplies and food. One day, a young boy decided to play a trick on Carl, the boy would catch a bug, and then ask if the bug was alive or dead. If Carl said â€Å"alive† the boy would crush the bug and show Carl the bug was dead. If Carl answered â€Å"dead† the boy would let the bug fly away, aliveRead MoreSight in Oedipus the King834 Words   |  4 PagesOnce blind, but Now he Sees: Sight in Oedipus the King Sophocles was a phenomenal writer that captivated his audience with a distinct charm still not yet duplicated by even the best of play-writers today. 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The irony in this lies in the fact that Oedipus, while gifted with sight, is blind to himself, in contrast to Teiresias, blind physically, but able to see the evil to whichRead MoreOedipus Rex: Imagery of Blindness and Sight as a Medium to the Themes1218 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play, Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, an honourable and admirable Greek king named Oedipus rules the town of Thebes. He is left in mental turmoil and decay as his unknown, corrupt and immoral past is slowly revealed during his quest to find the culprit who murdered King Laius. The newly exposed past suddenly transforms his glory and respect into shame and humiliation. After he learn s about his wicked past he stabs his eyes, which lead to his blindness. During the course of the play, referencesRead MoreWho s Really Blind?868 Words   |  4 Pages Who’s Really Blind? In the tragic story â€Å"Oedipus the King†, Sophocles emphasizes on the idea of sight and blindness. 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However, Oedipus is oblivious to the fact that he is the manRead MoreEssay on Sight and Blindness in Oedipus Rex1311 Words   |  6 PagesIn the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the themes of sight and blindness are developed in a way to communicate to the reader that it is not eyesight itself, but insight that holds the key to truth and, without it, no amount of knowledge can help uncover that truth. Some may define insight as the ability to intuitively know what is going to happen, or simply as the capacity to understand the true nature of a situation. Both definitions hold a significant role in the play, not only for more obvious