Fae Myenne Ng’s novel Bone analyzes the conflicts the Chinese American Immigrants face upon arriving in America. Her story describes a Chinese American experience filled with cultural and family tension. The story is mainly focused on exactly how the members of the Leong family, Mah, Leon, Nina, the narrator Leila, aim to understand why Ona is convinced to commit suicide. Leila is the oldest sister and tells the story from her point of view.The story takes place in San Francisco Chinatown , described as old, messy apartments, and workshops. The characters are all stuck in this area and it is obvious that they search for a way out weather it be a trip away from home or more dangerously, suicide. At the center of the novel is the suicide of
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The exact reasons for Ona’s suicide is not given anywhere throughout the novel. The feeling of being stuck in Between becomes deadly when she has to choose between the loyalty of her parents or her love for Olsavado. The middleness takes over Ona and pushes her to her breaking point. Her struggle to let go gives her the courage to climb on top of the roof. As Ona is already a victim of being stuck in the middle, her suicide puts her friends and family in a middle situation as well. She jumps off the Nam three days before the Chinese New Year. The tragedy becomes a problem for people who come share their condolences.Chinese New Year is a time to be happy and the people aren't sure if it's time to be happy or not, to congratulate or to mourn, to say Happy New Year or to accept condolences. So the narrator says: “The mood was odd. People were scared to be happy and scared to be sad.” As they are unsure of their emotion and how to …show more content…
Afraid of being or marrying like her mother, Leila wonders “Will I be like her? Will I marry like her?” (Ng 191). In Leila's marriage of choice, Leila builds up the courage and says to Mah, “I’m going to move to the Mission with Mason” (Ng 190). Leila finally speaks out from the family and cultural restrictions in a pursuit of happyness. Very different from what Leila expected, that “she’d slap me, hit me with a hanger, call me names” (Ng 191), Mah says, “Give it a test.Remember to have a way out” (Ng 91). Mah’s advice, “to have a way out,” is what Leila and the other characters have been searching for. Gee states “ Mah advises her to test it and prepare a way out. What must be noted is that Mah has not objected, which would certainly be the traditional Chinese response” (136). Mah has not objected because she speaks from her failure in her two marriages, lack of choice leaves her no way out. It is exactly choice that separates the generations.Leila and Mason have been together for four or five years, and she is attracted to Mason’s generosity and ability to let go of worries (Ng 19). Leila marries for love, love of her own choice. Her marriage is different from Mah’s, who marries for survival, as a result of a lack of
The exact reasons for Ona’s suicide is not given anywhere throughout the novel. The feeling of being stuck in Between becomes deadly when she has to choose between the loyalty of her parents or her love for Olsavado. The middleness takes over Ona and pushes her to her breaking point. Her struggle to let go gives her the courage to climb on top of the roof. As Ona is already a victim of being stuck in the middle, her suicide puts her friends and family in a middle situation as well. She jumps off the Nam three days before the Chinese New Year. The tragedy becomes a problem for people who come share their condolences.Chinese New Year is a time to be happy and the people aren't sure if it's time to be happy or not, to congratulate or to mourn, to say Happy New Year or to accept condolences. So the narrator says: “The mood was odd. People were scared to be happy and scared to be sad.” As they are unsure of their emotion and how to …show more content…
Afraid of being or marrying like her mother, Leila wonders “Will I be like her? Will I marry like her?” (Ng 191). In Leila's marriage of choice, Leila builds up the courage and says to Mah, “I’m going to move to the Mission with Mason” (Ng 190). Leila finally speaks out from the family and cultural restrictions in a pursuit of happyness. Very different from what Leila expected, that “she’d slap me, hit me with a hanger, call me names” (Ng 191), Mah says, “Give it a test.Remember to have a way out” (Ng 91). Mah’s advice, “to have a way out,” is what Leila and the other characters have been searching for. Gee states “ Mah advises her to test it and prepare a way out. What must be noted is that Mah has not objected, which would certainly be the traditional Chinese response” (136). Mah has not objected because she speaks from her failure in her two marriages, lack of choice leaves her no way out. It is exactly choice that separates the generations.Leila and Mason have been together for four or five years, and she is attracted to Mason’s generosity and ability to let go of worries (Ng 19). Leila marries for love, love of her own choice. Her marriage is different from Mah’s, who marries for survival, as a result of a lack of