The novel Native Speaker explores both the internal conflicts and the external conflicts of immigrants living in America and gives the readers insight about the struggle of finding self-identity between two cultures. In Native Speaker, Chang Rae Lee argues that most immigrants, especially Asians, tend to camouflage themselves when in public—for example, by being silent around others—because they are afraid to receive negative feedbacks judgements from others.
At the beginning of the novel, Henry Park, the narrator and the protagonist, was reminiscing about the list his wife Lelia gave to him when she left. On the list, she stated that Henry was “surreptitious”, “B + student of life”, “illegal alien”, “emotional alien”, “yellow peril: neo-American” …show more content…
His Korean culture stresses the importance of being silent. Henry’s father “operated as if the town were just barely tolerating our presence” (Lee, 52). For instance, his dad would show up late and sat on the edge during his basketball game to avoid any attention from others. They were like invisible, they wish to be invisible in the town they live. Henry said his family “believed in anything in Americans, in impressing Americans” (Lee, 52) showing that their family as well as other Asian immigrants make a lot of effort just to please Americans as if receiving approval from Americans. Henry’s showing no emotion towards things was also influenced by his father in that he wanted “to show him (his father) that I (Henry) could be as steely as he, my chin as rigid and unquivering as any of his displays” (Lee, 59) even when his mom died. Also Henry stated that during his childhood years, he felt like his father did not “had the capacity to love” (Lee, 58). This can be account for Henry’s inability to express himself.
John Kwang was an exception. At the first day of Henry’s work, he noticed that John Kwang was everywhere. His flyers, posters, and stickers are all over the city. Henry observed that John “didn’t seem afraid like my mother and father, who were always wary of those who would try to shame us or mistreat us” (Lee, 139). John acts more like an American in that he is brave and bold enough to stand in front of public and speaks for the rights of people. This example provides contrast to Henry who blends in as opposed to speaking
At the beginning of the novel, Henry Park, the narrator and the protagonist, was reminiscing about the list his wife Lelia gave to him when she left. On the list, she stated that Henry was “surreptitious”, “B + student of life”, “illegal alien”, “emotional alien”, “yellow peril: neo-American” …show more content…
His Korean culture stresses the importance of being silent. Henry’s father “operated as if the town were just barely tolerating our presence” (Lee, 52). For instance, his dad would show up late and sat on the edge during his basketball game to avoid any attention from others. They were like invisible, they wish to be invisible in the town they live. Henry said his family “believed in anything in Americans, in impressing Americans” (Lee, 52) showing that their family as well as other Asian immigrants make a lot of effort just to please Americans as if receiving approval from Americans. Henry’s showing no emotion towards things was also influenced by his father in that he wanted “to show him (his father) that I (Henry) could be as steely as he, my chin as rigid and unquivering as any of his displays” (Lee, 59) even when his mom died. Also Henry stated that during his childhood years, he felt like his father did not “had the capacity to love” (Lee, 58). This can be account for Henry’s inability to express himself.
John Kwang was an exception. At the first day of Henry’s work, he noticed that John Kwang was everywhere. His flyers, posters, and stickers are all over the city. Henry observed that John “didn’t seem afraid like my mother and father, who were always wary of those who would try to shame us or mistreat us” (Lee, 139). John acts more like an American in that he is brave and bold enough to stand in front of public and speaks for the rights of people. This example provides contrast to Henry who blends in as opposed to speaking