“the immigrant’s quest for subcommunities”
From the eye of an immigrant
Joseph O’Neill’s novel Netherland presents Hans van den Broek on a psychological journey through what is assumed to be depression, or at the very least, overcoming the traumatic events of the September 11 attacks as well as the departure of his wife and their marital issues. He meets Chuck Ramkissoon, a fellow cricket enthusiast, who indirectly becomes a consultant, and provides him the answers he seeks. This unlikely but blossoming friendship between the two men is further strengthened by the fact that both are also immigrants in a foreign country with two different mindsets. Despite the initial conflict within the story that Hans faces, it is truly the little glimpses …show more content…
There are many reasons to immigrate to another country, one of them being to find answers and discovering who they are. In Hans’ case, him being localized to another country was a new chapter in life in which he experiences a needed change from what was once a routine life which was most likely why “there was no question of malaise” (91). As he goes through his traumatic experiences, he ends up going on a quest to find himself, to find happiness. Before immigrating, Hans’ had already sensed the nulling feeling of living a bland life, showing signs of indifference which leads to his wife Rachel leaving him. Being in New York gave him the opportunity to seek change and to find himself by reminiscing over his past while gaining memories in the present. This is mainly done through cricket, as it is a strong memory from his childhood and was one of the only things he truly cherished, and still does as he realizes upon arriving at the foreign country. Through Taspinar, the Turkish immigrant dressed as an angel, he learns to appreciate even the smallest of details when the angel tells him how he appreciates gazing at the stars at night, and recalls a childhood memory that further helps him realize his feelings for his wife Rachel. He additionally takes note of his environment in New York, being amazed at something as simple as “the traffic lights on Amsterdam …show more content…
Before moving to New York, Hans had originally immigrated to London where he meets his wife Rachel. As a Dutch man, he is surprised to see London men dancing frivolously with either women or men because in his culture “[he] rarely saw dancing” and the very idea of it was “alien”. (139) Moreover, during his stay at New York, as he resided in the Chelsea Hotel, he got to meet eccentric people who clearly lived in their own ways, portraying the freedom of expression permitted in the USA. Once again, this notion of being able to be freely expressive is almost unsettling to Hans, who is very reserved, but not necessarily close-minded as he is able to adapt to his surroundings. Yet, concerning the Chelsea hotel, despite its grandeur, he realises and mistakes that Taspinar’s mother also thought “[the Chelsea hotel] is a normal establishment with normal amenities”. (191) Further, New York also provides an insight of its multicultural buildings as Hans comes across “a neighborhood unlike any other” where he sees different buildings from diverse country styles. (155) Through Chuck he faced the conflicting perspective between a realist and a dreamer. In other words, “’There’s a difference between grandiosity and thinking big’” (212), yet Hans does let Chuck keep dreaming in his own way, by indulging in his dreams and not straightforwardly denying his
From the eye of an immigrant
Joseph O’Neill’s novel Netherland presents Hans van den Broek on a psychological journey through what is assumed to be depression, or at the very least, overcoming the traumatic events of the September 11 attacks as well as the departure of his wife and their marital issues. He meets Chuck Ramkissoon, a fellow cricket enthusiast, who indirectly becomes a consultant, and provides him the answers he seeks. This unlikely but blossoming friendship between the two men is further strengthened by the fact that both are also immigrants in a foreign country with two different mindsets. Despite the initial conflict within the story that Hans faces, it is truly the little glimpses …show more content…
There are many reasons to immigrate to another country, one of them being to find answers and discovering who they are. In Hans’ case, him being localized to another country was a new chapter in life in which he experiences a needed change from what was once a routine life which was most likely why “there was no question of malaise” (91). As he goes through his traumatic experiences, he ends up going on a quest to find himself, to find happiness. Before immigrating, Hans’ had already sensed the nulling feeling of living a bland life, showing signs of indifference which leads to his wife Rachel leaving him. Being in New York gave him the opportunity to seek change and to find himself by reminiscing over his past while gaining memories in the present. This is mainly done through cricket, as it is a strong memory from his childhood and was one of the only things he truly cherished, and still does as he realizes upon arriving at the foreign country. Through Taspinar, the Turkish immigrant dressed as an angel, he learns to appreciate even the smallest of details when the angel tells him how he appreciates gazing at the stars at night, and recalls a childhood memory that further helps him realize his feelings for his wife Rachel. He additionally takes note of his environment in New York, being amazed at something as simple as “the traffic lights on Amsterdam …show more content…
Before moving to New York, Hans had originally immigrated to London where he meets his wife Rachel. As a Dutch man, he is surprised to see London men dancing frivolously with either women or men because in his culture “[he] rarely saw dancing” and the very idea of it was “alien”. (139) Moreover, during his stay at New York, as he resided in the Chelsea Hotel, he got to meet eccentric people who clearly lived in their own ways, portraying the freedom of expression permitted in the USA. Once again, this notion of being able to be freely expressive is almost unsettling to Hans, who is very reserved, but not necessarily close-minded as he is able to adapt to his surroundings. Yet, concerning the Chelsea hotel, despite its grandeur, he realises and mistakes that Taspinar’s mother also thought “[the Chelsea hotel] is a normal establishment with normal amenities”. (191) Further, New York also provides an insight of its multicultural buildings as Hans comes across “a neighborhood unlike any other” where he sees different buildings from diverse country styles. (155) Through Chuck he faced the conflicting perspective between a realist and a dreamer. In other words, “’There’s a difference between grandiosity and thinking big’” (212), yet Hans does let Chuck keep dreaming in his own way, by indulging in his dreams and not straightforwardly denying his