Complete sample essay for Essay 1 assignment

With use of the immigrant narrative as a standard for comparison , analysis of both immigrant and dominant cultural narratives reveals not only this history of the foundations of American culture, its gifts and challenges, but also provides the student of history and literature with a way of experiencing a process of self-discovery, self-expression, and self-determination (in miniature, of course) similar to those experienced by the writers themselves.  Such experiences are invaluable and the essence of learning, especially in present, modern day American culture whose influence on the global community is all pervasive and dominant.  In light of recent political affairs and the current pluralistic state of society, too much as been expressed about the negative side of American culture-its selfishness/self-centeredness, greed, aggressiveness, insensitivity, discriminatory, abusive, and exploitive society and state.  The goal of this essay is to re-inspire a sense of America’s potential that has not been tainted by time or circumstance.  This potential is the ideal found within the vision driving the founders of our society and all those that came after them.  Recorded in the narratives of both immigrant and dominant cultural groups, this ideal is revived in the reading and opens minds to feel connected to our culture and ourselves in the process. . . .

And regardless of ethnic/class background, characters and authors have the ability to express their opinion because this is what has become identified consistently as an American identity, freedom of self-expression.  The single most prominent statement that comes to mind is Ms. Hamas’ statement in The English Lesson, “ Very good. You can come here and state your views.  That is what America is all about.” (25) . . . Chrystos‘ poem, “I Walk…,” the poem “Blonde White Women,” , Erdrich’s American Horse, Raban’s  Hunting Mr. Heartbreak  and many more reflect various opinions, mostly negative positive about America.  All however have an opportunity to express themselves, and even though they are all saying it differently, they are expressing a single, common theme.

            This theme is the universal struggle with life itself, to define ourselves and our relationship with others (family) which regardless of culture, age, etc. we all experience in some way shape or form.  Do we not remember the thrill of going shopping in a toy store (The Lesson)…Our trips to crotchety grandparents (To Dah-Duh), excursions with our own “black sheep“ of the family (The Lesson), or first plane ride and trip abroad (Divakaruni‘s Silver Pavements)?  Do we not see our own fears of fitting in as we see in Wong’s and Smith’s poems ?  . . .The difficulties of making a living (Bread Givers, Plymouth)?  Budgeting on a trip or having a vacation (Report)…Do we not hear the older generations complain that we do not appreciate them and the sacrifices they made for us  (Exodus, Plymouth, Bread Givers)?  Do we not remember our own triumph’s of  asserting and accepting our own sexuality such as in Mukherjee’s “A Wife‘s Tale?  Do we not remember our desires to be attractive to the opposite sex  (Barbie Q,)?  Do we not see our own struggles to keep domestic order or our fears of our mother-in-law’s visit in “Thank God for the Jews?“ . . . Within the course of these experiences, regardless of the narrative and its issues of  ethnicity, gender, and so, individuals (characters) are led to the discovery of themselves and who and what they are really all about. 

            They also come up with workable solutions to their situations which have never before been created and it is this process of self discovery and self determination that is at the core of becoming an individual--and an American.  Coming to live in America forces an individual to reflect on their identity as an individual as a part of two cultures and as a part of neither, as someone of the Old world and yet as a part of America, with no precedent before them on how to act in given situations.  The result is that individuals come up with solutions that are not cultural, but uniquely their own.   It is this unique resolution and the act of engaging in it that makes an individual as American.  In my midterm I discussed situations such as these at length.  To review and add to the list, situations include, the resolution of substituting Kosher for Halal (Thank God for the Jews), the use of Christian holy water for a native American burial (The Man to Send Rain),  dating between Mexicans and Asians (Like Mexicans), the marriage between a white American and a Mexican, El Patron, the use of one’s native language and English within one’s writing (Bread Givers, From the Making of a Writer), the use of a Navaho blanket and the side of the road to pray (Arab poem with prayer), the roommate situation between an Asian and East Indian (A Wife’s Story) wearing a tuxedo and walking into a swimming pool (Report from the Bahamas), the synthesis of objects in Macy’s display windows (Raban, Mr. Heartbreak), and the list goes on and on. 

            America thus becomes the Great Experiment that ever was in attempting cultural unity not by negating difference but through acceptance and integration of difference.  This unity in diversity is the essence of being American, this experience of self-discovery, self-expression and self-determination is its core, the impetus is the American Dream and the process the immigrant journey. Unlike most religious scriptures, the American dream is unique in that it is expressed as open to all people everywhere.  . . . America  encouraged diversity and invited it, welcomed it, and embraced it.  The American Dream brought people together from all over the world, people of such diversity of language and cultures that may never have ever conceived much less actually arrived at coming to live together side by side. 

            As our narratives reveal, diversity is now a permanent part of American society and others are an inevitable and unavoidable part of our present existence. The beauty of the spectrum of diversity is that the spectrum exists-and is allowed to flourish in America.  But hopefully, individuals will learn to see this diversity as an opportunity for growth and not a challenge to their material existence.  Rather than hear this dissatisfaction of diversity as the harbinger of ill tidings, could not one see it as the wake up call to a higher calling of deeper meaning in life?  Although much in current society makes this difficult to see, will one day I hope individuals will dare to change the equation from diversity meaning negative or sum difference, loss of opportunity because of competition, to diversity meaning alternative or additional course or choice. Or perhaps, conversely, one could learn to see dissent as an American tradition, one not unpatriotic but completely and utterly patriotic, true to the origins of American independence itself.  Then diversity and difference would not be threatening but encouraging, in the way it follows the ideal and dream true to form.

As I think about what to write for this essay, I realize that today is the day of our nation’s celebration of its independence from its former “parent” country of England.  Further reflection leads me to the conclusion that this celebration is much like the traditional celebration at the end of a rite of passage, an act that establishes the relationship between and individual and his community.  Through this act, a child is formally acknowledged as a mature individual apart from his parents and complete with the powers of creation, procreation, self determination, and vision.  In turn, the individual commits himself to active participation in the development of his community’s future, vowing to focus his powers for the good of the community.   Although this analogy contrasts with the modern state of America, a New World with distinctly secular (separation of church and state, capitalistic, scientific) institutions and open-minded, liberal values (freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, etc.) the foundations of the nation and its continuing attraction and spirit are distinctly religious (spiritual) and traditional in its origins. 

            Like these origins, America is unique in that its “scriptures” acknowledge both religious freedom and economic prosperity together.  Furthermore, they extend this “faith” or message to all people everywhere, an invitation which has mobilized many (and in some cases, mass) migrations to this country.  Although there are differences in these migrations and their corresponding narratives, there are also themes of self discovery, self expression, and self determination within all of these experiences that speak of America‘s unique potential as a culture.  The journey to America is not only an opportunity for economic betterment, but for personal growth and transformation through that process simultaneously enabling one to take an active part in creating not only our personal identity but also a cultural identity and future for oneself and all others to come.   They themselves not only record the journeys but are journeys through which a student of any kind can learn and grow. 

            The value of studying individual narrative, esp. the immigrant narrative et. al., is that the individual is neither swallowed up nor then rendered invisible in the sweeping waves of migrations of people that are the substance of human history.  By the inclusion of personal expression, it is more comprehensive and comprehensible than statistics and empirical data with its dry listing of cause and effect, and so is also more attractive, engaging, and likely to be acknowledged.  In the narrative there is no grand cause and effect, only human desire and will achieving with individual vision and courage what becomes the great canvas of national heritage and history.  Through these individual narratives, history and culture become imbued with a living heart filled with taste (opinion), feeling, and reflection. The narrative is a more accurate and authentic barometer of the complexities of the currents of human situations.   Narrative is a tool of self-expression that allows not only for “the facts” to be told, but for the voice of the teller to be heard.  One hears a great story about history and culture and how this affected people-their thoughts and opinions.  I personally appreciate learning history this way.  It makes history accessible and real to me.  It is not history with a capital H, but history his-story or her-story, actually lived by real people, by the courage and foresight of real people, with real fears, real strengths, real struggles/problems, and real triumphs, in a real world or village and not a transnational, impersonal superstructure.  Because I can relate to it better, the story becomes more meaningful.  My vision is inspired, my courage encouraged, and my wisdom increased.  Forces in the story appear knowable and obtainable within my sphere of influence and control-they are not impersonal, uncaring, and overwhelming, and unmanageable. . . .

            Connecting students to their own heritage as Americans through a “fun” way such as through these narratives is a great way to encourage self-discovery because while it is interesting it is also a way to explore the experiences of others without actually having to personally dialogue, face-to-face I.e. it is safe. Personally, I prefer dialogue and discussion as we have done in class and with a mediator such as a professor it is even safer.  Perhaps the only thing I would add to this course---which probably should be extended into two semesters, is the composition of one’s own or one’s family narrative and placing that within the frameworks of the narratives outlined for class. . . .  If there are stories that do not fit (no traceable family lineages (Equiano) or multiple family lineages), then there is room left to discover new interpretations and re-invent new definitions of the narrative.  Of course critique should emphasize the beauty in the style of writing or expression of content, as well as the interesting aspects of the subject matter, not necessarily focusing on personal feelings or opinions.  A visual story quilt could be made with all of these experiences by literally writing them down and pinning them up on the wall together in a quilt design or on a web site that already has a design and one just uploads one’s story into one of any number of different places on the pre-web-designed quilt.  Or, one could paint it on fabric…the possibilities are endless…but people learn though doing…even in grad school. [KK]