Munira Omari

June 17, 2012

                                                    Immigrant Narratives

Literature has long been considered a way of expressing one’s mind. It has taught us about many cultures and life styles around the world. It is considered to be a famous aspect in recognizing sufferings as well as successes in different aspects of life and time. When it comes to American immigrant literature, it has many structures such as: the general themes, the assimilation process, the features and symbols and the patterns of the immigrant narrative.

In an immigrant narrative, there are many common themes that are seen and combined with the understandings of the American Dream and the hopes of achieving it, and one of these themes is the search for a better world. We notice from a many narratives such as “Soap and Water,” the theme of escaping from the “old world”-in this case is their native country- and from its segregation and poverty. As Aniza Yezierska points out in her narrative that she left her native country in search for a better, more promising life and her determination on finding it and making a better future for herself. Also in another narrative by Nicholasa Mohr “The English Lesson,” we encounter the same dramatic theme, the search of new and promising future with William and Lali as well as their sweet struggles to achieve the glory of an American Dream.

Another dominant theme common in American immigrant narratives is the idea of cleanliness and its counterpart symbol of water that is dominant in many immigrant narratives as it being something important in America. This idea of a society being clean and caring for all that is clean is a very incorrect idea because there are many countries and cultures that honor cleanliness. In a way cleanliness and its symbols (water or soap) could have a different meaning in the text. With water come purity and a chance for a new life and a new beginning as in the symbolism of “baptism,” and what precedes it from hope and change. This is noticed throughout most of the narratives read in class; for example, in “Silver Pavements, Golden Roofs” and “Restrooms,” with cleanliness comes realization, enlightening and hope to what lies ahead; because with water comes life.

When it comes to immigrant narratives, we also notice the process of assimilation; cultural assimilation as well as identity assimilation. In cultural assimilation, as in “Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie” while he mentioned being a part of the dominant culture through the language, and how he was proud to acquire the American accent and in a way distance himself from his father who had a Scottish accent. “Yes, I’m Scottish and I am proud of the name. But in speech and in address the broad scotch had been worn off to a slight extent, and I imagined that I could make a smarter showing if alone with Mr. Brooks than in my old scotch father were present.” In a way, what Carnegie was trying to do is leave his old world behind, and it is symbolized by his Scottish speaking father and go to Mr. Brooks who symbolizes the “new world” and the new culture, as well as preferring and wanting to assimilate to the new culture and become one; and it is symbolized by his White shirt this he frequently wore.

In immigrant literature, the patterns are quite similar from one race to another. They tend to show their experiences in finding their American Dream from the horrors, and they also tend to have some horrid cultural experiences with the dominant culture, and also being considered dirty and lacking cleanliness as Aniza’s narrative “Soap and Water,” “She told me that my skin looked oily, my hair unkempt, and my finger-nails sadly neglected.” Another pattern also dominant in the immigrant culture is the pattern of finding success after hard and consistent work. And this is very dominant in most of the narratives read in class. As Mary Brooks mentioned in her midterm post “American Immigrant Narrative: Fact or Fiction” the constant patterns seen in immigrant literature is the search of “hope, freedom, acceptance, success and rediscovery,” the hope of freedom and finding independence; the acceptance of the difficulties that come with that search and hope; the success and rediscovery of oneself.

When describing and analyzing the Immigrant literature and its features, it is noticed that there are many similar factor that tie these immigrants together; as their search for freedom and a better future. As their themes, symbols as well as patterns, no matter what immigrant group they are, is about one thing “freedom” and how to achieve it. after all, it is what we all look for.