Huan's Acceptance

I chose to focus on Huan's struggle to find an equilibrium in America and his heritage in Vietnam. Throughout "Motherland," Huan is not only angry at his adoptive mother, but at Vietnam as well. He admits he told his adoptive parents that he was only a charity case; an exotic human they can flaunt around. As this story progresses, Huan reveals his anger extends to Vietnam as well, for Vietnam abandoned him for the sole reason he is Amerasian. In his trip to Vietnam, Huan faces an incident with a police officer, who thinks Huan is stealing because his hands were in his pockets. In Huan's perspective, the police officer harassed him because he is Amerasian. In America, Huan admits he faced racism, and now, in Vietnam, they are wary against him. Huan does not feel wanted by either nation, for both nations reject him, and he cannot find balance between them. Huan's mother, although she means well, pushes Huan to embrace his roots, but Huan cannot, for he feels rejected. My picture shows Huan being in torn in two sides via rope. The Vietnamese side expect Huan's life to have a picture perfect life because Gwen and her husband adopted him. In contrast to Huan's parents, they want him to accept his Vietnamese roots, but Huan can do either. He cannot accept either country because both reject him. Both sides, America and Vietnam, expect Huan to be and act a certain way, causing him to be torn in two ways. The rope in my picture symbolizes that Huan is trapped in the middle of two sides. Huan cannot find balance between his Vietnamese roots and his life in America, for both countries reject him on the sole basis he is Amerasian.