Mai’s assimilation into American society made her hide her identity as a Vietnamese person. For that, her identity laid hidden behind her white identity of Americanism, which she continued to make sure everyone believed as she grew up. This behavior of her, living as an assimilated Vietnamese orphan living in America, presented itself when she spoke at her graduation because “[maintained] a comfortable balance between conversation and formal speech, Mai was confident she held most of the audience’s attention” (145). In her stance among the American crowd, she appeared as the model orphan assimilated into the American society and because of that, the whiteness of her characteristics and personality shrouded and concealed her Vietnamese identity. She had to look as American as possible to make sure that nobody felt differently about her and knew she had assimilated as one of the Americans.
However, because of her life as a model orphan of Vietnamese ethnicity, she had internal conflicts within herself. She lived the American dream and a very comfortable life, but she felt out of touch with the people growing up with her, especially Kim and Vinh. Two things said respectively by Kim and Vinh had proved how much of an exile she had become when they said, “Mai wants to get away from who she is” and “You got your American dream family by selling us out” (164,165). Kim and Vinh’s response to Mai emphasized and reinforced the hurt she felt about herself because she hated the white mask she wore amongst Americans and she hated the fact she lived a better life than them. In that case, she wanted to run away, but also felt displaced more than expected from living
as a model American orphan.
By Kevin L.
I agree with you that Mai is trying to become the model orphan fully assimilated into American culture. Not only does she do this to hide away her Vietnamese identity, she's wants the world to treat her and give her the generic American lifestyle with wealth, comfort, security, and family that seem to Mai to be mostly associated with "whiteness". Mai is the most fortunate orphan out of the four orphaned protagonists, with Huan coming in second place, and subconsciously leaves Vinh and Kim behind as they can't help her succeed in her goal to become fully American. Mai struggles with identifying with normal American's and even with other Vietnamese orphans and her foster parents, leaving her to suffer alone in silence between two different identities.
ReplyDeleteBy Lauren S.
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ReplyDeleteI would not say Mai's assimilation, but her want to assimilate into American society is what makes her hide her identity as a Vietnamese. Mai did not hide under "Americanism." In fact, Mai wants to belong to both worlds without being judged. Both sides judge her for making certain decisions, and it is the fact that she is not allowed to be bi-cultured. She has to pick one in order to succeed.
ReplyDeleteBy Dania T.
Hi Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI think your assessment accurately depicts the identity struggle of 1st and 2nd generation Asian Americans. After leaving Vietnam, Mai has been fostered by an American couple through high school. She has assimilated to the cultural norms of California through the language, ideals, and mannerisms – much to Kim and Vinh’s dismay. Her genetic makeup and her roots, however, are in Vietnam. As a part of herself that has never come full circle, Mai feels an identity crisis between staying true to her Vietnamese roots and between adapting to American society. By living out an “American dream”, Mai also exemplifies guilt for wondering if she deserves it. I wouldn’t say that Mai has hidden her Vietnamese identity, but rather, is unable to feel connected to it beyond her disgruntled friends. She is also attempting to move on from her unlikely beginning to craft a future for herself.
By Kristinah K.
Wow! Yes, the white mask, the double identity the guild of being fostered the pain of not being adopted there are so many reasons why Mai is emotionally closed off. Your blog really made me connect the fact that because Mai does not have a single person in her life who completely makes her happy she is unable to develop many personal relationships which she seems to long for as mentioned in the chapter where her and Vinh have a confrontation and she breaks down.
ReplyDeleteEmotionally and mentally am may be the most overwhelmed in the novel of the four orphans. I wonder if it is simply easier to not have friends then to have friends who make you feel guilty about trying to survive in a world which doesn't want you. Its so troubling to thin about how little love and motivation all the orphans grow up with. I applaud Mai for being able to channel her hurt into creating a future where she will, at the very least, be financially secure by obtaining a college degree.