America s Immigrants A Political or Cultural Struggle
Kim Ronyoung’s Clay Walls tells the story of an early Korean immigrant couple who arrived in Los Angeles in the decade prior to World War II, and of their American-born children. ... Throughout this book, we see many similarities and differences between Haesu and Faye in regards to both their cultures and their relationships with their country, whether that be Korea for Haesu or America for Faye. Unlike most other novels about Asian immigrants in America, this book suggests that intergenerational differences and conflicts are not only caused by cultural differences but political context as well. ... In Haesu’s case, she was raped by her husband Chun one night. ... But because of Haesu’s confident and proud nature, “she vowed she would never respond to his advances” (Kim, 30). In Haesu’s case, she is aware that the act was wrongful on Chun’s part and not hers, and she calls it “that thing” that he had done to her. ... Although Haesu and Faye are similar in their values, there is an apparent difference in the way they value themselves that can later be seen as a result of the different political environments that they were brought up in. ... Something else interesting about this book is that unlike many other immigrant novels, the author does not portray the immigrants’ native country as a horrible place compared to America. ... In contrast, Min’s poem read, “The scene at Peiyang Pukto: Spring colors come as summoned. ... In fact, the only reason that Haesu and Chun immigrated to America was for political sanction, to escape from the Japanese. ... Because of the political turmoil in Korea, Haesu took refuge in America, and she also developed a strong sense of national identity. During that time, it was common for Koreans to be mistaken for Japanese in America; most people didn’t even know Korea existed. ... By the time she was old enough to have any political view, the Japanese had focused their attention on America. ... Many Koreans volunteered to fight for America despite all the discrimination they’ve endured from Americans before. ... was called a traitor and a disgrace to Korea by his father for commanding a Japanese battalion that was fighting for America.