When reading Birds of Paradise Lost, I noticed the theme of home recurring. In "Sister," Ivory struggles with a sense of home after her brother calls to inform her that he called their childhood home, and got through to "an old lady. She had a Hanoi accent" (114). Ivory's brother is playful and excited about the call, but Ivory does not seem to share his enthusiasm. She is even surprised by her reaction, but does not, (initially) choose to try calling too. After this incident, the story reveals that Ivory is a realtor. Ivory's struggle with calling home reveals a potential longing to move forward. but a consistent pull toward the past due to her nightmares and flashbacks (116). Since Ivory's career involves showing and selling homes, this seems to reveal her unconscious need to feel at home in America, as well as her even more unconscious need to reconnect with her home in Vietnam. When she mentions "how can I? [...] Go back to what" (121); this shows that Ivory does feel a sense of loss towards her new home. However, her reluctance to call depicts her fear of knowing that life goes on, and that she must move forward.
-Kristen P.
I think the idea of home versus homeland is brought up in your analysis. This is seen with the way that Ivory reacts to her brother's phone call back to Vietnam. She has trouble reconciling her feelings towards the trauma of her homeland and the feeling of belonging to such a traumatic place. Home is a very powerful theme that is found in many of the stories in the book. It can be seen every time a character refers back to their life in Vietnam. This is important because it shows that these characters still have a strong sense of home, but not within their new American identities. They still consider Vietnam to be home and this becomes an issue when trying to assimilate into American culture. You are right when you say that her feelings towards her Vietnamese home make it difficult for her to find a feeling of home in America. This is a struggle that many refugees from the story have. Ivory sells homes, but she cannot truly say that she feels at home in her own new identity.
ReplyDelete-Kristena R.
I find it really interesting that you make the connection between Ivory’s homesickness with her profession as a realtor. Specifically, most interesting is the connection you make regarding her profession explaining her subconscious desire to feel at home in America. I would like to use your analysis to explain Ivory’s relationship with one of her clients—Mrs. Littman. As Mrs. Littman questions Ivory about her cultural roots, Ivory “tried her best to divert [her] attention to talk of square footage and escrow, to houses and gardens” (119). Ivory hides behind her profession when reminded of her painful past; she wishes to solely focus on homes in America. She is not able to build relationships with those around her due to her longing for “home”, as you suggest.
ReplyDelete- Gaby F.
A agree with you about Ivory's job informing her character, Kristen. Personally, I feel that, because Ivory has made a career out of selling homes in the US, she has gained a sense of detachment/cynicism regarding homes. At least, that's what she would like. Her struggle with her nightmares and flashbacks would indicate that, deep down, she really does miss her home, but she is too proud to acknowledge the loss she feels, which is why she doesn't seem at all impressed when her brother makes the phone call. It sets up a conflict similar to what the characters in "Yacht People" and "Close To The Bone" face, that of reconciling the past/tradition with the present/progress, and all the emotional baggage that comes with picking a side. Because no matter what you pick, there will be something lost in the process.
ReplyDelete--- Neil G.
I found it strangely coincidental that she is a realtor selling homes to people to make them happy and start their lives, yet she does not feel at home. She misses home yet she can't or won't call home, suggesting that she left something behind perhaps or lost a part of herself when she left Vietnam. I find your analysis interesting that you do bring up the fact that she sells homes yet she misses her own.
ReplyDelete-Jeremy B.