...Briest, by Theodor Fontane follows a young woman’s journey through an arranged marriage, exposed infidelity, and guilt-ridden hardship. Effi Briest, a seventeen-year- old living in nineteenth century Germany, struggles through loneliness, depression, fear, and diminishing health through her planned marriage to a nobleman, Baron Geert von Innstetten, as well as after the troubled marriage comes to an end. Throughout the novel, several metaphors are used to emphasize the underlying hardships Effi faces, including the “Chinaman” ghost, Effi’s diminishing health, and the shooting stars. In her husband’s grandiloquent residence, Effi is continuously tormented by a spectral “Chinaman”, believed to be the ghost of a deceased servant who once served in the old home. She consistently discusses the ghost with others as it begins to consume her thoughts and is constantly fearful of the old house along with its dusty, dark corners and eerie, unexplainable creaking. The Chinaman is used in the novel as a metaphor for two aspects of Effi’s acquired life through her marriage to Innstetten: the overwhelming fear and loneliness she now faces as the wife of an ambitious man of the government, and the creeping thoughts of infidelity that ultimately transform into physical actions. Effi becomes exceedingly distressed by what she believes to be the presence of the Chinaman’s spirit, and seeks comfort and support from her husband, expressing to him that she is “never…completely free from fear…” (Fontane...
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...1: The concept of legal personality could be defined as a person with lawful characteristics and qualities of a natural person. Being a natural person was not always enough to be considered as a ‘legal person’. However, women and slaves had to deal with difficulties with the law considering societies back then had a different view of them being recognized by the law as having legal rights, protections, privileges, responsibilities and liabilities under the law. the term and common law idea of "legal person" is to be visible and have a legal standing which, in other means, to be able to attract legal rights and assume legal obligations. If, however, a person was not considered to be recognized by the law, the human being will then be considered as a species of property that can only be bought and sold,(Davies and Naffine at casebook, 26). In that period of time, the subjugated Africans that were brought to America or Europe did not reach a ‘legal status’, hence were not considered as legal persons. As a result of not being granted legal status, they were treated as property to be bought and sold; they did not have control or ‘protection’ of their own lives. This lack of legal status affected their lives over the years; they were “bought and sold, treated as an ordinary merchandise and traffic, whenever a profit could be made by it. This opinion was at that time fixed universal in the civilized portion of the white race.” (Brettle Dawson, 2101T S1_Introduction, Carleton University...
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...Samoan American Experience.” From the excerpt above, “ because I would sometimes catch people talking about me in Samoan oblivious to the fact that I understand them clearly haha” showed that the lighter skinned Samoan was assumed to be “white” from other Samoans and was indirectly talked about even though the light skinned Samoan understood their language. The connection from the text and excerpt above are similar in ways that people are misunderstood simply because of appearance, customs, and behavior. The last concept I identified in the text was “Encyclopaedia Britannica” on page 234 about Chinese Americans. The concept “Encyclopaedia Britannica” is defined as an insulting depiction of Chinese people. I analyzed the text and found, “ A Chinaman is cold, cunning, and distrustful.” That sentence gave negative ideas that Chinese Americans are mischievous to society. From the excerpt above, “Peter was never a nerd in highschool with two inch thick glasses, either. Now that I think about it, I must say that Mike’s father has never offered me any sagacious, monk-like wisdom while catching flies with chopsticks.” There is a connection ...
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...Joey Dorion American Immigration II Professor McEvoy Paper 1 The United States has long held the title of a “land of immigrants,” a place where the downtrodden and rejected peoples of the old world could come to ply their trade, to attempt to carve out a meaningful existence for themselves. The American Dream was alive and well in the early waves of immigrants, as they came from the desired parts of Europe: namely England and Western Europe. They came with fire in their spirit, and determination to make a better life for themselves than they were able to have back in the Old World. They adapted, they assimilated, and they were able to become functioning and respected members of American society. It wasn’t until the second waves of immigrants arrived that a major opposition was formed, as fear of the foreigner spurred “old” immigrants and the “old” families of the northeast to preserve their ideals. It was with a deliberate and systematic approach that legislation was passed between the years of 1882 and 1929, keeping out those less than desired groups: Italians, Chinese, those from southwestern Europe. The White Anglo-Saxon Protestant preference was alive and out in the open in the American public, and all other policymaking went towards limiting only those who were thought not to possess the potential to become the epitome of the American citizen. The history of American immigration is one that is littered with racism, and more often than not blatant...
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...Throughout Farwell to Manzanar Jeanne’s view of her own race and racial identity changes. Before the attack from the Japanese at Pearl Harbor life for the Wakatsuki family was pleasant and peaceful. In 1941 the family had been living in Ocean Park because of George Ko’s, “papa”, line of work. Papa was a licensed fisherman who had two boats on Terminal Island’s port that he was captain of. The Wakatsuki family was the only Japanese family living in Ocean Park. Since Jeanne was so young at the time, she identified more as American than Japanese. She did not have much interaction with Japanese people other than her family. Papa would threaten the young children with, “I’m going to sell you to the Chinaman” to get them to act right. This taught them that being Oriental was a bad thing, which created a great...
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...Chinese immigrants would work for cheaper and longer hours. Chinese workers were also favored more than white Americans for "The Chinese were punctual, willing, and behaved...they were quite unlike their Caucasian counterparts, who quickly resented the growing competition and harassed the foreigners."(www.pbs.org). This shows the competition and the growing hatred that developed for the Chinese immigrants by white Americans. Money was a very large factor in the 1800's that eventually led to the Chinese Exclusion Act being passed. White Americans believed Chinese immigrants were stealing jobs and money from them, and that all Chinese immigrants wanted white men dead. As quoted form an Anti-Chinese play published in 1879, "Chinaman plenty work, plenty money, plenty to eat. White man no work, no money, die?"(Grimm). This quote shows how strongly white men believed the Chinese were taking money from them and wanted them dead. Although, many immigrants just wanted to earn money to support themselves, and their families back in China, much how the white Americans wanted to support themselves and their families. A similar concept to an issue leading to the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act, that can be seen in the real world today is the issue of labor, and how many immigrants today have jobs that white Americans claim they are stealing from them. The reality of the situation is that immigrants do not steal jobs, they get up and go find one while most...
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...Analytical Assignment #1 According to document 1 and document 2 in “New Americans” Riis and Rocco Corresca have some similarities and differences with their descriptions of Italians in many of ways. As well as in document 3 and document 4 Riis and Lee Chew have some similarities and differences with their descriptions of the Chinese in many ways. When Riis talks about the Italian’s he makes a comment, “…Italian immigrants who claims so large a share of public attention, partly because he keeps coming at such a tremendous rate…” (pg.60) refers to the huge number of Italians coming to America. Similarly when Corresca first gets to American he was sharing a room with fifteen other men who were already there (pg.64); therefore backing up Riis’s...
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...Though some sources say that Chinese laborers were content with low wages, some of them actually rebelled to get higher pay. In China, if you protested, then you could get beheaded, but in America, you could get your way with things. One morning, when all 2,000 Chinese laborers came out to work, they all sat down on the tracks and didn’t move. The manager kept telling them that they had to work, but they all sat silently on the tracks. After that, they all went back into their tents and didn’t come back out. Their slogan for the strike was “eight-hour day good for white man—all the same good for Chinaman”. They did not get higher pay. Charles Crocker, the founder of Central Pacific, said that he is in charge and they are not. He said he wouldn’t give them a cent...
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...It was convenient and no one would say different, they didn’t like the Chinese occupying the job Americans could have. It was easy to agitate, when it came to the Chinese stereotypes. Many had felt that immigration didn’t have positive effects on society, so many wouldn’t question others blaming the Chinese. “They have driven our poor white men, our white boys and white girls into hoodlism. They have made our poor white girls what? Prostitutes! It is almost impossible for a poor white servant girl to find employment in a white family.” “These lawyers… have said, what are going to do with the poor Chinaman. Better say, what we are going to do with these poor white people. Who is going to care for them?” “Money is getting as scarce as flies about Christmas. I must have some.” This text shows that people are blaming the Chinese immigrants for many problems people were facing. Ultimately a young white girl not having the proper employment isn’t necessarily a Chinese immigrants...
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...My Friend, Mark Twain By Owen Pangilinan Dr. Hemington English 001A 21 July 2015 Owen Pangilinan 7/20/15 July 20, 2015 My friend, Mark Twain What are the characteristics of a good friend? A good friend is someone that is giving, not only with physical possessions but with their intellect as well. Someone that will loan you money without expecting to be repaid, let you borrow their clothes, and give you good advice. A true friend is honest and loyal. They will protect your secrets and “tell it like it is.” They will not mislead you because they have your best interests in mind. A real friend is a person who accepts you as you are. They know you are not perfect, because no one is. Flaws, imperfections and fears, are what make friendships such a beautiful thing, and these things are one of the many reasons why they love you. They aren’t expecting you to change and are understanding when you make mistakes. They are also always there for you, through the best and worst times in your life. Your true friends will be there by your side on the most boring of afternoons, and will be the first to come to your aid in the event of a disaster or in times of crisis. Mark Twain is a man that possessed many of the characteristics of a true friend. Through his books, articles, movies and personal friends you can get an insight as to what he was like in real life. Some people might argue you that his sarcasm and tenacity are not the makings of a true friend rather than a trouble...
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...French on Bleecker and South Fifth Avenue. Response Riis' book exhibits a type of duality, the overarching theme of the book are the tenements and the squalor that the immigrant tenants live in. Yet throughout the chapters, Riis with his writing style tends to "jab" at each immigrant group. He calls Manhattan a"queer conglomerate" in his attempt to find any native born Americans. This certainly speaks to how American, today and yesturday view immigrants. Chapter 9: Chinatown Summary Chinatown is one of the immigrant enclaves that Riis chronicles in his book. Riis describes Mott Street as " clean to distraction" yet it is lined with conventional tenement houses with the occasional red or yellow sign with Chinese characters. The " Chinaman"is characterized as a secretive and distrusting opiate dealer who is also a devout gambler ,with "Fan tan" being their game of choice. As far for the " Chinawoman" , there are no accounts of them being seen in the street since only few merchants had wives of Chinese decent . The wives of Chinatown that Riis referred to were white teenage girls that were wayward and had become addicted to the opium that Chinese sold in their lounges.Accounts are given of theses "wives" as well children being abused mercilessly. Response Riis' chapter on the Chinese immigrant certainly speaks to the sentiments that most Americans shared about immigrants in the 1860's. He speaks of the Chinese immigrant with a detectable detrogatory tone. He has few positive...
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...upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers. The term American Dream is used in many ways, but it is an idea that suggests that anyone in the United States can succeed through hard work and have the potential to lead a happy, successful life. Many people have expanded upon the definition to include things such as freedom, fulfillment and meaningful. The American dream is achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, not by chance. In “A Grain of Sand”, “You are the music You are the song You are the ones To whom the future belongs,” (Iijima – Miyatmoto 3) this shows the freedom that helps make you succeed in life and prosper. In the article, the poem, “Wandering Chinaman”, “I left my home and my parents at the age of twenty-one. In a family of eight…I arrived in this country in 1925.”(Chin 4) This part of the poem shows the risk taken to come to America to live the American Dream. “When I’d saved enough, and thought that I was done, then came a world war…I decided to marry, and sent away for a wife. I settle down to a family.”(Chin 4) In this...
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...you eat you flat-nosed Babalu?" which represents the everyone else's disgust towards his physical features. The Hazaras are treated as the ethnic minority, as opposed to the Shi'a muslims. Furthermore, The disregard for the Hazaras are shown when Amir describes, "School textbooks barely mentioned them and referred to their ancestry only in passing." This might be perhaps because of the Pashtuns' belief that the Hazaras are not as important. This leads the Hazaras to feel like the outsiders. Likewise, Ricky is enthralled in displacement because of his different skin colour and his different facial features. Francis discusses what Ricky had to go through. She describes, in second person, the 'school-yard taunts of 'flat-nose', 'ching-chong Chinaman' and 'dirty black nigger' which came and went throughout Ricky's years in primary school. Perhaps these taunts are meant to degrade Ricky's background because he looks different from everyone else. Because Ali and Ricky were of different backgrounds from everyone else, they were the targets of discrimination and racist taunts which may have led to them feeling like...
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...July 3, 2010 Dear Diary, My life as a Chinese American Many of my ancestors paved the way for me to become a Chinese American. In the late 1850’s is when the first wave of Chinese immigration entered into the United States. The Chinese who entered the United States were called the Gold Mountain Guest. The Chinese called the United States, Gold Mountain, in the event that they may become rich. This gold rush started in Sutter’s Mill, Sacramento, CA. As the gold diminished, they just came to simply work. They were discriminated against in their wages, they were paid less than everybody else and was treated with violence. My name is Kim Lee, and I was born to Su Lee and Chang Lee on December 24, 1985 in China. When I first came to the United States, I did not know what to expect. My parents told me of the many struggles that the Chinese had to overcome to become Chinese Americans and I felt very afraid. My parents still live in China, while I came to the United States to attend College. I was accepted into the University of San Francisco, where I am currently attending school. I live in a small part of town called China Town. China Town is a segregated part of San Francisco where the Chinese Americans such as myself live. Most Chinese who come to the United States settle here on the West Coast, California being one of the biggest states to house Chinese Americans. Some of the same prejudice that my parents warned me about, still exist in the United States today....
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...Farewell to Manzanar Book Review Farewell to Manzanar, by Jeanne Wakatuski Houston, is a true story of her life during World War II. The book tells how Jeanne’s life and the life of her family were influenced by the internment of many Japanese-Americans during World War II. It tells the story of the separation of the family members, hardships, racial discrimination, injustice and hatred that they had to live with during this time period. The book is told from Jeanne’s own experiences in her own town, how her peers at school treated her, and what it was like being uprooted from their home and being put into the Japanese internment camp of Manzanar. In her book the author also talks about how she tried to be somebody else totally different to fit into a society, rejecting who she really was. The struggles she went through during her stay at Manzanar, the crude reality and harshness she faced, made her a stronger person, but at the same time it made her neglect her culture and try to adopt foreign customs. The fact that she was exposed to more American traditions and activities, made her want to be more Americanized. Jeanne Wakatsuki was just a seven year growing up in Ocean Park, California when her whole life was about to change. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese was the moment Jeanne's life was critically altered. This started WWII and all Japanese were seen as possible threats to the nation’s safety. Her father was immediately arrested and taken away...
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