Joanne’ H. Mullins
Phase 2 DB #2 Literature: A Reflection of Life
Colorado Technical University
Instructor Professor Eric Wright
LITR201 1503A 01 Phase 2 DB #2 Fiction Part 2 More Than Skin Deep Appearance vs Reality
07/10/2015

LITERATURE: A REFLECTION OF LIFE
FICTION, PART2: MORE THAN SKIN DEEP: APPEARANCE VS. REALITY
1. How do you think Nea feels about her sister Sourdi based on this information? How does what s at the beginning of the story foreshadow what happen. later?
In May-Lee Chia story “Saving Sourdi “tells the story of two sisters who were very close and the youngest (Nea) felt she had to save her sister (Sourdi). Nea is the narrator of the story and it is told from her perspective, so it follows her emotions, thoughts, and ideas and it all transcend time. Nea is very spontaneous character and she holds on to the memories of her and Sourdi and she do not won’t to let go of her sister. Through the beginning of the story Nea being the protagonist stated that she was eleven years old of age, someone was dissing her sister and she felt the need to save her sister. Sourdi wanted to change the way Nea was thinking but it never happen. Nea still felt hat Sourdi need saving eve after she got married.
2. This story is told from Nea’s point of view. How do you think the story would change if it were told from Sourdi’s point of view? Do you feel closer to the character than you would if this story were told in third person?
If the story was told by Sourdi it would sound totally different because she is a dynamic character that seems to have changed several times throughout story. Sourdi did not want anything to happen to her sister and she told her so. Then she changed when Duke kissed her and she began a romantic relationship and wanted to spend more time with Duke than her little sister Nea. She also changed when she got married because a new husband meant a very new life. Sourdi would have told all the interesting things that happen to her and probably would have only mention Nea as her little sister who was over protective. As I was reading the story, I could feel as if I was there with Nea and wanted to help her protected her sister at the age of eleven. There was a closeness that I felt with the Nea that I would not have felt if the story was told by a third party. Nea kept the attention of the reader by referring to pass situations that happen in their life even if she never remembered the situation.
3. Nea briefly mentions an experience she and Sourdi had in a minefield when they were younger. What impact do you think this had on the relationship between the sisters?
Nea refuses to change and realize that she and Sourdi are at war, Nea wishes for things to remain the same. Sourdi is all grown up; she has different ways to experience life, and takes life as it comes. Nea cannot forget the little girl crossing the minefields on her sisters back, they were inseparable. Nea has the idea that everything is under her control, and that her sister is totally devoted to her. Nea wants to keep her sister so she sets out to destroy her marriage, but realized that Sourdi is never coming back and she has to let go in the end she says, “I wished I was a Naga. I would have swallowed the whole world in one gulp. But I have no magic powers. None whatsoever “(p. 96).
4. Nea’s family is not originally from the United States. What are some clues the author gives to describe the origin of their ethnicity? Give 2 examples of characters who say things that are racially offensive, and discuss how this makes you feel about those characters. Can you relate to these experiences?
The clues the author gives to describe the origin of their ethnicity was made in the statement on page 84 where Nea was describing where she and Sourdi would run away too one-day. “We’d go to California to see the stars. Paris. London. Cambodia even, to light incense for the bones of our father.” (p. 84).
The two examples that might be considered as racially offensive would be:
(81 – 82)The men had been growing louder, until they were our only customers, and, finally, one of them staggered up an put his arm across Sourdi’s shoulders. He called her his “China doll,” and his friends hooted at this. “China Doll” is referred to as that lovely glass like porcelain dolls which are treasured as heirlooms. Then there is the “China Doll”, that is a racial stereotype often applied to young Asian women or little girls, who in different ways are perceived as delicate, lotus-like(fair), exotic, submissive, and obedient. There are a lot of things that are said that can be very offensive.
(93)He figured people in the neighborhood would know; just ask where the Oriental family lived. I told him to go to hell. Then we didn’t talk for a while. The word Oriental is a no way, because it should not be used unless you are referring to some type of objects, such as rugs, and not people, and that it’s old-fashioned …..Equivalent to using “Negro” to describe an African American. Referring to “Oriental’s” meaning……“Eastern.” “It’s a Eurocentric name for us, which is why it’s wrong. The state of New York banned the use of the word “Oriental” on government forms and documents. So you can see how offensive the word can be.
5. How does the author describe Duke and Mr. Chhay? Do you get a sense of who these characters are based on these descriptions?
The way the author describes “Duke’ did not give me a chance to see who duke really is. May-Lee describe Duke in form not in aspect, according to the story “Duke was describe as (84)a funny-looking white kid, hair that stuck up straight from his head when he wasn’t wearing his silly baseball cap backwards, skinny as a stalk of bamboo, long legs and long arms that seemed to move in opposition to each other.” Mylee did not allow me to see “Duke as a contributor to the story itself, what he is made of. On the on hand, May-Lee describe Mr. Chhay as a man of integrity who gave gifts, hospitable, and wrote letters to thank the family for their kindness. Mr. Chhay was a salesman’s and he did a good job of selling himself to the family, obtaining what he wanted , also turned out to be a very good man, all aspects of Mr. Chhay was shown in the story as I stated before , a man of integrity.
6. As the story progresses how does the relationship between Nea and Sourdi change? Why do you think it changes?
Nea could not come to the realization that Sourdi had grown up and gotten older and her life had change. Nea was bend on saving Sourdi form whatever she felt threaten Sourdi. In the beginning Sourdi seemed to be in some sort of danger and Nea felt Sourdi need to be saved by her. In the meantime Sourdi grew up When she stated to see Duke, then she was given in marriage to Mr., Chhay for a wife, she gave birth to a baby and got pregnant again, Nea still felt he need to save her sister, until then end she realize that Sourdi was never coming back , she was gone for good.
7. What does the mother value, based on how reaction to updates she receives from Sourdi? Why do you think she might feel this way?
May-Lee describe the mother as a hard working women who took crummy jobs to survive with her family. Nea saw her mom as one who always knew what to do in a crisis. When the mother got the new news from Sourdi she acted in a strange way pacing back and forth said, “It’s always like this. Every marriage is hard. Sometimes there is nothing you can do—” (p.89). Mama Stop pacing the floor said that she was tired and went to get some rest. Nea confronted her mother about Sourdi crying on the phone the mother stated to her that, “You not like your sister. Your sister knows how to bear things! “She stormed back into the kitchen, an ignored Nea for the rest of the day. The mother seemed not so happy about Her daughter dilemma, but she let Nea know that Sourdi is all grown up.
References
Meyer, M. (2011). Literature To Go. Reading Imaginative Literature. Saving Sourdi by May-Lee Chai. p. 81 -96. Retrieved (July 17, 2015) from http://www.online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781457659461/pages/247832977