...The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston tells the story of five Chinese women in five chapters. The first chapter tells the tragic tale of Maxine’s aunt “The No-Name Woman,” appropriately the title of the first section. The chapter starts off with Maxine’s mother telling Maxine to never talk about what she was about to be told. “The No-Name Woman’s” rape becomes the center focus of the chapter. Kingston weaves a story of her aunt being raped and the severe repercussions that came from the incident from her mother’s words. The townspeople sacked their house and shunned Kingston’s aunt. After becoming impregnated by her rapist, “The No-Name Woman” drowned herself and the new born baby in the family well. The second chapter, “The White Tiger,”...
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...A Chinese family is complete; a Chinese family is settled. The traditional Chinese family functions under a hierarchical order that influencing each member, giving authority to the elders. Each member stands in a specific place in the family, representing family values that are not to be stained. New generation of the family holds the responsibility for spreading the family value/blood, which is consumed as knowledge from the ancestors (and forbidden to be questioned) at an early age. However, this unique way of teaching often consists of shameful stories from the past as warnings for misbehaviors. When Maxine Hong Kingston, a first-generation Chinese American, first started menstruating, she was introduced to a woman with no name — a woman who has never been born. After the no name woman gave birth to her child that was born from adultery (which might...
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...In "No Name Woman" by Maxine Hong Kingston, Kingston learns from her mother that she once had an aunt who committed suicide with her newborn baby by jumping into the family well in China. As the she begins to menstruate, Kingston’s mother warns her of the consequences if she follows her aunt and commits adultery. The author aunt could have been rape or as the author even hinted, incest. This is the first chapter from Kingston’s book Memoirs of a Woman Warrior. It reminds me of those Chinese paintings of landscape, nature, trees, flowers, mountains shrouded by mist, everything hidden and quiet. In addition, I think the writer’s purpose is to bring to the eyes of the general public the harsh consequences of being a female in a patriarchal society. The mother devotes her time to explain to her daughter about her aunt who took her own life and was forgotten by her own family because of Chinese expectations of how a female should behave. I think by Kingston’s mother explains this story about her aunt because she is trying to save her daughter’s life. I was surprised that the aunt’s name is never mentioned in the story. The narrator's aunt was deeply shamed, and fiercely loyal despite the terrible situation she was in. Guilt no doubt took hold in her heart and put her on the path to...
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...Rodriguez 1 Lorraine Rodriguez Professor Diane Mannone English 103 5 October 2015 The Danger of the Single Story “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. We’ve all heard that phrase and we’ve all used that phrase. According to Wikipedia, it refers to it as a metaphorical phrase that can be translated to: “You shouldn’t prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone”. This well known phrase is part of a greater but, less popular concept known as, a single story. In a TED Talk given by writer, Chimamanda Adichie, she explains that a single story is one story we hear over and over again about a person or a place and interact with that person or place through the lens of that one story. She argues that, “The single story creates stereotypes and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story”. A single story is dangerous for two reasons: it flattens our experience with another person and it can negatively affect the identity of a human being. When we engage with another person through the lens of a single story, we lose the opportunity of experiencing the depth of a person because we are simply not made up of one story, but of many stories. Similarly, and in some cases much worse, a single story can negatively shape the identity of a person when the single story we believe is not about another, but about our self. A single story is dangerous only when...
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...anthropologist and the author of The Anthropological Looking Glass, communities, such as small villages from Ireland like Ballybran, need to accept change to be able to learn the more modern ways of looking at situations. Scheper-Hughes critiques the Irish villager’s ways of living and, whether or not she actually noticed, compares this village to American way of living. Villages such as Ballybran may have a different way of living, but this does not necessarily mean it should be looked at as uncivilized or the wrong way, though change may have been a wise choice for the villagers, which Scheper-Hughes was trying to imply. Furthermore, Maxine Hong Kingston, the author of No Name Woman, emphasizes on the risks and effects of change when born into such a strict community such as a woman born into Chinese customs and their role within the family. Kingston provides background on the costs and benefits of change and whether change is ever worth it or paid off in the end. The big issue here, is whether or not the costs of changing societal norms is worth the changes of outlooks, attitudes and more that come along with it. Changing community traditions can never be such a bad idea, everyone and everything...
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...become lost and tune out. When I am asked to answer a question or share my opinion I often become anxiety ridden and blank on whatever it is I would normally say. I think that I can attribute this partially to my high level of affect felt in class. I feel the need to perform well, and when I cannot do this I become nervous and/or frustrated. What I found surprising and heart breaking all at the same time was the level of shame that some of the authors speak of. As a child, or even adult, who moves into a new country and is expected to speak the native language, I think the hardest thing to deal with would be acceptance. When you don’t receive this acceptance you start to feel doubtful of yourself and are often encompassed by shame. Maxine Hong Kingston, author of From the Woman Warrior, explains this feeling quite well. “’A dumbness—a shame—still cracks my voice in two, even when I want to say “hello” casually, or ask an easy question in front of the check-out counter, or ask...
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...Everyone has an origin to their life story—one that is part of their innate identity. To Marie Wilcox, it is her Native American heritage: a foundation extending from generations of people, tradition, as well as unique styles of communication that form a cultural identity. “Marie’s Dictionary,” a short documentary directed by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, explores the theme of perseverance through the story of one woman’s passionate purpose to preserve her tribe’s language from becoming extinct by creating the first ever Wukchumni dictionary. With the goal to revive appreciation for the art of Native American languages, the documentary focuses on Marie Wilcox, the last fluent speaker of the Wukchumni language, and her passion to save it from extinction. The film’s director, Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, first met Ms. Wilcox through the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival. In a short article by the New York Times, Vaughn-Lee provides some background to the Wukchumni tribe. According to the director, the tribe resides in San Joaquin Valley, California, and is part of the Yokuts tribal group, but is not recognized by the federal government. Unfortunately, the some 50,000 Yokuts that originally lived in the region has steadily decreased since European foreigners first stepped foot in California. As a result, there are fewer than 200 of the Wukchumni remaining today (2014). As more elders from the Wukchumni tribe gradually passed away, so did those fluent in the tribe’s native...
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...The Woman Warrior is a narrative that focuses on the tale of five women, Fa Mu Lan, Brave Orchid, Moon Orchid, and Kingston. Lan is the mythical female warrior in the story. The narrative is told in five chapters which integrate Kingston’s experiences and a series of spoken stories told by her mother. The stories combine elements of Chinese myths, beliefs and even history in the narration of events that occurred. The novel explores the various adversities faced by women in the society. The study explores the author’s efforts to write a memoir as a way of creating her identity. Kingston is trying to tell the story of her life and in doing so, uses a collection of other people stories and sensations. She uses her mother’s stories to narrate...
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... In Dang Thuy Tram’s autobiography, “Last Night I Dreamed of Peace”, the young woman works as a Vietcong doctor in the Quan Ngai province during the Vietnam War. She endures many hardships during her stay at the medical clinics, which are situated in a free-fire zone. Surprisingly enough, Dang Thuy Tram does not let her circumstances discourage her from continuing on to fight the enemy. This essay will argue that Dang Thuy Tram successfully overcomes the obstacles that could possibly prevent her from fulfilling the role of revolutionary heroine by examining her strong hatred for the enemy, her optimism, and her will to sacrifice. She has a very strong feeling of hatred for the enemy (Imperialists/Capitalists), which fuels her will to continue fighting, even when she is surrounded by death. For example, on January 10th 1969, Bon’s death leads her to think of the Americans: “We will suffer as long as those bloodthirsty foes remain here. There is no other way but to crush the heads of those vicious dogs” (83). When her comrade is killed by the enemy, she is not demotivated. Instead, it gives her yet another reason to carry on fighting. Although she is saddened by his death, the event still boosts her motivation. A few months later, when she saw smoke rising from her old clinic, she remembers all the effort that was put into its construction and maintenance. This stirs an anger inside of her, and she tells herself, “There is no other way than to fight until not one imperialist American...
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...There are many who would argue that the life and work of Mary Crow Dog, author of the as-told-to autobiography Lakota Woman, speaks to the heart of a woman’s life as an activist and agent for social change. Others would take the opposite position, that Crow Dog/Lakota Woman speaks only to her own life, and that her most famous acts—giving birth at Wounded Knee and collaborating with Richard Erdoes to write her autobiography in two volumes—produced no social change. Her autobiography for some scholars and activists has in fact been more harmful than helpful in representing Lakota cultural practices and the conditions of American Indians nationally. Whatever position you take in reading Mary Crow Dog’s life, her self-identified work as an...
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...In The Woman Warrior, Kingston describes the lengths she would go to make herself "unsellable" in order to portray the fear she faces everyday, which drives her to develop a low self esteem. In the last chapter of the novel, Kingston tells the readers all of the absurd actions she takes in order to prevent her from being sold. She says "she did not want to be our [their] crazy one" (Kingston 190). To ensure she wasn't the "crazy one," she "pick[s] my [her] nose while I [she] was cooking and serving...drop dishes..." and even "affects a limp" (Kingston 190). The stories about injuries and disrespectful actions, tells the readers how far she would go in order to portray herself as a "mess". Within some Chinese cultures, the act of selling your...
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...Professor Mason | The Night Before Graduation | Descriptive essay | | Adrian | 1/29/2012 | | Midnight had struck as my friend Niki and I were walking on Apple Street. By this time the rain had been on its way, leaving the air with a warm and humid touch. A feeling of excitement entered my ears as I heard the faint of sound of music and laughter. I found myself walking at a faster pace along this dark, winding road. Not exactly sure what to expect for the night, I could only hope that it would lead to being something to remember forever. Upon arriving to the farm, I was in astonishment, almost like confusion. It seemed like everyone I had attended high school with was there. It was a sight I will never forget; it resembled a scene from a movie or a TV show. There were hundreds of kids just enjoying themselves at a crazy and wild party. As I proceeded to walk toward the voluptuous crowd of dancing and music, Niki said, “Time to get trashed”. With complete confusion, I turned to my left only to see her mixing some concoction. The smell of alcohol had always turned my stomach inside out, but for some reason on this night when she asked me if I would like some I said yes. With my first sip, I was immediately turned off. The taste was horrendously out of this world and on top of that it burned. Instantly, I gave the drink back to her along with a slew of complaints. “Ewwww Niki. That’s horrible. How on earth can you ever drink something like that?” She...
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... St.Andrew, Jamaica and a section of the coast at Hector’s River, Portland, Jamaica. Methodology To gain the information needed for the project the teacher devised a trip to go observe and investigate the coastal processes at each area. Prior to going on the trip the teacher gave students an information sheet which was needed to collect needed data, such as material present on shore, direction of winds, wave characteristics, coastal processes present at location, lastly landforms present at said area, as well as, a sketch of the area. It should also be noted that cameras were taken to obtain pictures of each site to be presented in the project. On November 4th, 2015 at about 8:30 am we made the journey to Palisadoes, Tombolo in Kingston, arriving at around 9:00 am. In which spent a time approximately 20-30 minutes. During that period the teacher explained and described the various events which are taking place, thereafter the information sheet would be filled up with the information obtained from observation and the explanation from the teacher. Afterwards the journey to Hector’s River, Portland was made in which the same was done for this site and the needed data recorded. Presentation and Analysis of...
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...Legal Issues for Managers Legal Issues for Managers: Potential Liabilities The object of this essay is to advice on potential liabilities of Cena, Rock, Kofi and Punk. First and foremost delivery driver Cena failed to check his trailer was properly coupled to his truck. While driving the trailer detaches, rolling down hill colliding with Rock, a motorcyclist. Due to Cena’s negligence Rock, not wearing a crash helmet suffered severe injuries and damages to his body and motorcycle. Per Lord Atkins “we owe a duty of care if it is reasonable to foresee that another person might suffer damage as a result of our act or omissions”. (Lord Atkins) Rock may state, surely Cena had a duty of care to ensure his vehicle was suited for purpose. Nevertheless, since Rock was not wearing a helmet, Cena may argue that Rock is liable for some of his injuries. Comparably under the case of Smith V Leech Brain & Co Ltd and Another [1962] All Er 1159, Smith incurs fatal injuries when molten metal burns his lips, leading to cancer and eventual death. This being said, Smith “already had a pre-malignant condition”. The defendant argued, “Smith may have contracted cancer due to his condition, regardless of the accident”. (Smith V Leech Brain, 1962) Conversely, but for the burn, Smith may have never developed cancer. According to Thin Skull Rule “a defendant is liable for the full extent of the victim's injuries even if, due to some abnormality or pre-existing condition, the victim...
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...Spanish resistance continued for some years after the English conquest, in some cases with the help of the Jamaican Maroons, but Spain never succeeded in retaking the island. Under early English rule, Jamaica became a haven of privateers, buccaneers, and occasionally outright pirates: Christopher Myngs, Edward Mansvelt, and most famously, Henry Morgan. The English established their main coastal town at Port Royal. By 1659, two hundred houses, shops, and warehouses surrounded the fort. The town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1692, after which Kingston became the main coastal settlement. Spanish Town has the oldest cathedral of the British colonies in the Caribbean. William penn and venables failed to conqur the Spanish in Hispaniola in 1654 and came to poorly defended Jamaica . by 1656 the small group that was left started to do well in trading. They grew and traded cooa, coffee and sugar cane. Along with the English setytlers there were settlers from Wales and Scotland who came into the island as indentured labourers to help with the trading. The first class were the white men, who owned property, or who had professions and trades. They were well-off and spent their money freely. They were not careful in their habits, and so they died at an early age, as a rule. The second class also consisted of white men; but these were almost slaves. It was the custom in those days to send to the American colonies people who inGreat Britain had been convicted of some crime. These were...
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