...loved one. In Saving Sourdi, May-Lee Chai utilizes sibling love, family protection, and courage as the three themes that Nea demonstrates for her older sister. The first theme, sibling love, shows the relationship between Nea and her older sister. Their relationship goes back and forth between good and bad. “Uncle fired Duke… It was during the Saturday lunch rush when Sourdi and I were not working and could not witness what had happened” (May-Lee Chai 74). This is good because they get to see each other and spend time together. “Now when I crept into Sourdi’s bed at night, when she talked about running away, she meant Duke and her” (May-Lee Chai 74). This is not a good situation because her older sister talks about running away with Duke. If this happened, Nea would never get to see her sister anymore. Having sisterly love is important because you need that special connection if you have a problem. You may not want to talk with your parents right away about something but need someone to be there for you. A sister connection would be good in that situation. The next theme, family protection, shows what Nea would do to save her sister. “I grabbed the knife and ran back out to Sourdi” (May-Lee Chai 70). Nea grabs a knife and comes back out to the bar and protects her sister by stabbing the guy messing with her. “I would walk on bones for my sister, I vowed. I would put my bare feet on rotting flesh. I would save Sourdi” (May-Lee Chai 81). Nea just describes what...
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...short fictional story, “Saving Sourdi,” author May-lee Chai focuses on the bond and relationship between two sisters, Nea and Sourdi. Nea, the younger sibling in “Saving Sourdi,” looks up and admires her older sister, Sourdi. As the two sisters grow in age, Nea isn’t ready to face reality and watch her older sibling start a life without her. Throughout the story, Nea makes desperate attempts to “save” her older sister. In reality, Nea is the character in the story that needs to be “saved”, rather than her sister. Nea, the protagonist and major character in “Saving Sourdi,” is immature and dramatic. At the age of eleven, Nea stabs a man at the restaurant, after hearing him call Sourdi a “China doll.” While Sourdi manages to remain calm during this event, Nea reacts without thinking of the consequences. Toward the end of the story, Nea calls Duke and tells him that her sister is in danger. “Look, I don’t have time to explain. We have to go tonight. It’s an emergency. A matter of life and death.”(Chai 91). Here, Nea acts without thinking and makes it sound like Sourdi will die if they don’t go to Des Moines. Nea’s decision to call Duke for help leads to Sourdi’s husband getting punched in the face. Also, this episode results in the two sisters growing further apart, which is not Nea’s intention. The mother brings some light onto Nea as a character. She tells Nea: “You not like your sister. Your sister know how to bear things!”(Chai 90). What does the mother mean by “bear things...
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...“Saving Sourdi” by May Lee-Chai discusses a plot of story about a transition of life from childhood to adulthood of a family of two girls and their mother. May Lee-Chai makes use of the characters in the story to demonstrate the strong relationship between two sisters and different ways character show their love. Although the two main characters Nea and Sourdi grew up together they develop completely in contrast. As time flies, Sourdi seems to be matured while Nea has difficulty to maturing her own life. Nea aggressiveness, anxiety and naivety lead her to made decisions throughout the story. Readers could feel the strong relationship of the two sisters in the story when both of them willingly to do anything to save one another life. Waving...
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...Nea plays the stereotypical role of a young child, who believes she can change situations that are out of her control, looking for the power of Naga to save her sister Sourdi from any “danger” that comes her way. However, through the obstacles that her and her sister encounter, she comes to learn that true strength is realizing that you cannot always help or “save” someone; true strength is recognizing your own weaknesses and limitations as well. May-Lee Chai beautifully illustrates Nea as she transitions from childhood to adulthood. As she grows to learn that she has to let her sister go. Chai described Nea as a very naïve, but also a very compassionate girl. She would always refer to her family as a hard working group of people who wanted the best in life, that simply just couldn't gain an advantage. Nea understood that there was always a better life and wanted nothing less but for them to prosper. She described there upbringing as being rough as they once lived in the violent and harsh neighborhoods in Texas. "We lived packed together in an apartment with bars on the windows on a street where angry boys in cars played loud music and shot guns at each other in the night". Once they escaped the ghettos of Texas they moved to Northwest America with their Uncle who was the owner of a restaurant "The Silver Palace" during the multiple transitions Nea grew a very deep relationship with her sister Sourdi who she looked up to dearly "My sister was beautiful.” Nea had always sought...
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...The Price of Indebtedness in May-Lee Chai's "Saving Sourdi" Whether stabbing a man with a paring knife or getting a friend to punch her sister's husband in the face, Nea always manages to start trouble for her and her sister, Sourdi. She doesn't do it on purpose, it's just that Nea will do anything to protect her older sister. The issue stems from when the family lived in their native Cambodia; Nea was only four and Sourdi carried her across a minefield on her back. Ever since that moment, Nea has felt indebted to her older sister and has been determined to protect her at all costs. However, the costs seem to be high as her identity has become tied to this notion of debt. In May-Lee Chai's "Saving Sourdi," Nea's identity is shaped by her feeling of indebtedness to her sister Sourdi, which compromises her ability to grow and objectively see the world. The cause behind the story's central conflict lies in Nea's devotion to Sourdi, which in turn was caused by a distant memory. "Once upon a time", Nea recalls, "Sourdi had walked across a minefield, carrying me on her back" (Chai 140). With the terrible war background on the Khmer Rouge-era in Cambodia as an exposition, Nea recalls her sister Sourdi carrying her across a field by stepping on countless dead bodies to avoid the mines. This is something that Nea views as secret between just her and her sister, one she will never reveal to another soul. It is because of this single incident that Nea vows to "walk on bones"...
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...Literary Element: Character Title: Saving Sourdi (May-Lee Chai) Character and Saving Sourdi The short story Saving Sourdi by May-Lee Chai is an interesting story in how the characters play completely different roles. Nea, the narrator and Sourdi’s sister, is the main protagonist in the story as she and her sister grow up from children into adults. Although they grow up together, their characters develop differently, and Nea falls behind, maturity-wise, while Sourdi continuously matures. This is likely due to her aggressive behavior in combination with her anxiety, which play negative roles throughout the story. Nea is constantly attempting to save her sister throughout the entire story but fails over and over again; this shows Nea’s perseverance but also shows her aggressiveness. However, she never truly grows up in the story, while her sister develops into a woman. Nea is very plain and non-exciting, but she continuously tries to save her sister from situations. Does she remain childish so that she won’t be compared to her much more beautiful, older and more desirable sister, Sourdi? The theme of companionship is a very prominent and obvious theme as the story develops around the two sisters growing up. Nea and Sourdi had a close friendship as small children; Nea also tries to save Sourdi a considerable amount of times as they grow older. When Sourdi becomes of age, her mother arranges a marriage for her to Mr. Chhay. Sourdi and Nea are both unhappy about the...
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...Alida Lamagna 2/12/12 Literature and Composition Turner Nea: Saving Sourdi Character Analysis “Saving Sourdi” by May-Lee Chai, discusses a classic plot of the metamorphosis from childhood to adulthood. In her story, the two main characters Sourdi and Nea develop in stark contrast to one another. Nea, the younger sister, has difficulty growing up and maturing as her own life, as well as her sister’s life, progresses. Her naivety, aggression, and anxiety influence her decisions throughout the story in a negative way. Chai’s character is easily believable and relatable, everyone has had a point in their lives where they didn’t want to grow up, handled a situation poorly, or realized that their relationship with someone has changed drastically to the point of no repair. Nea, the protagonist in “Saving Sourdi”, is a tragic hero. We experience her attempts at protecting her sister and watch as they fail time and time again. Nea is a flat and static character. Throughout the story she does not change, she remains childish in her actions and decisions. Their mother addresses this issue early on by saying, “You not thinking. That your problem. You always not think!” (Chai 70) Chai does not show us another side to Nea making her a flat character. We see her in the same light despite the life lessons she experiences. Nea is the same drastic, hardheaded child in the beginning as she is in the end. Growing and maturing is crucial in life. Some people, however, suffer from a sort...
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...In the story, "Saving Sourdi" by May-Lee Chai, the reader feels empathy for Nea because she was too young and naive to understand what was happening. The reader understands why Nea was upset about her sister, Sourdi moving on since they were typically best friends growing up. As a young child, kids usually try to act older and more mature than they are. They are noisy and want to know about every little thing. This is a normal characteristic that most children have acquire. Nea, the younger sister, has difficulty growing up and maturing in her own life, as well as her sister’s life, as it progresses. Her naivety and aggression influences her decisions throughout the story in a negative way. Chai’s character is easily believable and relatable. Everyone has had a point in their lives where they didn’t want to grow up, handled a situation poorly, or realized that their relationship with someone has changed drastically to the point of no repair. The reader experiences her attempts at protecting her sister and we watch as they fail time and time again. Nea is a flat and static character. Throughout the story she does not change. Nea remains childish in her actions and decisions. Their mother addresses this issue early on by saying, “You not thinking. That your problem. You always not think!” (Chai 70). Chai does not show us another side to Nea making her a flat character. We see her in the same light despite the life lessons she experiences. Nea is the same drastic, hardheaded...
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...extremes might be individuals who view it as a license to pursue selfish goals.” (Lee-chai & Bargh 57). For the people who survived the Marcos regime, they know certainly that Marcos was one of the latter. From a potent leader, he became obsessed with his position thus resulting to his abuse of power. In doing so, he became the dictator of a time, which a lot of Filipinos consider as one of the darkest years in Philippine history. His rise to power and the dictatorship he established was a product of both personal ambition and historical currents, both international and local. Unfortunately for present and future generations, however, this dark chapter in our history still remains unsettled. Ferdinand Marcos, son of a Filipino politician, Mariano Marcos was a UP Law graduate and was a very intellectually competent person. He once served as his own lawyer in an appeal of a case in which he was convicted guilty. Because of his ability as a lawyer, he impressed the Supreme Court judge and at the same time was granted acquittal. One cannot deny the brilliance that Marcos possesses. And with this brilliance, he was able to climb the political ladder and reach heights only a few were able to get to. We could just wonder how can such a brilliant man (like others before him) succumb to power and become so ignorant. In a book it says, “Power changes people, inducing them to pursue selfish ends” (Lee-chai & Bargh 58). Irrefutably, Marcos pursued his own selfish ends, and it was not pretty...
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...Nea the Antagonist South Plains College April 20, 2015 Research Paper In May-Lee Chai’s “Saving Sourdi,” Nea would be the antagonist of the story if the literary development of point of view and characterization were different. Point of view and characterization in literature is what allows us to see, hear, and feel a story the way it is designed. An author’s attention to detail is crucial. He or she may put more focus into every small element in a setting or they may emphasize more on development of plot or character. Every literary piece is different. Point of view is an essential tool in arranging the world in a story that sets itself apart. Development of character can only begin after we know from where the story is coming. Chai writes “Saving Sourdi” in a first person point of view through a naïve character. We are “restricted to the perceptions, thoughts, and feelings of [this] single character” (Meyer 138). For the rest of my analysis it is important to remember this. The narrator tells a story of the two main characters and the relationship between them. The actions of our immature main character throughout the time of this story takes place continue to fail her, creating contrast between the two of them. The reader can tell this is happening, but because the story comes to us from this first person narrative, we also know that Nea truly believes she is doing the right thing. We can always know too much or too little of what we are supposed...
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...1102 April 22, 2016 Saving Sourdi “Saving Sourdi” is a short story written by May-Lee Chai. This short story is about two sisters, Nea and Sourdi, who have a sisterly bond however, Nea the protagonist character starts feeling like her relationship with her sister is being threatened by the men that enters Sourdis life. This causes Nea to become a courageous, protective, and ignorant character throughout the story. While Nea assumes that she is helping her sister, she fails to realize that she makes the situation worse. The author uses characterization as a literary device to show how siblings can act towards a loved one ignoring the consequences that are yet to come. “A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves- a special kind of bond.” (Toni Morrison) Having a sister can be either a blessing or a curse. A sister can be your mirror, partner in crime, your midnight companion, and a teacher. For many it's a blessing however, at times a sister can bring out many attributes and moods. Nea and Sourdi are two sisters that grew up together and were seeking for the real America with their mother. The sisters encountered many events and shared many moments “…the two of us, so we could talk about things like boys at school or who was…” (Chai,20). The author gives the reader an idea on the type of bond they built as growing up. The reader can come to conclusion that the bond they...
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...1. Lịch sử: Năm 1886, John Pemberton định làm một loại hương liệu đem lại cảm giác khỏe khoắn, tươi mới từ lá coca và chiết xuất của hạt cola tại nhà mình ở Atlanta. Ngẫu nhiên, hỗn hợp của ông đã được trộn với cácbonát thay vì nước đơn thuần. Cocacola ra đời từ đó. Sáu năm sau, Caleb Bradham, một dược sĩ khác ở New Bern, Bắc Caroline, đã đăng ký nhãn hiệu Pepsi cho một loại coca mới. Bradham chọn cái tên Pepsi vì công dụng làm giảm chứng khó tiêu của loại đồ uống này. Cuộc chiến giữa các loại cola bắt đầu, tuy khá âm thầm lúc ban đầu. Cùng năm đó, năm 1902, Cocacola lần đầu được quảng cáo trên tạp chí – tờ Munsey’s và công ty từ đó đã nhận ra nhu cầu thiết yếu cần một nhà chuyên nghiệp để xây dựng các quảng cáo cho mình. Năm 1904, chủ tịch Của Cocacola, ông Asa Candler đã chọn Massengale ở Atlanta làm công ty phụ trách quảng cáo đầu tiên của mình. Massengale đã cố gắng tạo dựng hình ảnh cho Cocacola bằng các quảng cáo thể hiện hình ảnh mọi người uống cola, với nỗ lực khai thác một yếu tố xã hội học: các nhân vật trong quảng cáo đều là những người Mỹ da trắng tầng lớp trung và thượng lưu đang giải trí trong các cuộc đi chơi . Bằng cách này hay cách khác, luôn luôn xuất hiện hình ảnh các quầy giải khát đằng sau các khung cảnh. Thời điểm này, Massengale cũng cho quảng cáo trên báo và tạp chí nhưng chủ yếu tập trung vào các loại xe điện và các bảng thông báo. Các thông điệp quảng cáo của Massengale nói chung là quá dài và công ty Cocacola đã hạn chế điều này bằng cách thuê thêm...
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...Sometimes stories are not all they appear to be, unless someone deeply analyzes them. That is the beauty of a well-written story with hidden knowledge and secret meanings beneath the words. Reading Saving Sourdi, by May-Lee Chai, the character of the protagonist Nea seems to be a static character because she appears at first to not change her behavior or attitude. However, upon further analyzing she proves to be a dynamic character who maintains her personality while undergoing a dramatic shift in perspective. This can be observed by Nea’s toughness, impulsivity and loyalty to her sister despite her lack of understanding regarding her sister’s choices. Almost throughout the story, Nea remains tough and resilient. When she was eleven years old, she stabbed a man to “protect” her older sister (Chai 181). She did not even feel bad about it, saying, “what I didn’t tell Sourdi was that I was still a wicked girl. I was glad I’d stabbed that man,” (183). Also, throughout the story she drinks and smokes. “I took out the pack of cigarettes I’d stolen from Ma’s purse and lit one,”...
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...Reyes 1 Melissa C. Reyes Professor Marilyn S. Turner English M102 13 February 2016 Character Analysis “Saving Sourdi” by Nay-Lee Chai is a story of sisterhood from childhood to adulthood. The two main characters in the story are Nea, the younger sister and Sourdi, the older sister. The story is narrated by Nea and what she discusses is her difficulty growing up. Chai’s character is very relatable as we all have may have had some moments in our life when our parent’s have said something along the lines of what the girls’ mother says to Nea, “You not thinking. That your problem. You always not think!” (82). She also indirectly discusses the contrast between herself and Sourdi and how her aggressive thoughts and actions influence her decisions but also define who Nea is as a character. Nea is very much a static character from beginning to end. She does not develop at all at any point during the story. Nea from the get go is the protagonist in her sister’s life. The story starts off very dark as she describes that she was only eleven years old when she stabbed one of the drunk men in their families restaurant. She describes Sourdi as looking distressed when one of the men grabbed her and kept holding her tighter as her sister begged to be let go. Nea goes to the kitchen and sees a knife and that is what she saw as the solution to their problem. She leaves the kitchen with the knife and begins to wave the knife at the men. They start laughing and Nea Reyes...
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...In the story “Saving Sourdi” by May-Lee Chai I chose to write about the character Sourdi. Sourdi was the main objective of the story. She was Nea’s (the main character) older sister. Sourdi seems to have a round character. She blossoms from a teen into a young mature married woman. She begins a new life with her husband forming their own family. I can relate to Sourdi in the story because I am the oldest of four siblings. I have a five and six year age gap from my two younger sisters. My younger sisters were very overprotective of me when I was growing up. They would always team up and try to stand up for me. They did not realize that I was capable and mature enough to defend myself if I needed to in any situation. In the story “Mines” by Susan Straight I chose to write about the character Clarette. Clarette’s purpose in the story is to show others that she is a motivated strong hard working woman that will support and raise her children no matter how depressing her job can be. Clarette seems to have a round character. She is a single mother that strives hard to provide and raise her children from negative influences. I can relate to Clarette in the story although I do not have children yet. I will always strive to provide my future children with everything they need so they grow up and develop into a positive member of our...
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