An Inevitable Transition from Vietnam to America The aftermath of the Vietnam war was tremendous. Many Vietnamese were relocated, some South Vietnamese generals taking refuge in America. Andrew Lam was the son of one of those generals and he and his family were refugees in American when Lam decided to adopt the American way of life for better or worse. In his essay, “Notes of a Warrior’s Son,” Andrew Lam uses an anecdotal style coupled with reflective diction and symbolism to justify and express his uncertainty with his own cultural transition from a Vietnamese culture, to an Americanized one. Lam began his essay by using anecdotal style, narrating the story of his father leaving Vietnam. He writes that, “he folded away his army uniform, changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt, and, now a stateless man, tossed his gun into the water” (24). By beginning his essay with an anecdote from his father he sets a more personal tone. This tone help the reader feel more sympathetic to Lam’s struggles. In this same quote he began using the …show more content…
This shows the spark of regret Lam feels toward his inclination to assimilate into American culture. He doesn’t want to forget the story of his father in the war, because he recognizes that it is essential to his culture. He indicates that he feels bad about his decision, but also that it is inevitable. Lam writes, “The immigrant child, wanting the larger world, shunning the old ways, inexorably breaks his parents’ hearts” (35). The complication of feelings that Lam is experiencing is portrayed in his use of pathos when he writes about breaking his parents’ hearts. Reflecting on his own behavior again, he admits that, though painful, his transition was inevitable. He is uncertain, but in the end does think he made the right, possibly the only