Post your Journal Entries here.
You Must Include...
* the quote with page number
* your response
You might also consider...
-responding to what others have written
-adding quotations that connect to other quotations
-connecting the passages directly to the globalization project
10 comments:
“The Chinese say, Kingdoms rise and fall. Nations come and go,” Page 11. In the story Donald Duk, the characters value many of their Chinese traditions and beliefs. They look to their own traditional values as what must be done. Even though the characters do these strange rituals and believe these different beliefs it is evident that many do not fully understand them. Donald Duk knows he is Chinese but many of the things his family does he does not understand and considers them strange compared to the Americans around him.
“Five Duk’s or Lee’s ago, a relative is young and working on the transcontinental railroad from the west end of the line.” Page 25. The main character Donald looks back to history to see how his ancestors would have interacted in strange new world of the United States. Donald sees how harsh it was to live in a world like this. Yet at the same time he feels that he too is in a strange harsh alien world. When he also see’s the community going on during the building of the transcontinental railroad I am sure he feels it is not so different from his modern day community of Chinese immigrants in Chinatown.
“The crashing pulses of rhythm, the shrill and tinkly flights of melody and moments of rhythmic senseless violence in flamenco and Cantonese opera are the same.” P53
In the story many American ideas or objects are converted to match Chinese thought or ethics. Many of the Chinese think they are being Americanized yet in retrospect they are doing the opposite with their own culture. This musical instrument is one example of a western idea being incorporated into traditional Chinese culture. Another example of this type of interaction is when they paint traditional Chinese opera characters onto model war planes. Throughout the novel the characters combine things of both cultures into one.
“Do you think about boys the ways boys think about girls?” “No.” whew! Dad says.”
The characters in this novel value tradition and family order. The father in this novel and in Chinese culture is considered dominant and the decision maker. He knows what is right and wrong and teaches it to Donald. The father also mentions the Mandate of Heaven many times to show his authority by justification of Chinese tradition.
"I think Donald Duk may be the very last American-born Chinese- American boy to believe you have to give up being Chinese to be an American"-pg. 42.
This is a quote from Donald Duk's father, King, who said this to his son (Donald). In my opinion this quote entirely portrays how Donald views himself and what his beliefs are. Donald hates all things Chinese and wants to be fully American. He is completely embarrassed by his Chinese Family, constantly finding himself frustrated. Donald cannot accept the fact that he can be both Chinese and American; he feels that the only choice for him is to be American. While Donald’s father values both Chinese and American ideas, Donald finds this too difficult. This quote represents Donald’s inability to give attention to his culture, and the fact that he feels he must be 100% American.
"Donald Duk does not like his name. Donald Duk never liked his name. He hates his name. He is not a duck. He is not a cartoon character. He does not go home to sleep in Disneyland everynight. The kids that laugh at him are very smart."-Pg.1
This quote is in the very first paragraph of the book. I think it is there because it sets the tone and attitude Donald Duk has towards his name, and thus his culture. I think the idea of an American Cartoon Characters name mixed with a different spelling sheds light on how life is like for Chinese-Americans, specifically Donald. While he may sound American because of their names, he still has Chinese customs or ideologies. Donald struggles to accept this concept. While his name seems "American" it is clear to him and others that he is not. I think that Donald struggles with this a lot because he strongly does not want to be Chinese. However the different and what some might view as laughable way his name is spelt makes it hard for him to cover up his Chinese origin. This first paragraph in the quote is just the beginning of the hard time Donald has with his culture and fitting with the "American" way of life.
"More Chinese will tool the rail into exact position, gauge them and hold the rail in place while the others spike them down" pg. 74
This quote is referring to the Chinese working in the past when they had first come to America. It is describing their job as setting railroads and being forced to work at a very fast pace. I think that it is significant that the Chinese worked on the railroad when they first came to America because it shows that they did not start out very high up. I think that because the Chinese did not have a very good first job and therefore not considered high up in society, this caused them to have a tough start. Donald constantly is embarrassed by the traditions of his people, and how his family does not live in a nice "rich" house. Overall the history of the Chinese working in America on the railroads greatly contributes to Donald’s desire to free himself of his Chinese origins.
Donald Duk's heart thumps hard and fast. So hard he feels every thump inside his chest. It beats so hard it is hard to breathe." pg.20
Donald feels this way right after he has encountered the "American Cong". I think this is very interesting because it is the first American that we as readers see Donald encounter. Furthermore throughout the story we do not see many interactions between Donald and Americans. I think it’s very interesting because Donald wants to be "American" and fit in so badly, yet the first time we see him actually speak to an American he becomes shy and scared. Donald tries so hard to fit in as an "American" yet struggles to even speak to the first one he encounters.
"Donald Duk sees American Cong has no strength for fast moves right now, so he stuffs the ten-dollar bill into a pocket on the sleeve of the Congs camouflage field jacket and jumps back"- pg.20
This qoute is from when Donald first meets and interacts with a white man. It happens on the roof of his building. Donald sees that the man is in poor condition, and he gives him charity. He helps the American even though he does not know him well. I belive that Donald does this partially because he thinks it is the right thing to do, but also because the man is American, and Donald longs to be American.
"He does not like people laughing at his name. He does not want the gangsters laughing at his name to beat him up. He mostly does not want to look like a sissy in front of them, so what can he do?"- pg.5
This qoute is from a conversation that Donald has with his father. This qoute shows that Donalds image is extremly important to him. He does not like it when the gangsters laugh at him, but he is to scared to stick up for himself. It is clear from this qoute the way Donald looks to others is a high priority.
"The longer he stays, the more he does, the more likely he'll make a noise. He takes his flashlight and stands it on its end to shine straight up under the plane. He stands on a chair and sees ligh around the edges of the p-26a. One hand gets a soft firm hold on the model by the belly."-15
This qoute takes place when Donald is stealing his fathers model p-26a airplane. This act of theft shows alot about Donald and the way he see's things. He is for the most part, a selfish person at this time in the book. He has no particular reason for stealing his fathers plane, execpt that he wants to. He isnt happy with anything that he has and steals from his father for no reason. This qoute shows how he is selfish and how he does not think of others before he acts.
"Your great-great-grandfather was the first of our Lees to come over from China. He worked on the Central Pacific when it went easat pver the Sierra and on to Promontory."- pg.23
This qoute gives a backround of Donalds family and how they came to be where they are at the time of this story. This qoute takes place soon after Donalds uncle catches him stealing the model airplane. In this qoute Donalds uncle talks of how the Lees, Donalds ancestors, came to be in America. He talks of the hard times they indured, and focouses on the hardship of Donalds great-great grandfather. I think that this qoute is important because it is the start of Donalds understanding of his heritage and the first step in accepting who he is.
"He does not like people laughing at his name. He does not want the gangsters laughing at his name to beat him up. He mostly does not want to look like a sissy in front of them, so what can he do?" Page 5.
Donald Duk express great concern of society's perception of him. Donald Duk tries so hard to conform to American culture and lifestyle, yet he consistently feels that his family is holding him back from achieving full assimilation. A core example of his family's imposition of Chinese culture is through his own name, Donald Duk. Although Donald Duk may be a normal name in Chinese culture,much to his dismay, it is a constant reminder to Donald that he will never be able to fully abandon his affiliation with Asian culture.
"I think Donald Duk may be the very last American-born Chinese-American boy to believe you have to give up being Chinese to be an American" Page 42.
Donald Duk's father, King Duk, succeeds at retaining his Chinese heritage even when stress to assimilate is thrown upon him by his own son. King Duk values the traditions that comes with being Chinese and refuses to sacrifice this lifestyle at the hope of assimilation. Unlike Donald, King Duk does not let American lifestyle change him, and tries to foster a connection to Chinese culture for his children. King Duk serves as the balance of cultures in Donald's life and encourages him to remain true to himself and to his family.
"[Kwan] wheels the horse this way and that, splashing mud all over Crocker." Page 77. Donald consistently views Chinese people as inferior throughout much of the book, but Kwan contrasts this viewpoint by being a strong willed Chinese character who is able to impose power over an American. Even during times where the locomotive industry was primarily dominated by Americans, Kwan, although economically subordinate to white America, was still able to express his viewpoints forcefully. Kwan reminds Donald that Chinese can retain their culture without becoming submissive to general American will. He encourages Donald to eventually become more involved with Chinese rights and culture.
"You're white, but you're not white like these guys. I like you. I don't care what you are." Page 132.
Although Donald Duk once associated white people with superiority and greatness, he begins to realize that races comprise humanity, the human race. Instead of having races being labeled with different statuses he has learned to judge people based on their individual contributions rather then classify them by race. Donald's knowledge of the great accomplishments that the Chinese made in the Californian locomotive system influenced him to be more acceptive of individual values, such as the ones many Chinese hold dear.
Post a Comment