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Maxine Hong Kingston throughout the Memoir, The Woman Warrior, makes it known how different American and Chinese cultures are. In chapter four “At the Western Palace” Kingston uses the relationship between Brave Orchid and Moon Orchid, the characteristics of the children, and marriage views to show differences between the cultures. Kingston creates a clear divide that distinguishes the way Brave Orchid’s family has been accustomed to American culture, and how Moon Orchid is not yet accustomed due to the fact that she has been living in Hong Kong.

Brave Orchid and Moon Orchid’s relationship is complicated due to the fact that they have been immersed in two different cultures most of their lives. Brave Orchid is bold is and dominant, where as Moon Orchid is timid and scared. For example on page 145, Moon Orchid is scared that if she shows up to her husband’s house, he may hit her. Moon Orchid says, “What if he hits me?” Her sister responds by saying, “I’ll hit him, I’ll protect you. I’ll hit him back. The two of us will knock him down and make him listen.” Later on, farther down the same page, Moon Orchid shows her timidness when she says, “That is a terrible thing to do. I’d be so scared. I am so scared” (Hong Kingston 145). Brave Orchid gets her courageousness from the way American society functions, and the actions that are widely accepted. Moon Orchid has fearfulness because she has lived without her husband in China for 30 years.

The children are another example of the cultural differences having to do with American society and the cultural norms of the Chinese society. On page 133, Moon Orchid says good morning to her nieces. They respond by saying “Good morning, Aunt” while looking her in the eye. Moon Orchard exclaims that “Even the girls stared at her like cat headed birds” (Hong Kingston 133). The storys says that “Moon Orchid jumped and squirmed when they did that. They looked directly into her eyes. Rude. Acuising. They never lowered their gaze; they hardly blinked” (Hong Kingston 133). In American culture, when children are talking to adults, they are to look them in the eyes as a sign of respect and acknowledgement. In the Chinese culture, looking someone in the eyes is an indication of defiance.

Lastly, marriage ideals show a difference in culture between Brave Orchid and Moon Orchid. Brave Orchid insists that Moon Orchid returns to her husband and steals him back from the woman he married in her absence. Yet, Moon Orchid is very hesitant of this idea. Brave Orchard says, “Your husband is going to have to see you. We’ll make his recognize you. Ha. Won’t it be fun?… She’ll scold him when he comes home from work, and it’ll serve him right. You yell at him too” (Hong Kingston 125). Moon Orchid comes back saying, “I’m scared. I want to go back to Hong Kong” (Hong Kingston 125). This shows the reader that Moon Orchid does not agree fully with the ways of the American culture, but she is being pushed into it anyway.

Overall, both American culture and Chinese culture have many differences. Throughout the story, Moon Orchid is thrown into the American social culture and is expected to pick it up immediately. Although as the reader knows, it is hard to fit into a culture that you have never been apart of. Moon Orchid tries her best to adapt, whereas Brave Orchid and her children have a hard time understanding why she doesn’t not fit in right away.

Discussion Questions:

What other quotes from the book show differences in cultural views? Either through the relationship between Brave Orchid and Moon Orchid, the childrens characteristics, marital views, or any other encounter in the text.

In what ways do the names ‘Brave Orchid’ and ‘Moon Orchid’ add to or contradict the character traits of each of woman?

Hong Kingston, Maxine. The Woman Warrior: Memoir Of A Girl Among Ghosts. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1989. Pp. 113-160.

“The Woman Warrior” by Maxine Kingston is a very interesting, perspective of a Chinese woman who had gone through many troubles as a woman growing up. Through this chapter “No Name Woman” Kingston lays out the influence of her mother as a story teller. The chapter opens up to a very drastic scene. “You must not tell anyone, My mother said, what I am about to tell you. In China your father had a sister who killed herself. She jumped into the family well. We say that your father has all brothers because it’s as if she had never been born.” (3) Her Mother then goes on to explain how this atrocity happens. Her Mother claims to remember a protruding melon of a stomach on her. Which couldn’t have been possible since the man that she was going to spend the rest of the life with had left to go overseas. The village had been counting down the days to her birth as well. Her mother explains that they showed up and had raided their whole house destroying everything from food, clothes, pots, and even killing all their animals and smearing the blood all over the walls. We soon find out later that she is telling her this story because she is starting to menstruate. Her mother is trying to warn her not to humiliate her like her aunt had did her family. Kingston takes a very direct approach in showing all her readers what life was like for a Chinese woman and as an American Chinese Woman through multiple stories.

After hearing her mother’s Story’s as a Chinese woman, she then goes and tells her own story as how she sees it through an American Chinese woman. She figures that her aunt had, had a one-night marriage. She then states that some man had threated to kill her if she didn’t have sex with him. She felt like she had no choice since she gets her oil from him and collect firewood from the same forest. Kingston then reveals that she had told the man she might be pregnant and the man had organized the raid and town against her. Kingston believes that killing her baby along with herself was a noble decision. She knew the child would live a life no one would want her to live. A life of misery, pain, and the acceptance of no one. At the end of the chapter Kingston states that the raid or the death of the child and her wasn’t the worst part but the fact that all of her family chose to abandon her and forget about her completely. “The real punishment was not the raid swiftly inflicted by the villagers, but the family deliberately forgetting her.” (16)

I think there is a bigger picture to all of this. I think this chapter has everything to do with storytelling. The story could’ve easily gone where the Aunt had been shamed into suicide and that it is the aunts fault that her baby was born and that is was her fault she was born into a culture where men had all the power in the world and she had no choice who she could sleep with. Kingston had taken the story and perceived it to how she really thought it went. Kingston along with everyone else that hears a story has the ability to look through the story that was told and interpret is how you want to see it or what you think is right. I think her mother had told her that story because she didn’t want her daughter to make a fool of their family too and that she wanted to let her know that men still have the power create her future whether its good or bad.”Don’t humiliate us. You wouldn’t like to be forgotten as if you had never been born.” (5) This also means that if her daughter ever went to America like her aunt’s brothers, she too could create a new story and a new future for her family’s legacy.  

Can you think of a piece of history that has been lost in time, or stories in a textbook, book, or even a story from internet where you read or heard that story and you envisioned it differently?

Do you think woman today still get horribly victimized by men as much as it did back then? Is this still a growing issue in America and other places around the world? 

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston starts out with a powerful chapter called “No Name Woman.” Kingston covers many topics in this short, 13 page chapter. Everything from cultural differences between China and America, to stories from her childhood and finally, to what this blog post will focus on, the treatment and views of women in Chinese culture. The most shining example of this is the story of the author’s aunt, who inspired the name of the chapter.

The chapter begins with the author’s mother telling her that her “father had a sister who killed herself. She jumped into the family well. We say that your father has all brothers because it is as if she had never been born” (3). As the chapter goes on we find out that the aunt had gotten pregnant while her husband was away in America. The day the aunt was meant to give birth the villagers raided her family home, destroying their belongings and killing their animals. The aunt gave birth alone that night in the pig’s pen after her family kicked her out yelling “ghost! Dead ghost! Ghost! You’ve never been born” (14). They next morning they found her and the baby dead in the bottom of the family well.

The most striking part of all of this to me was when the author explains that the aunt was most likely raped by someone in the village. She says, “the other man was not, after all, much different from her husband. They both gave orders: she followed. ‘If you tell your family, I’ll beat you. I’ll kill you. Be here again next week'” (7). The aunt never said the name of the father, not that it would have mattered anyways. There was no sympathy for her being raped, no respect for her from the man, her family, or her village. There was no support for her, no understanding. She was discarded from the family to the point that no one will speak her name. She took her and her child’s life knowing that there was no one there to support them for something she had no control over.

Rape culture in America is a big problem, but not to this extent, or so I’d like to think. The lack of respect for women is clearly shown in this story. No woman should ever have to experience that kind of pain and loneliness. To be blamed and punished for something that is by no means her fault is heartbreaking. To not even have your own family stand behind you and support you creates a loneliness beyond compare. This story was one of the most blatant examples of how women are treated and viewed in this culture, but it is by no means the only example in this chapter.

What other examples did you notice that highlights the views of women in Chinese culture?

Can you find any connections between this book and any of the other readings we’ve done so far this semester, in regards to the treatment of women in different cultures?

Kingston, Maxine Hong. The Woman Warrior. Random House, 1975.

Act III of “A Raisin in the Sun” has a lot going on as we finish up the play. The scene starts off with Beneatha being surprised by the visit of Asagai. Asagai tries to convince Beneatha of living a better life in Africa with him where they won’t have to worry about integration (a side note: Beneatha had mentioned earlier in the play she might not marry one day but after this proposal she starts to take it seriously). Similarly, Mr. Linder who we later see pop up in this scene, wants to pay the Younger’s back their money for the home they purchased in Clybourne Park so they don’t integrate into his “white” neighborhood. Asagai and Mr. Linder both want to keep their cultural identity alive. Asagai has no interest in fitting in an American white society where in Nigeria he can thrive and live a fulfilled life with no discrimination. Mr. Linder and his neighborhood feel they have worked long and hard to make their neighborhood what it is and an African American family moving into it “takes away” everything they’ve worked for.

When Act III begins, they mention how dark the setting is (like the first act) and how all the optimism had vanished. Beneatha goes into detail on the moment she decided she wanted to become a doctor, “…And I remember standing there looking at his bloody open face thinking that was the end of Rufus. But the ambulance came and they took him to the hospital and they fixed the broken bones and they sewed it all up…and the next time I saw Rufus he just had a little line down the middle of his face…I never got over that…” (132-133) This scene reminded me when Walter was ranting to Travis about his dreams for him and his family once Mama gave him money. It all seemed too good to be true and that’s exactly how Beneatha felt. She had a dream to become a doctor and solely depended on her fathers money to make it happen. With the loss of his money it felt like the loss of her dreams of helping people as well.

Before the play even begins, there is a poem by Langston Hughes called “A Dream Deferred” about dreams not becoming reality. On page 143, Beneatha and the whole family is still in shock, as well as disappointment at the loss of their father’s money thanks to Walters impulsive investment. Walter informs them how he is going to get the money back in full from Mr. Linder leaving Beneatha to sadly say, “Well- we are dead now. All the talk about dreams and sunlight that goes on in the house. It’s all dead now.” (143) This immediately made me think of the poem and how they all might feel like a raisin in the sun. The dreams they aspired and excitement they had after receiving the $10,000 check vanished. They had hit absolute rock bottom. They were going to have to unpack all the packages they packed away for their new, bigger and hopeful home. Beneatha wasn’t going to be able to get the education she needed. The days of living in a tight, uncomfortable space with a baby on the way and their futures uncertain would continue.

Lastly, we see a huge step forward for Walter. We are used to seeing Walter beg and want to be the man of the house but he had no capability of doing so. We continue thinking this until he invites Mr. Linder over and confronts him by saying, “And we have decided to move into our house because my father- my father- he earned it for us brick by brick.” (148) He gives this “show” in front of his whole family to prove he is going to take control of this family and do them right for now on. He embraces the pride he has for his family, even mentioning how Beneatha is going to be a doctor although doubting it the entire play. He admires how ambitious and hardworking they all are. I felt it was very important for Travis to be there and see his father take this lead to help him keep the pride of the generations going. Also it would motivate Travis to take the same role as his father one day. It ends on a hopeful note, the mood is lightened and it feels like they made the best decision for their family.

Discussion Questions:

Do you see any other examples that relate to the poem “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes in this act?

What do you think happened to the Younger’s next? Do you think their lives turned out how they hoped?

In Act III of A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, there is a particular development of Walter Younger’s character that struck me. Throughout the play, Walters high strung character has brought misogyny, anxiety and contempt with the use of particular language chosen by Hansberry to illustrate how childish he is, even though he attempts to claim manhood in every scene. To decompose and analyze some of the language and relate it outwards to Martin Luther King Jr, we can see the parallels between how Walter is presented and how MLK speaks on manhood. Act III contains Walters breakdown about money, and how he attempts to solve the issue of himself losing it by having Lindner come back to pay the family off of the recently bought house.

When discussing the plans he constructed for getting the money from Lindner, he tells Ruth, Beneatha and Mama, “I’m going to feel fine, Mama. I’m going to look that son-of-a-bitch in the eyes and say and say, “All right, Mr. Lindner that’s your neighborhood out there! You got the right to keep it like you want! You got the right to have it like you want! Just write the check and the house is yours…” (pg. 144) This breakdown begins with using appraising language to talk about “you”- the “you” being the white community. By using the words you/your, and phrases such as, “you got the right to have it like you want”, and “the house is yours” in reference to something the Younger’s currently own, Walter is relinquishing his ownership of himself to the white community in Clybourne Park. The reasoning behind considering those statements more of ownership of person rather than home is because the statements are followed by condemning conversation concerning black people. Walter continues, “And- and I am going to say- “And you- you people just put the money in my hand and you won’t have to live next to this bunch of stinking niggers!… And maybe- maybe I’ll just get down on my black knees…”Captain, Mistuh, Bossman,  A-hee-hee-hee! Oh, yassuh boss! Yasssssuh! Great white- Father, just gi’ ussen de money, fo’ God’s sake, and we’s- we’s ain’t gwine come out deh and dirty up yo’ white folks neighborhood…” (He breaks down completely) And I’ll feel fine! Fine! FINE!” (pg. 144) The first and only time the n-word is stated in the play is in this quote, and Walter uses the -er ending on the word as well as using improper grammar and references to a master to emphasize himself as a begging slave.

The only time Walter is seen as a man is when Lindner arrives and he tells Lindner that the Youngers will be moving into Clybourne Park- taking some responsibility in the family by showing himself to be a father for Travis. “Travis, come here. (TRAVIS crosses and WALTER draws him before him facing the man) This is my son, and he makes the sixth generation our family in this country. And we have all thought about your offer… And we have decided to move into our house because my father my father he earned it for us brick by brick…“ (pg. 148)  Mama and Ruth have a short conversation right before the last curtain in which Mama states, “He finally come into his manhood today, didn’t he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain…” (pg. 151) Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent figure in the civil rights movements and had stated, “I come here tonight to plead with you: Believe in yourself, and believe that you’re somebody!… I said to a group last night, nobody else can do this for us. No document can do this for us. Not even an Emancipation Proclamation can do this for us… If the negro is to be free, he must move down into the inner resources of his own soul and sign with a pen and ink of self-assertive manhood his own Emancipation Proclamation.” Walter was freed from his childish antics in a way when he spoke to Lindner on page 148- and emancipated himself from a boy to a man. He applied himself in the first and only mature manner in which he was depicted throughout the play by denying the money offered by Lindner. The parallel between Walters language and actions, along with MLK’s take on manhood and how it effects the freedom someone owns over themselves was striking to me within the last few pages of the play.

Discussion questions:

What other words or phrases on pages 142-151 in particular, give insight to Walters inner turmoil, and the reflections of himself that are painted within those words?

Throughout the play, Walters character seems undeveloped in maturity and holds other negative qualities as well. What statements in Act III contradict those negative qualities and show character growth?

In Act II, Scene iii of A Raisin in the Sun, The Younger’s packing was interrupted by a knock at the door from a middle-aged white man representing the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. He explains to the family that the people of Clybourne Park have prepared an offer that would allow them to move elsewhere into a lower-class neighborhood. This offer was made because the people believed the Youngers’ new presence would destroy their neighborhood which has taken years to build, and all of the current residents are all white, working-class people who did not want anything to threaten the dream “the kind of community they wanted to raise their children in.” (117) As Mama said when she first told her family where she had purchased their new home, she picked the best possible place for her family for the least amount of money she could find.

     When reading this scene, I was reminded several times of current issues with racism in our country, including the campaign for President Trump’s wall. In today’s society, we continue try to keep people who are different from us separate due to fear of unknown. When Linder was speaking to the Younger’s, he referred to them several times as “you people,” (117) treating them like they were a different species than him. In the media today, you see our President referring to people from other countries as nothing more than rapists, drug dealers, and criminals in hopes of trying to convince others to keep them from coming into our country. What is often times are overlooked is simply how amazing of an opportunity we bring in our country to those of less wealth and opportunity from other places. It is easy to put blame on one specific person or group of people for problems that have been made over-time and collectively throughout history.

Linder originally said upon arrival “most of the trouble in this world exists because people don’t sit down and talk to each other,” (116) which the Younger’s also agreed with. Although he completely contradicted his statement by doing the opposite of having a genuine conversation with the family, this still holds true even in today’s society. Instead of being willing to take any credit or blame for issues in our country, we blame many problems on those who have less voice. We struggle to come together and put aside factors as simple as skin color, which continues to divide us more as a country every day. It is important to continue to be aware that opportunities should not vary for each person depending on race or social status.

Are there any other situations you can think of in today’s society that relate attempting to keep people who are “different” separate from each other?

Do you believe the Younger’s made the best decision declining the offer for a different house? Explain why or why not.

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a representation of life that once was in America. There was racism and inequality everywhere you went and this book portrays that point in time perfectly. Racial prejudice and racism is present in Act II, Scene III. The Younger’s future is at stake and their dreams of moving into a new home could be a nightmare in reality. The family has moved into a predominantly white neighborhood and an unexpected visit from Mr. Lindner of the Clybourne Park Improvement Association leaves the family on edge about their future and provides insight on the racial prejudice that exists: “Ain’t it something how bad these here white folks is getting here in Chicago!…You hear some of these of these Negroes ‘round here talking bout how they don’t go where they ain’t wanted and all that…” (Hansberry 100). The white population in the neighborhood are pushing out the minority races because they do not believe in equality. All people are equal and there should never be this type of treatment towards other humans. The family is not wealthy and struggle day in and day out to provide. There is a common theme throughout the book which is an ongoing fight for African-American equality. The family has moved into an all white neighborhood and this symbolizes the push and fight against inequality.  

Racial inequality is an awful and dark past that we once had in America and if there never was a fight for equality, where would we be today? African Americans fought for their rights and equality but this dark history should have never occurred. All people are equal. There is also a theme of fight and pushing back against common beliefs. For example, Beneatha changed her hairstyle for self expression and to be her own person. Another example is the family moving into a predominantly white neighborhood to go against society. Never change who you are to fit with societies beliefs because all people are unique but we are all the same on the inside. This situation is a small, peaceful protest because they stood up against the neighborhood and society by moving into the new house. 

Martin Luther King was the voice for African-American fight for equality and its fearless leaders like himself that improve society and make America a diverse and thriving country. Unfortunately, there are people that still view others of different races as inferior and that is just a sad reality that in 2019, racism is still an issue. The large majority do not view others as inferior but equal and without the fight, America would not be the same. Equality is important in aspects of life and everyone should be able to accept differences and live their lives.

1. What events from the past or present relate to the fight for equality presented in A Raisin in the Sun? Explain. 
2. Do you think that it was a good move for the family to move into the new neighborhood and stay despite all of the racism and race prejudice? Why or why not?

In the start of Act Two Scene One of A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha and Walter are around the house and it seems that they are reenacting in what they believe to be are “Africans in their natural habitat.” This started after Beneatha tried on an outfit that was given to her by her friend Asagai. “Walter— Do you hear the beating of the wings of the birds flying low over the mountains and the low places of our land— Beneatha OCOMOGOSIAY!” (79) To them, it seems like a harmless act of play amongst the two siblings. When observing this (keeping in mind of the events and interactions), it is evident that they created their own single story of African people. In The Danger of a Single Story, Adichie said, “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.” (2009) What they were failing to realize was that Africa is not all about people dressing either half naked or in robes and talking about nature, struggle and in gibberish. They speak about things beyond that, dress in regular clothes and speak English along with their native language. They had assumed or listened to others who told them such a one-sided version of Africa, a place that their ancestors came from. It is evident here that the danger of a single story lives in everyone, no matter if you are the oppressed or not. This is why getting to know someone or a group of people is important because we too become a victim of a single story.

Patterns that seems to occur over and over again in the play are the ideas of discrimination and assimilation. As we spill over into Act II, Beneatha continues to address such patterns in her interaction with George, a wealthier black student that she attends school with. He comes from a family who is doing well in terms of finances and most likely lives in a better neighborhood than the Youngers. When he stops by to pick up Beneatha to go to a play, he is shocked and at first (he seemed to be) disgusted at her cutting her hair. Beneatha did this as a way to become “more in touch with her roots.” Due to his reaction, this caused her to say, “I hate assimilationist Negroes!” (81) George is the type of well-off person of color that doesn’t compare himself to poor people of color. It’s like he is better because he is wealthy like his race no longer becomes a factor in the world because he has wealth. This type of person seems to be on a way higher pedestal and some may feel they are as equal as white people due to their wealth.

Unfortunately, some will not associate with anyone that doesn’t share the same wealth as them. They rather assimilate and stick with white people rather than support those who are the same race but different economic status. This is evident when George responds to Beneatha by saying, “Let’s face it, baby, your heritage is nothing but a bunch of raggedy-assed spirituals and some grass huts!” (81) People like George fail to remember where their bloodline originates from. To him, he may not even see or recognize himself as Black to an extent. For him, his race is Black but because he is better off and financially doing better than the Younger family, some are brainwashed into thinking they are white or even as privileged as white people. In reality, when it all comes down to it, black people are black people in the eyes of conservative, racist white individuals.

What other people can we think of today that are like George, an individual that is black and well off, causing him to not even associate with poor people of color? Explain how.

Do you think it is right that George treats poor black people as other or acts like he is better than them? Why or why not?

In Act II, Scene i, of A Raisin in the Sun, the audience is truly introduced to just how meaningful the opposition that Beneatha has towards oppression is, through herthrough her studying to be a doctor, regardless of what others think/say, her performance of a Nigerian folk dance, wearing the Nigerian robes that Asagai gave her, and when she cuts her hair to take a stance for her African heritage. Though initially, everyone is shocked and confused, Ruth and George both eventually show appreciation and understanding towards the sudden course of action.In many instances throughout the scene, Beneatha is heard to be fighting the idea of assimilation, or the desire to join or become one with white culture. The way she speaks of George in comparison to Asagai is an example of this; when speaking about George she states “the only people in the world who are more snobbish than rich white people are rich colored people”, meanwhile when she speaks about Asagai she fawns over how accomplished and intellectual he is. However while talking about either of these two young men, Beneatha stays true to herself, claiming she wants more than just one feeling toward a man, which helps further portray her independent personality. 

In today’s media, and within the last five years especially, there have been many instances of standing up for what people truly believe in, rather than what society is telling them to be. One of the movements or trends that has been happening in the recent years is the “free the nipple movement”, where woman are going against the idea of having to wear a bra to make others feel comfortable, when women themselves are making themselves uncomfortable. Of course this goes farther than not wearing a bra, on a much bigger scale, citizens from other countries are fighting their governments when they think a law or course of action is unjust and unfair and should be changed. The use of striking is a popular way of getting one’s point across. Like Beneatha changing her hairstyle as a form to express her true self and celebrate her heritage, people around the globe are also acting out in peaceful protests, and while they are not always well received, the point is still made. 

One of the most recent examples of opposition in the media has effected millions and millions of people; the longest government shutdown in the course of United States history. The shutdown happened after President Trump and the U.S. Senate failed to negotiate on the budget for 2019, including the infamous wall that President Trump has gone on record to plan to build on the U.S. border. It is important to keep in mind, however that this was not the first time that a form of protest will happen to make a stance, nor will it be the last.  

Question #1: Choose one other character in A Raisin in the Sun who has shown opposition. What have they been opposing, how have they shown opposition and what are the reactions they’ve received from other characters? 

Question #2: How else does A Raisin in the Sunrelate to current events happening in the world or events that have happened in the past five or so years? (This could be an event that has happened specifically in your life if you feel comfortable to share!) 

My name is Savannah Pearson and I am from Staten Island, New York. I was previously a psychology major but have recently switched to being an English major. I have a four-year-old little brother who drives me insane, but he’s also really cute so I can never actually get mad at him. I really like going to school at Suny Cortland and i’m very outgoing, so meeting new people is always fun for me.