Essay On Identity In Paradise Of Lies By Chin And Intermission
In both Paradise of Lies by Chin and Intermission by Akillian, both authors use identity, memory, and sensory responses as their ways to escape their own personal struggles. Each element provides the reader with an emotionally charged feeling. Without identity, memory, and sensory response both authors wouldn’t be able to produce the same message of being able to overcome difficult situations that they are able to. Akillian and Chin both face life’s challenges head on and find ways to conquer life’s insecurities.
In both stories Chin and Akillian struggled with finding their own personal identity. Identity can be defined as set of characteristics by which a thing is definitively recognizable. In Paradise of Lies Chin is constantly lying about her identity. From the start of the story we learn about her up bringing and how she was constantly seeking attention because of her abandonment. Chin would lie about things she wanted but …show more content…
didn’t have. Chin goes on to say “I told no one what I did: I went to him and asked for money to attend the prestigious Mount Alvernia High School for Girls. He agreed, on the condition that I sign a loan agreement — so the moneys could never be used as proof of a guilty paternity.”(Chin,1) Chins father agreed to give her a loan but told her he would only give it to her to keep her from speaking the truth about their relationship, making her hide her true identity. Meanwhile in Akillian’s Intermission both Susan and John struggled with their identity. Sarah is shown as a strong calm woman, but deep down she is grieving at the loss of her child. Akillian also shows identity “I’ve been held, up in Seattle. Chicago Actually. Chicago Sorry”(Akillian, 64) by showing John as a liar because he isn’t truthful to Sarah about where he is. Both stories show how when people have to deal with difficult situations they will struggle in finding their own identity.
Another element that both authors use to enhance their story is memory. From the start of Paradise of Lies, Chin uses memory to further her story. From the first line of the story “My mother ran away shortly after my birth and left me behind in Jamaica”(Chin, 1) shows Chin remembering how her mother would treat her at a young age. Chin also shows memory “On some evenings I walked to the public phones with friends and called her collect. She always refused, in French, to accept the call. Long after the operator hung up, I pretended my mother was on the other end of the phone.” (Chin, 1) by taking the reader back to times when her mother would reject her phone calls. It can also be said that Chins story can be a recollection of her upbringing. Like Chins story, Akillian also used memory to enhance her story. First, when Sarah would describe the loss of her child. This showed she still held on to that memory and had trouble letting it go. Akillian shows memory,
“The phone rings and I instinctively reach a wet hand to my shirt before picking up. My husband picks up everything with his hands the way they are, as do my children. We’ve gone though several cordless phones in the last year: smeared with filth, mucus; soaked with water, oil; sticky with juice, paint. Replaced immediately. I stare momentarily at my market- written public warning taped solidly next to the receiver. Touch it with dirty hands and your allowance is mine. “(Akillian, 63) by taking the reader into her thoughts of how her husband and children pick up the phone. This symbolizes the differences in their relationship. Akillian also shows memory when Sarah remembers talking to her son about being an older sibling and how disappointed he was when his parents came home empty handed. As readers, we are shown how both Chin and Akillian use memory as a tool to develop their writing.
Finally the element of sensory response is used in both stories.
Sensory response can be described as how we use our five senses to further the story. Chin’s use of portraying taste and smell really enhance her writing. When Chin talks about Pringles, Apples, and Chameleon Tea, the reader is able to indirectly taste what she is talking about. Next, when Chin states “The squalor in which I lived in Paradise with my great-aunt and eight other people contrasted sharply with the grandeur of the homes I visited on the other side of town.” (Chin, 1) we can smell the distinct raunchy smell that Chine grew up in. Akillian also does a good job in using sensory responses to enhance her story. Two sensory responses that stick out the most are taste and touch. Akillian enhances her story when she talks about Sarah drinking wine and smoking cigarettes. “ I sit and smoke. And Drink. And thing of her.” (Akillian, 66) play to your senses of smell and touch by letting you imagine the smell of wine and the grittiness of cigarette
smoke.
Both Chin and Akillian’s ability to make you feel like you were part of the story shows how effective their writing is. Identity, memory and sensory response all play a big part in giving the reader a roller coaster ride of emotions. Both writers give you the message that being true to yourself and not hiding from your problems will empower you to become a better person. When you respect yourself, others will respect you. They will sense that you are strong and capable of standing up for yourself and your beliefs.
In both stories Chin and Akillian struggled with finding their own personal identity. Identity can be defined as set of characteristics by which a thing is definitively recognizable. In Paradise of Lies Chin is constantly lying about her identity. From the start of the story we learn about her up bringing and how she was constantly seeking attention because of her abandonment. Chin would lie about things she wanted but …show more content…
didn’t have. Chin goes on to say “I told no one what I did: I went to him and asked for money to attend the prestigious Mount Alvernia High School for Girls. He agreed, on the condition that I sign a loan agreement — so the moneys could never be used as proof of a guilty paternity.”(Chin,1) Chins father agreed to give her a loan but told her he would only give it to her to keep her from speaking the truth about their relationship, making her hide her true identity. Meanwhile in Akillian’s Intermission both Susan and John struggled with their identity. Sarah is shown as a strong calm woman, but deep down she is grieving at the loss of her child. Akillian also shows identity “I’ve been held, up in Seattle. Chicago Actually. Chicago Sorry”(Akillian, 64) by showing John as a liar because he isn’t truthful to Sarah about where he is. Both stories show how when people have to deal with difficult situations they will struggle in finding their own identity.
Another element that both authors use to enhance their story is memory. From the start of Paradise of Lies, Chin uses memory to further her story. From the first line of the story “My mother ran away shortly after my birth and left me behind in Jamaica”(Chin, 1) shows Chin remembering how her mother would treat her at a young age. Chin also shows memory “On some evenings I walked to the public phones with friends and called her collect. She always refused, in French, to accept the call. Long after the operator hung up, I pretended my mother was on the other end of the phone.” (Chin, 1) by taking the reader back to times when her mother would reject her phone calls. It can also be said that Chins story can be a recollection of her upbringing. Like Chins story, Akillian also used memory to enhance her story. First, when Sarah would describe the loss of her child. This showed she still held on to that memory and had trouble letting it go. Akillian shows memory,
“The phone rings and I instinctively reach a wet hand to my shirt before picking up. My husband picks up everything with his hands the way they are, as do my children. We’ve gone though several cordless phones in the last year: smeared with filth, mucus; soaked with water, oil; sticky with juice, paint. Replaced immediately. I stare momentarily at my market- written public warning taped solidly next to the receiver. Touch it with dirty hands and your allowance is mine. “(Akillian, 63) by taking the reader into her thoughts of how her husband and children pick up the phone. This symbolizes the differences in their relationship. Akillian also shows memory when Sarah remembers talking to her son about being an older sibling and how disappointed he was when his parents came home empty handed. As readers, we are shown how both Chin and Akillian use memory as a tool to develop their writing.
Finally the element of sensory response is used in both stories.
Sensory response can be described as how we use our five senses to further the story. Chin’s use of portraying taste and smell really enhance her writing. When Chin talks about Pringles, Apples, and Chameleon Tea, the reader is able to indirectly taste what she is talking about. Next, when Chin states “The squalor in which I lived in Paradise with my great-aunt and eight other people contrasted sharply with the grandeur of the homes I visited on the other side of town.” (Chin, 1) we can smell the distinct raunchy smell that Chine grew up in. Akillian also does a good job in using sensory responses to enhance her story. Two sensory responses that stick out the most are taste and touch. Akillian enhances her story when she talks about Sarah drinking wine and smoking cigarettes. “ I sit and smoke. And Drink. And thing of her.” (Akillian, 66) play to your senses of smell and touch by letting you imagine the smell of wine and the grittiness of cigarette
smoke.
Both Chin and Akillian’s ability to make you feel like you were part of the story shows how effective their writing is. Identity, memory and sensory response all play a big part in giving the reader a roller coaster ride of emotions. Both writers give you the message that being true to yourself and not hiding from your problems will empower you to become a better person. When you respect yourself, others will respect you. They will sense that you are strong and capable of standing up for yourself and your beliefs.