Fresh Off The Boat Analysis
In Eddie Huang's memoir Fresh Off the Boat, Huang uses humor to convey messages about his life that you could easily be misdirected or seen as weird in other cultures. During the duration of the book he is showing us his struggles of being a first generation Asian American and we see that humor is a gateway to help him through many of the difficult times. For example, Huang in his childhood and adolescence was still learning American cultures and values. As Huang grew up he encountered many obstacles and challenges he never thought he would have to face. Many kinds picked and teased him for having immigrant parents and he dealt with this in many ways and one way was humor. For example Eddie got in many fights at school after being called
names, but still finds time to joke about his mother's bad English; “ “He called my son a Chink! You think that’s OK? Words hurt, too. I hear you people say that words hurt like sticks! Look at him” My mom would always get sayings wrong … ”(Huang 33). He used the bad situation with his fight at school and his immigrant mother to add humor to otherwise bad situation. Although he also used his humor to adapt to uncomfortable situations with the American culture. Through his teenage years, Huang made many friends that were of the stereotypical white American culture. As he began hanging out with them more and experiencing some of the things they were more accustomed to he used his humor to hide his lack of knowledge on the situations at hand. At his first ever sleepover he showed us his sense of humor when eating dinner with the family, “ “What’s macaroni?” “It’s pasta.” I didn’t know what pasta was, but was starting to feel like a dumb-ass so I didn't speak. The shit was so nasty. We never ate cheese and it smelled like feet.” (Huang 48) Huang used his sense of humor about the cheese and how he didn't know what pasta was to make a joke about it. He said the cheese smelled funny and that the pasta was really nasty, instead of making the situation worse, he used humor to show the audience that he could make light of the situation and laugh at himself and his culture. As Huang kept growing up and having to change schools, he even used his humor to make friends. Humor was one of Eddie’s best assets through school, it helped him make many friends through the years and especially in one case on the bus, on his first day of school. As Huang got on the bus he didn't know any better so he got on the back of the bus and sat and this may have cause so issues with the other kids, “ “I don’t know, the n!gg@ ain’t talkin’, he just stays in my seat!” Before anyone could say anything, I shouted towed Emily, “Your dad is my orthodontist! Dr. Huzyak!” they all started laughing.” (Huang 91). Even though Eddie didn’t know these kids and they were angry at him for taking the seat, he eased the whole conflict by making them all laugh and it may not have been intentional but it worked. All of the kids on the back of the bus ended up becoming friends with Eddie that day because of his good sense of humor. Although Huang had many struggles with his culture and his immigrant parents growing up, he always used his positive attitude and humor about every conflict and situation. Whether the situation was with his crazy mother not getting American slang right, or the making sense of the American culture, or trying to make friends. His humor always helped him get through the tough and the fun times.
names, but still finds time to joke about his mother's bad English; “ “He called my son a Chink! You think that’s OK? Words hurt, too. I hear you people say that words hurt like sticks! Look at him” My mom would always get sayings wrong … ”(Huang 33). He used the bad situation with his fight at school and his immigrant mother to add humor to otherwise bad situation. Although he also used his humor to adapt to uncomfortable situations with the American culture. Through his teenage years, Huang made many friends that were of the stereotypical white American culture. As he began hanging out with them more and experiencing some of the things they were more accustomed to he used his humor to hide his lack of knowledge on the situations at hand. At his first ever sleepover he showed us his sense of humor when eating dinner with the family, “ “What’s macaroni?” “It’s pasta.” I didn’t know what pasta was, but was starting to feel like a dumb-ass so I didn't speak. The shit was so nasty. We never ate cheese and it smelled like feet.” (Huang 48) Huang used his sense of humor about the cheese and how he didn't know what pasta was to make a joke about it. He said the cheese smelled funny and that the pasta was really nasty, instead of making the situation worse, he used humor to show the audience that he could make light of the situation and laugh at himself and his culture. As Huang kept growing up and having to change schools, he even used his humor to make friends. Humor was one of Eddie’s best assets through school, it helped him make many friends through the years and especially in one case on the bus, on his first day of school. As Huang got on the bus he didn't know any better so he got on the back of the bus and sat and this may have cause so issues with the other kids, “ “I don’t know, the n!gg@ ain’t talkin’, he just stays in my seat!” Before anyone could say anything, I shouted towed Emily, “Your dad is my orthodontist! Dr. Huzyak!” they all started laughing.” (Huang 91). Even though Eddie didn’t know these kids and they were angry at him for taking the seat, he eased the whole conflict by making them all laugh and it may not have been intentional but it worked. All of the kids on the back of the bus ended up becoming friends with Eddie that day because of his good sense of humor. Although Huang had many struggles with his culture and his immigrant parents growing up, he always used his positive attitude and humor about every conflict and situation. Whether the situation was with his crazy mother not getting American slang right, or the making sense of the American culture, or trying to make friends. His humor always helped him get through the tough and the fun times.