By Norma G.
Unlike the homemaker moms of Bich's friends and schoolmates, Rosa is a driven, educated woman with strong convictions and a refusal to bend or mold into the cookie-cutter conformity of what is viewed as the traditional woman's role. She works outside the home, takes parts in movements, and insists that her married family's Vietnamese heritage be acknowledged and kept at the forefront. In many ways, Rosa cuts a strong, empowering woman's figure by breaking from the traditional female role, but at the same time, however well-meaning her actions might be, they also hinder how her stepdaughter Bich leads her own life and develops as an individual.
Rosa's insistent participation in the strike and her standoff with Bich over food both illustrate that while Rosa's intentions may be good, she also fails to consider whether they may have a negative impact on Bich's life and her ever-shifting perspective. In the matter of the strike, Rosa is acting on her own ideals and convictions about unions and strikes. On one hand, Rosa is standing for a cause she whole-heartedly believes is right, but on the other hand, she fails to consider what it does to Bich and the rest of the kids. Rosa doesn't take into account that she might be dragging them behind in their education nor does she share let alone consider Bich's worries about her socialization with other children; Rosa does not appear to ever take into account the potential ramifications of banning her children from school. That mindset of not taking into account the negative impacts of her actions also appears in her handling of the food situation with Bich. Instead of sitting her stepdaughter down and explaining or attempting to meet Bich part way and respect where she might be coming from, Rosa passive-aggressively handles the situation. She creates a tense, even hostile environment to send her message, and that shames Bich as well as turns her sisters - who must also deal with this - against her.
Rosa's not infallible. However, in regards to the strike I think Rosa doesn't fail to consider the implications of anything. As a teacher herself, I think Rosa knew that whatever "scabs" the school district could scrounge up last minute, would be no better than some substitutes in setting an agenda. Also she fails to share Bich's concern because Bich doesn't mention it to Rosa. In fact, by all accounts in the book, Bich is more excited to join the picket line than she is about social circles because she imagines it's going to be like 'The Grapes of Wrath'. She only mentions being nervous when the strike ends and she has to go back--almost like its an after thought. As for the passive-aggressive behavior, that's a little harder to excuse but it is understandable because she's hurt. As a result she's showing Bich what she has so spectacularly failed to see: that the grass is not always greener when it's constantly being vacuumed at the butt-crack of dawn. It's petty but the results are that Bich never compares households again throughout the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteBy Rebecca B.
This is a great analysis of Rosa's character. In a way, Rosa and Bich share the same struggle in fighting for their unique identity within an environment that aims to instill the complete opposite. Rosa embodies nothing of the American culture that Bich is trying to lose herself within, creating an immense discord between the two. Although it is an inconvenience for Bich, I believe Rosa's character to be a great model for Bich in the way she clings strongly to who she is and is unafraid to live her claimed identity amidst a culture countering it. This is a great lesson for Bich who lives in such conflict trying to claim identities that do not belong to her. Rosa's way of living can teach Bich to find what resonates with her and confidently claim that, worrying more about finding her true self rather than worrying how much it would deviate from the identity of everyone else.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
Lorraine S.
I enjoyed your analysis on Rosa, but I have to agree with Rebecca and Lorraine here. Rosa has taught Bich some important lessons. Even though some negative circumstances might have occurred as a result, in Bich's (as a child) perspective, Bich has ultimately grown into the strong woman she is today. Rosa has helped shape Bich's identity. As Rebecca pointed out, Rosa helped Bich stop comparing her own household to others. I don't think anything that Rosa did was wrong or traumatizing to Bich. In fact, as Lorraine already said, I feel Rosa is a great role model for Bich.
ReplyDeleteRichard R.