Behavior Determined Essay, Research Paper

How is ones behavior determined? Is it like an animals by genes or physical characteristics. A person’s behavior is almost always determined by his/her surrounding environment. Physical characteristics and traits do not determine his/her behavior this is the definition of stereotyping not the root of a person’s behavior. When a person adapts to his/her surroundings ie country they are able to live in that area to their best capability and achieve best results rather then not adapting and not using their surrounding to their advantage. Adapting does not necessarily mean changing ones ways but embracing that country’s different style of life. The Style of these two particular stories have significant similarities. Both stories are told from the first person point of view using I as pronoun to narrate the events of the story. The first person point of view in each story is effective because the reader is able to fully understand the emotions and experiences of the main characters as they happen. “I had grown up in a Caucasian society in which I was a minority member.” “I was Known Angela to the outside world, and as Sun-Kyung at home”. The use of I helps the reader to know defiantly who is the speaker and of whom they are prevalent within both underlying the entire story. It is ironic that both characters born in Canada would expect to have had their families embrace western traditions and culture, rather they struggle to maintain their own heritage and don’t want to loose it. It is ironic because Suzuki and Sun-Kyung struggle to be free of the restrictions of their culture and become more “Canadian” even though they already live in Canada. Each story deals with multiculturalism, different heritages and cultures they posses the foreign expression aspect of style. Each story uses certain slang or expressions significant to their country. In Suzuki’s story the word “Gaijin” is used meaning “to all people in Japan, all non-Japanese – black, white, or yellow are Gaijin or foreigners”. Also the word “Ryokan” was used meaning “a traditional Japanese inn”. Because Suzuki was a Gaijin in his home country he was not permitted to stay the night in a Ryokan. When speaking about different generations they were refereed to as “My sisters and I are Sansei (third generation) ; our children Yonsei. Most Sansei, like me, do not speak Japanese.” The use of foreign expressions helps the reader to get a flavor for the language of the character. Language is extremely important to each story because in a sense it is Language that defines culture. Often stories incorporate several components of literary techniques in order to create a greater impact or help the reader to better understand the story. Figurative language was used consistently throughout “An Immigrant’s Split Personality” and also “Ancestor’s, The Genetic Source.” In both stories the use of figurative language helps the reader to better understand an idea of thought that the author is wanting to convey. Alliteration a device when words beginning with the same sound is used appears several times throughout the story. In Suzuki’s story examples help Suzuki to emphasize certain points he wants to make. Similar examples are prevalent in Yi’s story also “cultural conditioning, Canadainized Korean” , In both examples each emphasis’s heavily on the cultural aspect rather than other types of alliteration. Another type of figurative language used is simile a comparison using like or as. In Suzuki’s “that in people just as in animals, while my Japanese was primitive as to be useless, being a package of what looked like wood carved in the shape of bananas, most Sansei, like me do not speak Japanese.” These comparisons show comparisons between Suzuki and his Japanese ancestors they exemplify the difference and separation he feels from them using the terms like and as. This technique was also used quite effectively in Yi’s story also “obliging me to act as either a Korean or a Canadian, I looked like a Korean, I am a Canadian, like all other immigrants in the country, when you are regarded as one of them.” Similarly to the use of simile in Suzuki’s story the comparisons made between Sun-Kyung Yi’s are also between her Canadian persona as apose to her Korean one. The use of simile in both stories and contexts are very effective and help the reader to understand the comparisons made through the use of simile. The last and perhaps the most effective device is Allusion, which is the reference to a generally familiar person, place, or thing. In the opening paragraph of the story Suzuki talks about the vast differences that separate him from his Japanese people “English is my language, Shakespeare is my literature, British history is what I learned and Beethoven is my music.” Here Suzuki gives reference to two very significant “Western” icons Shakespeare and Beethoven. These two references show that Suzuki influences have stemmed from his Canadian roots rather than his Japanese ones. As in “Ancestors The Genetic Source” Sun-Kyung Yi’s story make similar allusion “when in Rome do as the Romans.” This comment made by Sun-Kyung’s father enrages her because unlike her other female co-workers she posses feminist views which are virtually unheard of in Korea. When demoted in her job her father uses the allusion of “do as the Roman’s” she thinks why should she conform to the sexist views of her homeland when they should not be practiced in Canada. This allusion is a very effective one because it really exemplifies the mindset of her father and his Korean counterparts. This type of behavior becomes common in both stories when the narrow-minded views of past generations infuriate 1st generation Canadians. These stories are a reality for many Canadians today who have moved from a country with different cultural values. It is tough trying to adapt to a new culture when your values are strong. One must learn to adapt to become successful in the country he/she immigrated to. Sun-Kyung Yi begins to learn the difference at a young age “I am Korean-Canadian. But the hyphen often snaps in two, obliging me to choose to act as either Korean or a Canadian depending on where I am and who I’m with” In Suzuki’s case he understands differently but his theory is “For those who believe that is people, just as in animals, genes are the primary determinant of behavior a look at second- and third- generation immigrants to Canada gives powerful evidence to the country. The overriding influence is environmental.” Suzuki feels differently then Yi, Yi tries to please both her parents and her Canadian friends becoming split like most multicultural Canadians today. “I was known as Angela to the outside world, and as Sun-Kyung at home. I ate bologna sandwiches in the school lunchroom and rice and kimchee for dinner. I chatted about teen idols and giggled with my girlfriends during my classes, and ambitiously practiced piano and studied in the evenings.” Sun-Kyung decided to take the role of a “hyphenated Canadian” adapting to both cultures Korean and Canadian. This is the ideal choice for young multicultural Canadian because they must follow their parents values and rules inside the home. Suzuki gives an older aspect of reality to both cultures. He is Japanese though “My genes can be traced in a direct line to Japan.” But “I had grown up in a Caucasian society in which I was a minority member.” He believes that environmental is the most influential aspect in life and not genes and also believes “associating the inheritance of physical characteristics with far more complex traits of human personality and behavior.” Is totally wrong. Associating a person’s behavior by physical characteristics and genes is the wrong way to view a person, this is just continuing the ever-lasting stereotypes. Sun-Kyung begins to understand as she grows older “Going outside the home meant I was able to relax from the constraints of my cultural conditioning, until I walked back in the door and had to return to being an obedient and submissive daughter.” “Many have tired to convince me that I am a Canadian, like an other immigrant in the country.” Sun-Kyung began to feel torn between cultural’s and their vast differences. She enjoyed removing her cultural shackles when she went outside her home because as a women outside the house her equality with men was outstandingly more then inside her house. Sun-Kyung really felt the difference in cultures when she obtained a job at a Korean owned business. “I was expected to accept my inferior position as a women and had to behave accordingly.” “It was not a place to practice my feminist views, or be an individual without being condemned.” Similarly, this scenario still occurs today in our multicultural Canada where businesses are owned by certain groups and the groups values must be practiced in the work place or you will be an outcasted. This occurs with people who have moved from another country to Canada and have not been born here. Their values have been instilled in them in their homeland and most people in the country or a large majority practices the same traditions and values. Their values are very strong and will not change once moved. Suzuki felt his Japanese-Canadian status when he went to visit his homeland Japan with his white wife. They had got a room reserved for them by an agent and once they got there the owner discovered his white wife and Mr. Suzuki’s poor Japanese and refused to let “Gaijin” foreigners in his establishment. Suzuki’s situation is a common one only to those whose background has a strong and strict sense of values. This situation occurs to many people who don’t know how to speak like their mother language but their physical appearance make it appear like they are suppose to. The biggest difference in both stories that gave each person their path’s in their experiences coping with two totally different cultures was that Suzuki’s parents had lived in Canada longer then Sun-Kyung parents did. Which means they learned to accept some Canadian culture as a part of their life. This giving David more of a clear understanding of values, rules and tradition. Sun-Kyung parents I believe were not born in Canada and do not have any pat of Canadian culture in their home this making it more difficult for Sun-Kyung to coupe outside with various situations outside the house in Canada. Stereotyping is something in our world that will always remain until people and television can change its views. A person’s language and behavior should not be determined by skin color or race even if the majority of the time it is. People should be able to accept who they are and the country they live in even if it’s not their mother land, but not losing ones heritage is most in the transition in embracing a new countries different style of life. A person should not become ignorant by living as the lived in their home country when they do not anymore.