Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Ha Jin's A Good Fall describes not only Chinese American immigrants in America but also the author's personal experiences as a Chinese American immigrant. This thesis explores the immigrants' arduous life, especially conflict from cultural differences among Chinese American immigrants who find new a...

Ha Jin's A Good Fall describes not only Chinese American immigrants in America but also the author's personal experiences as a Chinese American immigrant. This thesis explores the immigrants' arduous life, especially conflict from cultural differences among Chinese American immigrants who find new ambitions in America. In the first chapter, it explicates the ideology of the “American Dream” of Chinese immigrants. The immigrants have a hope and dream of success in America. For that, they move to the United States and find new home Flushing, the Chinatown in Queens, New York. But they have to confront the uneasy reality of a foreign land. This chapter discusses the conflict and problems that they face there. The second chapter deals with the gap between their imagination of American dream and the reality. Various Chinese American immigrants find the reality quite different from their imagination of the American Dream. They have a high goal to make a lot of money and to gain financial stability in America but they are just low-paid, simple laborers in poor working conditions. Also, Chinese American immigrants are coerced to support their family who live in poverty in the main land of China. The immigrants feel oppressed by their family’s constant demand. America has no guarantee of success; it is not like the American dream they have expected, and some immigrants regret their vain efforts to migrate to America. The third chapter explains prejudices on the China of Chinese American immigrants. Ha Jin has negative opinions about China as some stories demonstrates some instances. For examples, a story sharply describes a “cheapie” and Chinese government that suppressing freedom of the individuals. The fourth chapter concentrates on cultural conflicts between the first generation and second generation immigrants. The old generation that is familiar with Chinese culture and the younger one that adapts to new American circumstance crash each other on the issues of basic values and lifestyle. Also, this chapter explains how Chinese and American cultures and national identities influence the Chinese immigrant. The conflict between the generations and the cultural gap of immigrants are closely related to their own identity. Finally, the fifth chapter explains how Chinese American immigrants have overcome trials and adapt America culture. The positive aspects of America of Chinese American immigrants is specified here as well. Overall it seems obvious that first generation Chinese American immigrant Ha Jin includes his real experiences as part of Chinese American immigrants' lives in the novel.