In The American Society - Gish Jen

In The American Society

Gish Jen

            In Gish Jen’s In The American Society, Jen not only illustrates the assimilation of Callie’s father to American society, but also explores the reluctance American society has to take others in. Providing insight into the life of an immigrant and the challenges faced when jumping into a new society, this short story worked to help me better understand the transition. I was also particularly interested in the underlying idea Jen presented of the reluctance our society holds on letting others in. As illustrated throughout the story, this idea of reluctance becomes very apparent. Upsetting me as I pondered the idea, I never realized the difficultly an outsider faces when trying to assimilate into American society. The aspect of Jen’s writing that emphasized this idea and interested me most was the demonstrations of the humiliating effect assimilation may have on a person.

             I enjoyed how Jen divided the story up into two sections. In the fist part of the story, “His Own Society”, I was able to understand Ralph’s old world patriarchy coming to terms with the American culture. Understanding Ralph’s expectation of authority from his employers due to his position as owner of the pancake house, the struggle to assimilate was easier to comprehend. While it was hard to watch Ralph destroy relationships with his employers, I was able to understand Ralph’s justification. Jen explains how in Ralph’s society, treating the employers as he does is nothing out of the ordinary, however in the American society, his actions are viewed as foreign and unacceptable. In the second part of the story, the American society itself is explored. Attending a pool party, Ralph and his family work to assimilate into what appears to be the typical American society. Resulting in disaster, the pool party highlights the difficulty Ralph faces when trying to assimilate. Knowing that things were not going to end up well, I hoped that Ralph would have just stayed home and never put on the suit. As an overdressed and foreign member, Ralph was easily spotted at the party.

            As readers, we are able to see Ralph's constant struggle with assimilation though his challenges with the pancake house, his employers, and his relationships. I almost felt defeated by the end of this short story. Scene after scene and event after event, it appears as if Ralph is consistently getting beat up by the new society. Pushing himself to test out the waters of American society, I felt pain for Ralph after he failed attempt after attempt to assimilate.

            Overall, this short story proved to further educate me on the life of an immigrant working to assimilate into American society. Never before had I truly understood the barrier American society holds and the difficulty it places on those trying to join it. Struggling to hold on to his old world ways, I felt that by the end of the story Ralph had come to the understanding that his ways would not work in the American society and thus he had given up. After his explosion at the pool party, I believe that Ralph came to the realization that he did not fit in and felt that American society had humiliated him. 

David Belpeido