When I first grabbed a copy of Shaun Tan’s book, ‘The Arrival’, I thought of reading a story book that my mom used to buy for me when I was a little girl - colorful and with minimal texts for me to practice reading. After all, story books have made a lot of profit since moms find them strategic in teaching reading. However, as I thumbed through the pages, I was really disappointed not to read any texts. Yes, the book is entirely made up of illustrations - of people, places, and stuff that I couldn’t even make sense of at the beginning. On the succeeding days, however, when I finally got the chance to truly commit myself to the material and try to understand why a book has no words at all, that was when things get crystal clear for me. Eureka!
Since it is considered a book, I am still certain that the author did not forget about the fundamental elements of story writing, in spite of the fact that there are no words at all, so I did a formalistic analysis of it.
The protagonist leaves his home and family since he envisions to provide a better life for the them in a distant place. The setting might be inspired by some areas in New York, yet there are features which tell us of a place that is both familiar to us but still undiscovered and sort of part of the imagined futuristic world. The plot is very simple - he leaves home, goes through a lot of challenges as he embarks on a very strange place, then reunites with his family near the end of the story, and finally, gets to feel at home in his new home. The theme is also very simple as it talks about a man’s journey to improve life and find belongingness in the place where he thinks would provide him a more comfortable living.
When carefully analyzing it, you would tell that the story could be just any of those hackneyed stories - stark and predictable. However, since these are all told in visuals, I am not actually certain if my analyses are all accurate. And this is what is beautiful and special about Shaun Tan’s masterpiece, that NY Times calls a ‘visually eloquent’ material.
The story is told the way the readers would interpret the pictures that looked familiar yet still is not. This is exactly what I find ‘cunning' about this book. It’s entirely the readers' interpretation or imagination that works all throughout the book so they would be able to fully grasp its message. Readers can fill the ideas on what each picture suggests - therefore, provides more room for them to relate to the struggles of the protagonist. Eventually, the more the readers are able to relate to the text, the greater is the likelihood of them appreciating the book.
Although Tan was able to meticulously show even the slightest detail of the person’s facial expressions, the places, the animals, food, etc., the ambiguities of each illustration honestly reflects any foreigner's experience of hesitations, fears, cluelessness, and anxieties once he uproots himself from the comforts of his home and decides to engage in the unknown. The struggles of language difficulties; homesickness; loss of money; change of social status; and separation anxieties that the protagonist in the novel are exactly the same things that anyone would have when we decide to leave our countries either to study or work in a foreign place. Just like the girls in my conversation circle…just like me.
Yes, the protagonist in the story is no different when compared to Heejae, Xi, Eunji, and me.
When the four of us went to America to study or work, we have undergone many difficulties - preparations way back when we were just about ready to leave, the fear of the unknown; the certain level of sadness, that one cannot explain, when leaving our loved ones; the stress of going through various security checks; problems such as finding a temporary abode, getting well with others, ordering food that sounds and looks entirely strange, changes in the activities, unpredictably crazy weather, among others.
But as the story suggests, in every problem, there will always be a way. The first time is always the hardest, but you’ll get over it eventually. You’ll find a place where you can thrive. You will meet people who will help you and make you happy. And then, you will unknowingly learn to be amused with the new people you are with and with the new place you are at.
Of course, the novel has clearly indicated the protagonist’s trouble in communicating in a world where language is way too different. And this can also be very true to our conversation circle. Although I did have a background in English, but communicating with a native speaker is far too different than when you only had the chance to listen to an ESL teacher all your life and learn the language from textbooks, so I still have minimal problems in communicating my thoughts in a much more spontaneous way or understanding the slangs of the native speakers. The other girls in my circle, of course, have serious issues with the language; however, just like the protagonist in the novel, we have all come to learn that non-verbal cues come very handy as reinforcement when words have some trouble delivering our thoughts. Facial expressions, gestures, body movements and the likes can help us convey our intentions when we lack the verbal adequacy that is needed to effectively carry a conversation.
Also, the novel has taught me that traveling may be complicated and risky, yet, amidst all the perplexing circumstances, it is always rewarding to meet and create bonds with people, learn so many lessons in life that no classroom would teach, and of course grow from the experiences away from the comforts of home. These are, of course, just some of my objectives in this conversation circle, that eventually I will be able to help the participants and myself understand that we might be different, we might come from the farthest parts of the world, but we can always find a niche wherever we want to go, if only we learn to communicate to people, to be open to whatever comes our way, and to accept that in this peculiar world we can eventually find a home away from home.
Xi, Heejae, Me, Eunji at UMMA (2/13/2015)
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