...The character Mr. Chiu from the short story Saboteur embodies the theme of the story by his actions and manners, as written by Ha Jin. Mr. Chiu is portrayed as a sickly and overall unhealthy person. He is also well-educated. In this story, his stubbornness and vengefulness contribute to proving the theme of the story. Near the end of the story, it says, “While eating, he kept saying through his teeth, ‘If only I could kill all the b*******!’” and then it also states “Within a month over eight hundred people contracted acute hepatitis in Muji. Nobody knew how the epidemic had started.” Mr. Chiu’s words show that he is angry with the policemen and wants revenge. You can infer from the ending of the story that Mr. Chiu intentionally ate food at...
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...Indivuals I believe have the capability to choose the inner light or inner darkness. For some the two overlap and merge into one. But just like in any comic or movie one power over takes the other. When put in a stressful predicament how you react is which side you choose. In Ha Jin's " The Saboteur" Mr Chiu choose to give into his inner darkness . "The Saboteur" is a classic representation of what is happening in society now. Because ones views of the authority is so negative it can make one go to extremes just to get revenge. Police have always had people who abide by the laws and those who do not. Mistakes happen but if its someone one doesn't like they will react differently. Those who believe that cops are out to get everyone are...
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...What the Men in Uniform Say Goes Ha Jin bridges a literary gap between America and China with his Chinese based literature. Jin was born and raised in China during the time period Mao Tse-tung, but moved to America as an adult. Rather than depicting his life through an autobiography, he utilizes short stories to dictate his life experiences. In the short story “Saboteur”, Ha Jin depicts how a corrupt legal system can commit any action without repercussions. Jin provides an abundant amount of examples of demoralization occurring within the walls of justice from the start of the story to the finale. The story begins as a serene lunch between newlyweds at a train station. Mr. Chiu and his wife are on the receiving ends of mockery by two police officers. Right from the beginning the reader can comprehend that the officers are disrespectful. The average person knows that it is discourteous to laugh and steal glances at the person he or she is laughing at; one would hope that someone who is supposed to protect the public would respect those who they are attempting to defend. The mood for the scene is set in play as Jin writes “The air smelled of rotten melon” (163). Granted, they are located in an area where various food stations are located, however, the melon reference delivers the message that foul play is present. The rotten smell gives an uneasy, queasy vibe. Note that the author mentioned that air is filled with the odor, rather than a particular area, which is interpreted...
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...Reading Ha Jin's Saboteur stirs a deep frustration and hopelessness inside me as I watch each little injustice unfold. From the text, I perceive an overall theme of abusing power and craving revenge that together create a terrible cycle. On multiple occasions Mr. Chiu mentions that the Cultural Revolution had just come to a close which should, in theory, bring more equality among the citizens and authority figures, but he soon realizes that people aren't so quick to change. They often cling to old ways, opinions, and beliefs despite the threat of law, especially those that have authority and the means to defend themselves. This perpetuates harmful cycles by restraining positive changes from becoming integrated into the culture. As many times as I read over the conversation between Mr. Chiu...
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...Journal 1 2/21/13 Tough Living In the short story ‘’the necklace’’ was a very tough, sad, and stupid It was about jealousy and envy. Among the greatest sins and have been down fall of many. The story is about Mathilde Loisel that seeks money and desires of becoming into the upper class. All the ambition of becoming in the high class she brings herself into her downfall. She hated her living society. In the story she marries a rich man that his profession is a clerk. Loisel is beautiful and charming woman. The clerk who she married he works in the ministry of education. These man during the time of the story he can afford anything, provide her only with a modest though not uncomfortable lifestyle. Later in the story she got invited to a big society party all thanks to her husband. The party was hosted by the ministry of education the place where her husband works. He hope that Malthilde will be thrilled with the chance to attend an event this sort. Later she receive these news she started to cry all because she did not have a nice dress to wear for the party, he got mad and gave her money to buy a dress. Afterwards she wanted a necklace to go with the dress she got and went to a lady named Forestier to get a necklace from her she accepts and lends the jewelry to Malthilde. In the party she was excited because every man notice her cause she looked beautiful. The party ended late they walk down the streets to catch a cab, when they got home she noticed...
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...E SSAYS ON TWENTIETH-C ENTURY H ISTORY In the series Critical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar, Striking Steel: Solidarity Remembered Janis Appier, Policing Women: The Sexual Politics of Law Enforcement and the LAPD Allen Hunter, ed., Rethinking the Cold War Eric Foner, ed., The New American History. Revised and Expanded Edition E SSAYS ON _ T WENTIETH- C ENTURY H ISTORY Edited by ...
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