The Third Dumpster - Essay

The Third Dumpster – Essay

Indledning:

Through the whole story, one of the main themes that occurs is integration, it is clear that the parents see themselves as Chinese even though they have lived their whole lives in America “..their parents were Chinese, end of story, as Morehouse liked to say. (…)They had been Americans for fifty years…” (P. 1 l. 8) The parents are the worst at integrating, they have a clear picture of what is a Chinese- and what is an American way of living. They refuse to live at a nursing home, because it is a very Western thing, and when the father hurts his hip and go to the hospital, the mother makes it clear that “Chinese people, she said is, did not live by themselves” (P. 5 l. 151)

Another important theme is family and the relationship between family members. From the start of the story it is clear that family relations is a key point in the text, both in the brothers relationship, but also when the parents have expectations towards the brothers.

“Tell me – what choice do we have? Tell me. (…) It was about dignity for their parents, said Morehouse. It was about doing what they were able to do. It was about doing what sons were bound to do…” (P. 2 l. 40 + 43)

As this quote indicates, there are expectations towards the kids to take care of their parents, and it shows the different expectations in different cultures. The expectations are also a good way to show the contrasts that is shown throughout the whole story. One of the most noticeable contrasts is the difference between the Chinese and American culture. This can be seen in the parents connection to their Chinese past, that they are not willing to give up on even though they now live in America. The culture differences affect all four characters, it is emphasized through the brother, by showing their very opposite views on the subject of culture and traditions. “Morehouse accepted (…) that their parents were fundamentally different (…) Morehouse and Goodwin would never be American, end of story” (P. 1 l. 24)  The two brothers different opinions towards assimilation into the American culture, is clear, Goodwin is way more willing to change his life and become a part of the culture, he is married to an American woman. Morehouse sticks to his more Chinese way of living, he has a Chinese tattoo to remind him of his own culture. The brothers are also different in their personalities, the contrast between their personalities is especially clear in the end of the story “How Goodwin wished he had said that! And how he wished he has ended up like Morehouse instead of like Morehouse inside out.” (P. 5 l. 166) 

Goodwin wishes he was more like Morehouse, they have a very different way of dealing with the cultural differences.

The style of writing throughout the story changes I proportion to who is talking. When Goodwin speaks, the language sometimes turn very formal “Might not its change of fill level be linked with their dumpsterless job right around the corner?” (P. 2 l. 51) The composition of for instance this sentence is very complex, which makes it seem more formal. His language get much more formal and poetic when he is looking for the dumpster. The difference in language also emphasize their willingness to assimilate into the American culture, the parents way of speaking is more basic and not grammatically correct. “You are finally learn how to act! You are finally learn how to talk! You are finally learn how to think! They had said in their kinder moods” (P. 2 l. 27) This shows that the parents have not prioritized learning the English language. The brothers have used more time on learning the language and associate with ethnic Americans, and learning the culture this way.