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Rhetorical Analysis Of The Good Daughter By Caroline Hwang

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Caroline Hwang, in writing The Good Daughter, explains the way it feels to be born into a distinct culture that does not correspond with the culture of her heritage. In her writing, she details the mental struggle she deals with in being Korean versus being American. Hwang uses a variety of rhetorical strategies such as metaphors, diction, and rhetorical appeals. In Hwang’s conflictions between differing cultures, she becomes aware of her forgotten Korean culture once a fellow Korean woman points out Hwang’s mispronunciation of her own last name. Hwang, adding in her emotion state post dropping out of graduate school, stating it was a “torn up map for the future,” and it was not only where she was going but who she was, creates a somber tone. Many college students, whom have graduated or dropped out, relate to the emotional distress. She sums her feelings as “staring at the bottom on the abyss.”(16) Attending college is of great importance to not only the …show more content…

She states, “Children of immigrants are living paradoxes,” and from her experience, this is proven to be true. Her parents, moving to American in hopes of creating a better life, desired Hwang to become one with American culture. However, they also desire her to stay true to what makes her herself, which is her Korean culture. Internalizing Hwang’s pain, her parents told her one thing, but expected her to do another. The emotional confusion is overwhelming. Hwang explains her parents “knew they were embarking on a rough trip,” however, if they knew the way in which Hwang feels they may not have went about the move in they way they have. “I identify with Americans, but they do not identify with me,” (13) is how Hwang feels living in America. She is split between not being Korean enough and not being American enough. She stands on the line between the two, but that line is extremely lonely and

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