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The Immigrants Experience Through The Graphic Novel ' The Arrival '

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Shaun Tan depicts the immigrant experience through the graphic novel, The Arrival. Tan sets many emotions and thoughts in motion, without using any words. Tan depicts the many challenges immigrants face when venturing to a foreign land for the first time. This graphic novel depict the immigrant experience in a very effective way. Tan does so by using many different methods to demonstrate this experience, the strange language, strange surrounds, and unfamiliar people, are some of the most prominent. While the immigrant story is often one riddled with struggle, they too have times of great joy and friendship, which is something Tan also effectively demonstrates. The New York Times had this to say about Tans novel “The Arrival” tells not an immigrant’s story, but the immigrant’s story.” I agree with this statement full-heartedly, The Arrival, although focused around one central character can tell the story of thousands of immigrants throughout the spread of time. The first point in the novel where there is a obvious struggle is in section II page 15. In this scene the main character is shown and he looks to be being interviewed. It is obvious the he is having a hard time understanding what is being asked of him based on the facial expression he is making. It is also clear that the main character is experiencing his first real time of frustration in this new land. It appears that he also seems slightly scared, based on the last picture. The next page shows hands working on

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