Literary Analysis Essay on Girl in Translation

Introduction

Girl in Translation is a classic immigration narrative. It narrates the story of an eleven-year-old girl, Ah-Kim and her widowed mother, Ma, who relocate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn in New York, in pursuit of a better life. As soon as she gets to America, Ma's elder sister Aunt Paula suggests that Ah-Kim should change her name to Kimberly, "but little sister you should call her by her American name now. It is better to have a name that is as American as possible" (Kwok 15). Notably, the theme of ambition manifests itself throughout the book.

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The immigration was planned and paid for by Aunt Paula. For this gesture, she believes that her younger sister and her daughter owe her total obedience. Kimberly and her mother are made to work in Aunt Paula's illegal clothing factory. Paula helps them secure an apartment in a derelict neighborhood. The house is in poor condition, and ice drops inside the windows during winter. Unfortunately, Ma is too blind to see that her elder sister is embarrassed of her and Kimberly and does not wish them any good. Kimberly realizes her Aunt's true nature, and, for this reason, she adjusts to the American life, thereby struggling through the difficult working and living conditions taking up most of her mother's responsibilities. Eventually, Kim blossoms into an intelligent and successful woman. Girl in Translation is a story of a girl who breaks through poverty, immigrant stereotype, culture shock, and language barrier to achieve the success she had always longed for. Clearly, it manifests the power of determination in achieving any goal.

Indeed, the most significant theme in Girl in Translation is the theme of ambition as displayed by Kimberly. From a very young age, Kimberly learns never to give up. Ma spends all her days at the factory with a poor pay and never gets a chance to learn English. Thus, Kim saw no hope of her acquiring a better job. It is upon this realization that Kim decides to focus on her education as the key to success. She is determined to get her mother out of the factory. Kim quickly adjusts to her new life. Unfortunately, her quick adaptability forces her to carry the weight of her family on her shoulders. She, therefore, leads a double life which entails schooling during the day and helping her mother in the factory in the evening: "After you get out of school, I want you to come join me at the factory. I don't want you here in this apartment by yourself, waiting for me every afternoon and evening. And I'm worried I won't be able to do the finishing at the factory alone" (Kwok 25). Nevertheless, Kimberly performed very good in school and managed to secure a scholarship.

Kimberly's ambition does not come easily. It involves a series of costs and the utmost rewards. Despite all the frustrations and difficulties, she keeps fighting because she realizes the value of what is at stake. She perseveres through the discouragement and discomforts by making distinct decisions, some of which she does not like. For instance, when Kim is enrolled in her new school in Brooklyn, she is unable to maintain the stellar grades as she used to in Hong Kong. Out of frustration, she spends her time playing hooky. However, when she discovers that she will also end up working in the factory after completing school, she decides to shift her attention to her grades and education as the only avenue to a better life; it is the only option she has (Kwok 56). In addition, when Kimberly earns a scholarship to an exclusive prep school, her Aunt Paula gets angry. It is then that she realizes that she is not supposed to outshine her cousin Nelson. With the help of her mother, they concede to keep her grades a secret.

Kimberly and Ma's ambition of pursuing a better life influence their decision to relocate from Hong Kong to New York. It is not easy to leave everything behind and move into a new country. Still, the woman makes the decision for the sake of her daughter's future (Kwok 12). She gives up on her career as a music teacher. Additionally, Kimberly makes a decision not to give up in school despite the constant ridicule by her teacher, Mr. Bogart. She is obliged to work twice as harder to earn satisfactory grades. In the end, she gets rewarded for it. Also, although Kimberly falls in love with Matt, she understands that she cannot make him happy. Thus, she gives up on the relationship to focus on her studies.

Kimberly's perseverance and determination to change her life and that of her mother conforms to my understanding of true ambition. On several occasions, Kim is faced with tough situations where she could easily give up. Nevertheless, she remains focused on her course until she finishes her graduate studies. Even as a young girl, she manages to balance between school and supporting her mother at work. Kimberly's admirable ambition helps me set my bar of success higher.

More importantly, Kimberly's zeal and determination in Girl in translation makes the fictional narrative worth reading. Its focus is on the many minorities who are caught in between the pressure to succeed and the underlying difficult consequential circumstances. With the major themes of hardships and triumph, the narrative proves that everything is possible.

Work Cited

Kwok, Jean. Girl In Translation. Riverhead Books, 2013,.