Blog 9

"The Path to the Milk Way Leads through Los Angeles" by Joy Harjo, "A Bedtime Story" by Mitsuye Yamada and "A Father" by Bharati Mukherijee all contain the central theme of how American culture can cause people from different cultures to forget the important values of their people. They get caught up in the fast paced nature of the United States and lose their culture along the way.
The descriptions and imagery Harjo uses in "The Path to the Mily Way Leads through Los Angeles" tells the reader that nature and the spirituality were important values in her Native American society. For example, she says, "the shimmer of gods is easier/ to perceive at sunrise or dusk,/ when those who remember us here in the illusion of the marketplace/ turn toward the changing of the sun and say our names." However, she explains that in the United States, superficial things like fame and instant grafification are important and valued. Americans don't value the beauty of nature; revolving together on the same planet. They are only interested in their own personal needs. The values of American society differ greatly from the culture Harjo was born and raised in.
The main point of "A Bedtime Story" is found in the last line of the poem. The narrator's reaction to the poem shows the difference between old Japanese culture and present American society. The legend told to the narrator has the overall theme of finding unexpected beauty in nature when all hope was lost. However, the narrator of the poem finds this message underwhelming. Like most Americans, the narrator is looking for a big climactic scene in the story, where the main character has an obvious revelation. However, in actuality, the main character's point is very subtle. The narrator finds it hard to believe that the old woman can find such joy from looking at the moon. In old Japanese society, this beauty was what was valued. In American culture, which moves so fast, people don't have time to sit and watch the beauty of nature.
Because the daughter in "A Father" assimilated so quickly to American culture, it created many tensions in the Bhowmick family, not just for the daughter. Mr. Bhowmick thought he was better off in his family because he wanted to hold onto the traditional values of the Indian culture. He disagreed with his wife and daughter for assimilating so quickly to American culture. However, when looked at closely, Mr. Bhowmick did indeed forget what was important to his old culture. He ended up killing his daughter's baby because it brought shame upon the family. In no culture is killing a defenseless life praised. Mr. Bhowmick got caught up in the fast paced life of American society and forgot what was important to him and his family.
All three pieces of literature focus on the differences between American culture and traditions from other countries. It seems as though the three authors are commenting on the values lost as a result of American influence.