“Know who you are and you know what to do!” (Japtok 305). But if you do not know who you are, you will not know what to do. This is what characterizes Selina Boyce, the protagonist in Paule Marshall´s Brown Girl, Brownstones who displays the difficulties that emerge for an individual who lives between two cultures. Born and raised in New York City during the interwar years, she is an immigrant in second generation from Barbados. On the one hand her family is not able to give her the feeling of belonging to anywhere, which is caused by her parents´ different ideas of the American Dream. On the other hand she experiences the fact that within the Barbadian society she is only accepted if she follows certain prescribed ethnic convictions towards life in gen-eral. Furthermore, she realizes that she has to confront racism within American society, which restricts her in her personal development. The unique position of the second generation immigrants can either be a positive and fulfilling experi-ence or a negative one, depending on how those immigrants confront their situ-ation. The individuals have to make a decision from different options presented to them. Typically they incorporate themselves into one of the two cultures and reject the other or they accept what is best from both cultures and create a new consciousness, a new identity. Selina, however, is neither able to find her iden-tity as a Barbadian immigrant nor as an American which eventually leads to an inner and external resignation. After all she recognizes that the only possibility to find her identity is to distance herself from her environment. The protagonist Selina Boyce displays the challenge of finding an identity which immigrants in second generation have to face. Nonetheless, she seeks to find her identity on her own and rejects people who try to determine her identity by prescribed ethnic norms or by prejudices.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The protagonist´s differentness as a symbol for her individuality
3. Ethnic norms of Barbadian society in New York City
4. Selina´s rebellion against communally prescribed ethnic norms
5. Selina as an untypical representative of the second generation
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
The work examines the struggle for identity and self-determination of a second-generation immigrant in Paule Marshall’s novel "Brown Girl, Brownstones". It focuses on the protagonist Selina Boyce’s attempt to navigate between her family's expectations, materialistic ethnic norms, and the pressure of assimilation in American society.
- The influence of materialistic values on immigrant family structures.
- Selina’s process of individuation and rebellion against communal norms.
- The clash between personal aspirations and prescribed ethnic identity.
- The portrayal of second-generation immigrants as "untypical" within assimilation models.
- The role of racism and the search for an independent sense of self.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Ethnic norms of Barbadian society in New York City
Barbadian society in New York City creates ethnic norms that are indicated by materialistic values. Kuran defines ethnic norms as “the ethnically symbolic behavioral codes that individuals must follow to retain social acceptance. They are sustained partly by sanctions that individuals impose on each other in trying to establish good credentials.” (623). The behavioral codes of Barbadian society in New York City are strongly influenced by their reasons for migration. Obviously Barbadian immigrants came to the U.S. in order to have a better life. The protagonist´s mother Silla makes it clear by telling her daughter about life in Barbados which is indicated by poverty, hopelessness and desperation: “It´s a terrible thing to know that you gon be poor all yuh life, no matter how hard you work. “ (58). This desperation eventually leads to an inner resignation: “You does kind of die inside.” (58). So the American Dream of those immigrants which includes to “improve yourself [economically]” and to give their children a better future, “It´s because of the young people!”, becomes understandable (149, 188). In order to let this dream come true, the West Indians have to face American reality. The novel depicts their restricted “access to social institutions such as education, housing and employment that are key for upward mobility”, which is caused by racism (Francis 21). Therefore Barbadian society uses houseownership as a strategy to protect themselves from exploitation and to maintain the opportunity to reach their American Dreams.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central dilemma of Selina Boyce, who struggles to reconcile her Barbadian heritage with her life in America, ultimately leading to her isolation.
2. The protagonist´s differentness as a symbol for her individuality: This chapter analyzes how Selina's physical appearance, character traits, and feelings of exclusion function as metaphors for her internal independence.
3. Ethnic norms of Barbadian society in New York City: This section examines how Barbadian immigrants utilize materialistic values, specifically homeownership, as a protective strategy against racism and economic insecurity.
4. Selina´s rebellion against communally prescribed ethnic norms: The chapter explores how Selina dissociates herself from her parents and the "Association" to forge an identity that refuses to conform to rigid cultural codes.
5. Selina as an untypical representative of the second generation: This part argues that Selina diverges from the "straight line model" of assimilation because she rejects economic success in favor of psychological independence.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes Selina's failure to find a comfortable identity within her community and her final decision to physically and mentally distance herself from her environment.
Keywords
Identity, Second-generation immigrant, Paule Marshall, Brown Girl, Brownstones, Ethnicity, Individualism, Assimilation, Materialistic values, Barbadian society, American Dream, Rebellion, Racism, Cultural norms, Self-determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the challenges faced by second-generation immigrants in the United States, specifically focusing on the protagonist's struggle to maintain individuality within an immigrant community that emphasizes materialism.
What are the central themes of the work?
The primary themes include the negotiation of dual identities, the impact of the "American Dream" on family dynamics, the role of ethnic norms in social inclusion, and the search for personal freedom.
What is the primary research question?
The work investigates whether an immigrant in the second generation can achieve a self-determined life without fully succumbing to the rigid expectations of their ethnic community or the pressures of assimilation.
What methodology does the author use?
The paper employs a literary analysis approach, utilizing critical perspectives and sociological theories (such as Kuran’s ethnic norms and Waters’ straight-line model) to interpret the character development in the novel.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers Selina’s symbolic depictions, the materialistic strategies of the Barbadian community, her rebellion against her parents and peer groups, and her evaluation as an untypical immigrant archetype.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Key terms include identity, ethnicity, assimilation, materialism, rebellion, individuality, and second-generation immigrant.
Why does the author classify Selina as an "untypical" representative of the second generation?
Unlike standard assimilation models that predict second-generation immigrants will adopt the American mainstream to achieve economic success, Selina explicitly rejects those economic goals as she perceives them to be a form of entrapment.
What role do the parents play in the protagonist's development?
The parents represent the "old world" values of economic survival and rigid community standards, which Selina learns to reject as she realizes these values have led to the destruction of her family's internal cohesion.
- Quote paper
- Christine Hirsch (Author), 2013, Is ethnicity destiny?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/265721
