Illusions

"Illusion and I
Travelled over the ocean "(pg. 74).

For me, these were the most memorable and meaningful lines from this chapter, "Overblown with Hope." So simply, so plainly they state everything that Takaki described about the Asian migration to America over the many, many years.

For me this chapter read almost like a novel or a short story. At times I found myself nearly moved to tears with the personal stories and especially the personal quotes and poetry. Maybe I'm being overly emotional or trying too hard to analyze the literary elements of Takaki's work, however, I can't help but become wrapped up in these people's lives. They went through more than I could ever imagine. They voluntarily left their families and boarded ships to face the storms ahead, both literal and figurative. The women who left to marry men they had never met; the men who sold themselves for work....All of this for some illusion, some "enchanted" (pg. 65) ideal of America and all with a "Hope" that all too often ended in disappointment.

It's strange for me to think that life could be so miserable that anyone would go willingly to a place where so much was unsure. The thought of leaving my family for good is frightening, but then again so is the idea of "sinking into the toilet" (pg. 59) . Perhaps I would give up part of my identity to become a doll of sorts, like the picture-brides.

I suppose, in the end, no matter what you meet, "Hope" keeps you going; belief or faith in the "illusion" or the "dream" keeps you going. I guess it's up to you to decide whether or not that "dream" is worth fighting for...thankfully, I think Takaki thinks it is.