Question

a. In "The Literature of East Asia and the Pacific Rim," Michael Harris quotes: " 'Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.' With this famous line, British writer Rudyard Kipling has captured the idea that the East and West are so radically different that their people can't possibly understand one another. Agree or disagree with Kipling's statement, using examples from at least two of the selections you read. Be sure to include the title of each selection you cite as evidence.

Copy/paste/[fill-in]: In “The Literature of East Asia and the Pacific Rim,” Michael Harris states, “Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” With this famous line, British writer Rudyard Kipling has captured the idea that the East and West are so radically different that their people can't possibly understand one another. After reading works from Unit 6, I [...] with Kipling’s statement. The first item proof for this can be found in the selection “[...].” In this piece, [...]. Its author wrote, “[...]” (page number). This shows that [...]. In addition, the selection “[...]” supports this stance. In this passage, [...]. Its author penned, “[...]” (page number). This illustrates that [...]. In conclusion, these two works of literature reveal that [...].

Answer 1

In “The Literature of East Asia and the Pacific Rim,” Michael Harris states, “Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” With this famous line, British writer Rudyard Kipling has captured the idea that the East and West are so radically different that their people can't possibly understand one another. After reading works from Unit 6, I strongly disagree with Kipling’s statement. The first item proof for this can be found in the selection "The Waiting Years" by Fumiko Enchi. In this piece, the protagonist, Tomo, is a traditional Japanese woman who sacrifices her own personal desires and dreams for the sake of her husband and family. Its author wrote, "The spirit of service---the woman's surrendering her life, body, intellect, and love to the man" (Enchi 65). This shows that in Japanese culture, women are expected to prioritize the needs and desires of their husbands and families above their own, which may be difficult for Westerners to fully comprehend.

In addition, the selection "A Single Tear" by Wu Yu further supports this stance. In this passage, the author writes about the Chinese concept of "face," emphasizing the importance of maintaining one's reputation and avoiding shame in society. Wu Yu states, "Face is more important for Chinese people than other ethnic groups...we want everybody to look at us with glimmering eyes, with smiles on their lips, to praise our dignity, our wealth, and our honor" (Wu Yu 73). This illustrates that in Chinese culture, external appearances and social status hold great significance, which may be vastly different from Western values of individualism and self-expression.

In conclusion, these two works of literature reveal that while there are certainly cultural differences between East and West, it is overly simplistic to claim that the twain shall never meet. By exploring the complexities of East Asian cultures through these literary works, we gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the nuances that exist within each society, allowing for the possibility of increased understanding and connection between East and West.