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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:13:53 GMT -5
Post by laxchic27 on Apr 1, 2009 12:13:53 GMT -5
The lesson the author is trying to prove is that you need to act like your real self and not like anyone else.
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:20:05 GMT -5
Post by jokerfan92 on Apr 1, 2009 12:20:05 GMT -5
yes I would agree with that. however, could you perhaps provide a example?
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:23:42 GMT -5
Post by laxchic27 on Apr 1, 2009 12:23:42 GMT -5
Well, when wei-chin rolled up in his pimpin' car, i felt that he was trying to be the cool popular kid. but yet in fact, he is just an average kid who needs to act like an original teen his age and be different.
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:25:26 GMT -5
Post by jokerfan92 on Apr 1, 2009 12:25:26 GMT -5
yes, well wei-chen is also a monkey in disguise. but however, you are right. he should not be trying to fit in somewhere he doesn't belong
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:25:31 GMT -5
Post by Beverly Muldoon on Apr 1, 2009 12:25:31 GMT -5
I also agree that the message is to act like yourself instead of trying to be someone else. How does the Monkey King's story show that point?
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:27:55 GMT -5
Post by Beverly Muldoon on Apr 1, 2009 12:27:55 GMT -5
Why did Wei Chen change so much at the end of the story? Why the "pimpin" car, for example?
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:28:13 GMT -5
Post by laxchic27 on Apr 1, 2009 12:28:13 GMT -5
yes i know that. well that is the exact point the author is trying to get across to the readers.
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:30:42 GMT -5
Post by laxchic27 on Apr 1, 2009 12:30:42 GMT -5
The monkey king's story shows that you can't be someone other than yourself and when you try to be, you will most likely fail and make yourself look bad.
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:33:24 GMT -5
Post by laxchic27 on Apr 1, 2009 12:33:24 GMT -5
Wei-Chin changed so much toward the end of the story because he was sick and tired of being made fun of all the time and wanted to fit in. Wei-Chin felt that the only way to do so was to change his actions to be like everyone elses.
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 12:36:43 GMT -5
Post by Beverly Muldoon on Apr 1, 2009 12:36:43 GMT -5
I think there is another reason. He learned to despise humans and the way they treated one another. He was no longer interested in living with their idea of how he should be. It was easier to rebel and fit in. I think a lot of people do that.
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lesson
Apr 1, 2009 18:40:52 GMT -5
Post by Beverly Muldoon on Apr 1, 2009 18:40:52 GMT -5
Stephanie,
I like your answer to my question, and I agree with you. We all have seen people who try to live their lives pleasing other people and not themselves or who try to live up to other people's expectations. I guess a reason may be insecurity and poor self esteem, but I wonder if sometimes we just don't really know who we are. If we allow others to guide our ideals, then we will always be at their mercy; we will never decide what's right for us. Emerson said, "Trust thyself," but that's not always easy to do. Of course being different in some way makes the process even more challenging because that person may always feel inferior to others and never celebrate what is unique and special about themselves. There is another issue of cultural identity in this novel, something you and I probably don't have to face. How much of Jin Wang's culture should he retain and how much should he limit because he wants to do things that he believes are right? It is not an easy choice for Jin Wang when he is told by his parents and others of his ethnic background that he should behave more Chinese. On the other hand, he probably doesn't want to abandon everything about his heritage.
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