A study of Asian-American assimilation, evidenced by Li-Young Lee's 'Persimmons' Anonymous 12th Grade

‘Persimmons’ is an autobiographical reflection upon growing up and adapting to life as a Chinese immigrant in the USA.[1] Lee was potentially destined to struggle with his identity: after his parents left their native China he spent the first few years of his life in Indonesia, facing anti-Chinese sentiment resulting in his father spending over a year in a prison camp, then struggling to adapt to life in the USA. Lee recounts his past struggles settling into Western culture, and explores his modern day struggles as he regretfully loses touch with the once-dominant Chinese part of his identity, and his absence from his childhood home.

Lee uses senses to make up for his lack of understanding of Western culture as a child, relying on his experience of emotions and feelings over logic. When he is ‘slapped’ (l.2) for not yet understanding the difference between words in English, Lee is shown to be punished for his lingering Chinese identity, rather than taught how to adapt, the first of many implications that Lee felt unwelcome; this punishment for his identity mimicking his parents’ persecution by Indonesia for their ethnicity. Lee’s use of soft vowel sounds, such as ‘chew’ and ‘swallow’ (l1.13-14) mimic the sweetness and ripeness...