Immigration Lit Circles

What Is The What
Dave Eggers
Pages Read: 200
Date: March 13th

Quote #1, Page 279 Valentino Achak Deng: “He was the absence of a man. He had been erased. An involuntary shudder went through my body, the same reaction I had when I saw a burn, a missing limb-a perversion or ruination of nature.”

Significance: I thought this quote was kind of interesting, because in Valentino's homeland, he had never seen a “white” person before. It demonstrates his role in Ethiopia, where he lived in relative peace, but had never seen a single white person previously. It may seem surprising, but some people in Africa may have yet to see a white person, which some people might see as ignorance to the rest of the world. However somebody who suffers from the Civil War in Africa could say that us Americans are Naive, for many people don't even know about the hardships people face in Africa.

Connection: I usually don't see things that are abnormal, but one time I went to either the wild animal park or the zoo. In the reptile section I saw the bird-eating spiders, which are these colossal spiders. (Not big compared to a human, but in spider terms “fat”.) I was astounded, and a little scared when I saw those really big spiders.

Question: My question is.........
If you were Valentino Achak Deng, and the abnormal “white” person said “Hi” to you, what would you do?

Quote #2, Page 345 Achor Archor: “I really don't want to be one of these people, not forever”.

Significance: This quote is pertaining to the question about why the character came to America. In Africa they faced a multitude or horrible problems, such as sickness, and danger. The character (Achor, Achor) is sick and tired of hardship, and wants it to finally end. He later resolves his conflict, along with Valentino, by traveling to the U.S., and escaping his predicament.

Connection: I don't think I want to move to another country, but I want to do something. I guess I could relate to him, not in the same way, because I don't experience the hardship that he does. Sometimes I want to move on and become somebody else, or go to collage, or other things, and I could relate to his example.

Question: My question is..........
If you were Achor Achor, and you were given a chance (extremely unlikely and dangerous) to go to America, would you desperately jump for it?