While reading the novel “Homebase” by Shawn Wong, I noticed one word that numerously came up in the story. That word was “hero”. The main character, Rainsford had always admired superheroes from comic books and movies (Wong, 37) and even had a “Superman” shirt (Wong, 13). He even aspired to be more like a hero himself and considered his father a hero in his eyes.
But did Rainsford ever conquer his dream of being more like a hero? What defines a hero? After his father’s death, Rainsford knew he had to be strong not only for himself but for his mother. He wanted to show his mother that he accepted his father’s death (Wong, 34). To Rainsford, he felt a child coping with death was different compared to how adults cope with it which is true, being as every person copes with a loved one’s death in different ways.
Rainsford felt he should cope with his father’s death the way he envisioned a superhero would cope with it, without fear and without showing any signs of weakness. Therefore, Rainsford strived to inherit strength, arrogance and independence to prove he was fine with his father’s passing (Wong, 34). To him, these qualities defined a superhero. After his mother died, Rainsford had to use these qualities again to cope with her passing as well.
However, before his mother passed, she could see Rainsford was becoming more like his father although he had not realized yet how much he was like the hero he had looked up to. Rainsford’s mother could see similar qualities both Rainsford and his father had. From sensibility to athleticism to a conspicuous romantic past, Rainford’s mother saw all these qualities in her son that his father once had. Knowing that he had become “her husband’s son”, she knew she could die peacefully despite being in the middle of a perfect recovery from illness (Wong, 37).
Later on, Rainsford has a conversation with an Indian man during the Christmas of 1969. This conversation as well as his time on the islands eventually helped him to realize that he was more like his father than he had thought and that he did have the qualities that he defined as a hero. He also realized he was more like his grandfather as well, another man he admired. He realized he was his grandfather coming back to America after having been raised in China (Wong, 87).
I personally believe everyone has their own definition of a hero. Many children see heroes or heroines as someone like the Power Rangers, Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman or Spiderman or even their favorite athletes. My cousins love the Power Rangers and I admit the Pink Power Ranger was my favorite when I was a kid and a few kids in my third grade class even called me the Pink Power Ranger just because I had a Power Rangers folder! I did dress up as her for Halloween once too.
For me, I personally always liked Sailor Moon as a child. She was my favorite super heroine and I looked up to her as a kid, like many kids looked up to their favorite superheroes and super heroines as a child. I even dressed up as her twice for Halloween when my mother made the costume for me since we couldn’t find it at any store.
When it comes to adults, however, I believe their definition of a hero is different than of a child’s. An adult is more likely to view their local firefighters, police officers, Army, Navy, National Guard, Air Force and Marines as heroes or heroines. However, I do think in one similarity that children and adults are alike when it comes to defining a hero. Most adults and children also view their parents or another relative as a hero to them and aspire to be more like them too just as I now look up to some of my family as heroes in my life. I also believe anyone who goes for their dreams or goals in life should be considered a hero because they are doing not only what makes them happy but also have the courage to go for what they set out to achieve. In the end, I believe Rainsford did conquer his goal of being more like the heroes he had always admired because he did become more like his father and grandfather who were the true heroes in his life.
Works Cited:
Wong, Shawn. Homebase. 1979.
My childhood heroine, Sailor Moon!
One of Rainsford's childhood heroes, Superman!
Ashley, the role of these heroes in Homebase is so fascinating, and I could see a final project in which you take that up in a creative way. We didn't get to talk much about the role of heroes--whether from pop culture, history, or family--today in class, and it deserves more discussion.
ReplyDeleteHey Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI think that your blog is very interesting. The reason is because you wrote about a totally different subject from mine. I did not think of “hero” or role model when I read Homebase. I thought more about the Chinese American experience in the America. However, your point is good and unique. You really brought something new to the table. I agree that Rainsford’s hero was his father. You also said that his great-grandfather and grandfather were Rainsford heroes. However, I think that his father was definitely the most important figure in Rainsford’s life. After his father’s death, Rainsford became an adult. For a child to have to become mature at that age can be seen as heroic. I mean it would take a lot of courage from a little child to do so. He had to learn how to do housework, help his mother to make money, etc. I admire Rainsford for being able to that. After his mother passed, he even grew into a stronger hero since now he really had to take care of everything by himself. Everyone has a hero that they really admire, and Rainsford father made him into a grown man at very young age. I also believed in super heroes with super power when I was young. Now I have grown up and lost much of the innocence. However, I am in a way like Rainsford, trying to become my own hero.
Hello Ashley,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I love the way you use the word hero and its meaning in your blog post- I too thought that this was an interesting aspect of the novel. I think that the reason Rainsford admires superheroes as such, and wishes to be like one is because grouping up as a fourth-generation Chinese-American boy, especially during the 1950’s, would seem to almost require you to be one. I think that in Chinese culture (or perhaps Asian culture), one is expected to hold back emotions (such as crying when a loved one dies). I couldn’t imagine not showing emotion during that time, and yet Rainsford is expected to. For his Mother after his Father dies (He wanted to show her that he accepted his Father’s death), and for himself and culture after his Mother dies. Superheroes generally show no weakness, and that is exactly what was expected of Rainsford-to show no weakness. Rainsford life seems to have been full of troubled times, and one would almost have become a Superhero in order to deal with it all. Elaborating more on not showing weakness, Rainsford not only had to deal with loss, but also find a niche in American culture while holding onto Chinese values. With that being said every hero has a secret identity, and I feel that Rainsford’s identity feels as though it’s a secret to him as well. He is constantly trying to learn and hold onto his culture while figuring out himself. So in a lot of ways, I feel that Rainsford has the qualties of a Superhero (or at least feels that he is expected to with all the hardships in his life), which his why he looks up to them so much. Oh yeah, and I also thought it was interesting how he wore a Superman shirt. Superman was of an alien race leading life in America (the last of his kind). Rainsford is left alone (as superman was) trying to hold onto his culture while living in America (very similar to Superman).
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for liking Sailor Moon. I remember staying up past my bedtime and watching it on Cartoon Network. I was all about the girl power in the show, and since Sailor Moon had blonde hair, I was even more apt to like her.
I really like the connection Brie made between Rainsford and Superman. Both are left without their real parents, but Rainsford at least had known his parents before losing them. I think in that aspect, Rainsford is given almost a harder time than Superman was. When Rainsford goes to live with his aunt and uncle, he is given something like 'replacement parents'. They will never replace his real parents, but they do vow to take care of him like a son.
I also think the idea of holding on to culture is a good point Brie brought up. Although Rainsford was born as a fourth generation American, he never really finds America to be home, because of the prejudices put upon his family. His Chinese culture is also a huge part of his life, and it conflicts with the American culture he sees around him. The American culture is foreign to him, just as it is to Superman, and both feel out of place because of it. I guess you could say that Superman is looking for his homebase just as much as Rainsford is.