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 agree 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 [...].

Question

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 agree 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 agree with Kipling’s statement.

The first item of proof for this can be found in the selection "The Flowers" by Alice Walker. In this piece, Walker explores the struggles of a young African-American girl named Myop and the harsh realities of racial discrimination and violence. Its author wrote, "The black thing inside her seemed to suggest that whatever the white thing was, it was being smashed by blackness" (Page 342). This shows that Walker is highlighting the stark contrasts between the black experience and the white experience, emphasizing the divide between the East and the West.

In addition, the selection "Korean Farmers" by Yoshiko Uchida supports this stance. In this passage, Uchida recounts the experiences of Korean farmers living in Japan and their hardships due to discrimination and cultural differences. Its author penned, "They never really saw the narrows of the seas that divides their homes in their minds, until the war came" (Page 369). This illustrates that Uchida is depicting the deep divide between the East and the West, and how the war acted as a catalyst for the clash of these two worlds.

In conclusion, these two works of literature reveal that the East and the West are indeed fundamentally different, supporting Kipling's statement that they can never truly meet. Through exploring themes of racial discrimination, cultural differences, and the clash of values, these works emphasize the difficulties of understanding one another across these divides. While there may be some common ground, the fundamental disparities between the East and West prevent complete understanding and harmonious coexistence.