In the Land of the Free

This story is a really good symbol for how people can lose their identity when they come to America. The child, the "Little One," had been renamed Kim by the missionary school. Besides the fact that this sounds like a pretty stereotypical Asian name, they didn't even both to find out his real name. He lost that part of his identity to the school. He arrived back to his mother in "blue cotton overalls" and "white soled shoes." And he did not want to go back to her; after just ten months, the child had become very much American and he did not know his mother, a native of China.

"In the Land of the Free" also portrays American greed. The lawyer was willing to help Lae Choo and Hom Hing but for a price. He hesitated but took the couple's jewels to pay for his trip to Washington. By giving up these things - including a bracelet that had been a wedding present - the desperate parents lost some of their identity, as well.

I think the story ends so abruptly to get the reader thinking about the merit of coming to America in the first place (in addition to the somewhat ironic title of story). If this is so, do you think the author makes a good point? Or is it a fair trade off, to come to America but lose some cultural identity?