"Live -In Cook" Comments and Questions
This short story is told in the first person point of view. As I read the first two and a half pages I automatically assumed I was reading the story of a woman. I don't know why due to the fact that in the beginning there isn't really a direct statement or hint of the narrators gender. When I read, "I was a man whose voice.." ( 477 Truong) I was made aware of the fact that it was a man narrating his own story. I understand Bihns struggle as an immigrant domestic worker for two American women who live in the city of Paris. As an immigrant in any country who's goal is to work it is imperative that he or she learns the language. If you are in a country it can be difficult getting around or getting a job if you do not know how to at least speak that country's official language. I feel that Bihn has been through many job interviews and many different households in general, I can imagine it can be difficult for a person to have such an unstable and unpredictable job. He portrays himself as an experienced interviewee when he describes the different type of people he comes across during his search for a job or experiencing a job itself. I wonder more about how he got the job with his Mesdames and how he ended up there.
You make several interesting observations, Karen. As to identifying who the narrator and character is, what does the following statement suggest"I have no interest in your little girls. Your boys...well, that is their choice..."(Truong 477)? Also, think about whether the profession of a cook is itself gendered and how? Binh, though he might not be fully fluent in French, is very well versed in non-verbal communication. What does he perceive about his Mesdames, that is never overtly stated in the reading?
ReplyDeleteThe statement "I have no interest in your little girls. Your boys...well, that is their choice..."(Truong 477) suggests that the narrator is a woman, this is of course before i read the rest of the story. When I think of the profession of a live in cook i think of a woman. I believe its more likely that a woman would be willing to live in a home where she serves her employers. I also think generally people are more comfortable with a woman inhabiting their home due to their more caring and trust worthy nature so to speak. The combination of the quote mentioned and the profession is what striked me that the narrator was a woman. I agree with you that Bihn is well versed in non verbal communication. He perceives that they are lovers, although it is never directly stated in the reading. Bihn says, "From the second story windows of the house, GertrudeStein sees her love toiling in a garden..." (483), this serves as an example of his perception.
ReplyDeleteYes, well said. Also on the point of women being more likely to accept employment as live-in domestics, another quality which is gendered feminine is being subservient/ obedient.
ReplyDelete