The significant of Marilyn Chin's Poem, "Turtle Soup"

 

 "Turtle Soup"

 

by : Mohd Aizuddin

 

 

Explorations of the Text

 

 1- "Cauldron" instead of "pot "

    

       I assumed that the poet of the Turtle Soup's poem using "cauldron" (line 4) instead of other cook appliances such as stove, pan or pot to show the authenticity or the originality in her family background. Why I assume that due to her background experiences as Chinese's immigrant at United States. Nobody would use cauldron to cook something these days right? Furthermore, cauldron as far as I know is related to a witch to make potions or something unique or witchcraft. So the turtle soup and the use of cauldron must be in her Chinese heritage that show one of her tradition. So why cauldron instead of pot? It easy for me to put that as the differences between tradition or old thing (cauldron) to modernism or maybe assimilation from cauldron to pot. Shows how she the speaker struggle to maintain her heritage identity toward the world or society. In her case, Pasadena, California.

 

 

2-  "the Wei"," the Yellow" and " the Yangtze"

 

               Wei...Yellow.. Yangtze is the rivers in China. So why rivers in China and not other places like India, Egypt or Africa? As for me, I think its about her own heritage and culture that are influenced by China country and history instead of others.  Marilyn Chin (Chinese American ) are author of distinct origins whose identities have impacted on the style and themes of their literary works.  As for me, I assume that the "turtle" in the poem must be related to Chinese tales or maybe heritage because I do know "turtle" in Chinese culture symbolize the longevity or the "ancient wisdom" related to their Chinese history or stories. Did you know that turtle shell and bones are use in the oracles ceremony back then. So the river that been mentioned in the poem shows the long journey since century and the path or the place that the turtle use. Turtle in this must be related to Chinese history, heritage or identity for the speaker. 

        

3- Tone of mockery, cynical, pessimist and clueless toward heritage identity

 

              In my opinion, I assumed that the speaker intelligently mocking or cynically questioning her own culture, heritage or some absurd believes such as in line 3 and line 15. To me, she already assimilating with the culture of the Pasadena. Part of me says that she is quite clueless or less knowledgeable when it comes to her on Chinese cultures and history. Maybe she just want to get along with the society just because she is the only Chinese immigrant there. Even though she looked Chinese physically but her mentally is already assimilating with the rest. She lost her identity as Chinese features and refused to embrace her own heritage uniqueness.