Outline the information on Marissa Cheng and the changes in her life.

Analyze how the narrator’s emotional state is conveyed. Focus on narrative techniques and use of language.

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In the extract from the short story “Holding Pattern” by Jenny Xie, the narrator describes her mother Marissa Cheng and the major changes in her life.

Marissa Cheng is a middle-aged Chinese immigrant living in California with her grown-up daughter Kathleen. She has a limited command of English and sometimes speaks Mandarin with her daughter. Earlier in her life, she struggled financially, especially after her divorce. Therefore, she and her daughter had to live very frugally. Marissa carefully used coupons while shopping and avoided unnecessary expenses in order to save money and improve their financial situation.

However, Marissa’s life has changed significantly. She is now engaged to Brian Lin, a wealthy businessman who owns a successful software company. Because of his financial support, she can now afford an expensive wedding in Big Sur and no longer has to worry about money.

Her personality has also changed. In the past, Marissa seemed rather unhappy and withdrawn. She spent most of her free time at home cleaning the house, watching television, and drinking wine. Now, she appears much happier, more confident, and empowered.

In addition, her lifestyle has become more active. Instead of staying at home, she now enjoys outdoor activities with her fiancé, such as sailing, hiking, climbing, and running.

Her outward appearance has changed as well. While she used to wear plain and practical clothes, she now dresses in sporty and fashionable athletic wear. She has lost weight, looks slimmer and fitter, and pays more attention to her appearance overall.

The narrator’s emotional state is conveyed through first-person narration, vivid imagery, contrasts, and language with strong negative connotations. Throughout the extract, the narrator appears emotionally troubled, overwhelmed, and alienated from both her surroundings and her mother.

From the beginning, the first-person narration gives direct insight into the narrator’s feelings and thoughts. The statement “I felt acutely out of place” (l. 2) immediately shows her discomfort in the wealthy environment of Marin and the bridal shop. The phrase “its veneer of health and wealth an insult I couldn’t answer” (ll. 2–3) uses negative connotations to emphasize her resentment and insecurity. In addition, the metaphor “Heartbreak was its own kind of incandescence […] scrubbing the world raw with its floodlight” (ll. 1–2) conveys the intensity of her emotional pain. The imagery suggests that her heartbreak affects the way she perceives the entire world around her.

The narrator is also portrayed as being highly sensitive to her surroundings. She carefully observes the bridal shop and the people inside it, describing the dresses as a “froth of white dresses” (l. 5). This imagery makes the dresses appear excessive and overwhelming. Furthermore, when she notices the boy in the basketball jersey, she says, “I cast a line of hope in his direction, seeking an acknowledgment of our mutual misery” (ll. 7–8). This metaphor highlights her desperation for connection and her feeling that she does not belong in this luxurious environment.

Her tense emotional state is further conveyed through contrasts between her reactions and her mother’s behaviour. While her mother enthusiastically whispers, “Let’s have fun” (l. 21), the narrator feels uncomfortable and exposed. This becomes clear in the comparison “I felt as though I were choosing lingerie in front of an audience” (ll. 43–44), which illustrates her embarrassment about trying on bridesmaid dresses. Another example of contrast can be found in the dialogue: “‘Not strapless,’ […] my words colliding with my mother’s, ‘No straps’” (l. 50). The collision of their statements symbolises the tension and emotional distance between mother and daughter.

In addition, the narrator juxtaposes the present situation with negative childhood memories. She recalls how “Money had always been elusive for us” (l. 29) and describes experiences of “inevitable shame” (l. 31). The enumeration of financial struggles and the negative language underline how deeply these experiences affected her. In contrast, her mother now enjoys a wealthy lifestyle with her fiancé: “she sailed […], hiked […], ran loops in the Oakland hills” (ll. 58–59). This sharp contrast illustrates the narrator’s bewilderment about the dramatic changes in her mother’s life.

The narrator also struggles to accept her mother’s relationship with Brian and her changed personality. She questions her mother’s feelings when she states that Marissa had said “I’m going to love him” in the same tone she might have used for “I’ll finally be able to redo the kitchen” (ll. 27–28). This comparison suggests that the mother’s love may be motivated more by financial security than by genuine affection. Moreover, the narrator repeatedly distances herself from her mother through unusual forms of reference such as “the new Marissa Cheng” (l. 56) and “the Marissa I knew” (l. 60). The anaphora “This woman …” (ll. 56–57) further emphasizes how unfamiliar her mother has become to her. Finally, the comparison that she was seeing her mother “from the perspective of a stranger, as if for the first time” (ll. 64–65) conveys her alienation and emotional loss. This feeling is summed up in the final sentence: “I missed the old Marissa” (l. 72).

Overall, the narrator’s emotional state is conveyed through vivid imagery, contrasts, and negatively connotated language. The extract reveals her grief, discomfort, insecurity, and growing sense of alienation from her mother and her transformed life.

In the extract from “Holding Pattern” by Jenny Xie, Kathleen and her mother Marissa illustrate how strongly socio-economic status can influence the integration of immigrants into U.S. society. While the text suggests that financial success can improve opportunities and social acceptance, it also shows that integration depends on additional personal and social factors.

Kathleen’s childhood and adolescence were shaped by financial difficulties, especially after her parents’ divorce. The family had to live very frugally, which often made Kathleen feel excluded from mainstream American society. She remembers the “inevitable shame” (l. 31) she experienced when comparing herself to wealthier children at birthday parties. In this way, the lack of money limited not only material opportunities, but also her sense of belonging and social integration.

Marissa’s life changes significantly after becoming engaged to Brian Lin, a wealthy businessman. Through his financial support, she gains access to a more affluent lifestyle, including an expensive wedding and leisure activities such as sailing and hiking. Her improved socio-economic status allows her to reinvent herself and appear more confident and empowered. This demonstrates that money can make integration easier because it provides access to areas with better housing, infrastructure, and social opportunities. Financial security can also reduce dependence on support systems and encourage greater participation in social life.

Moreover, a higher socio-economic status often enables immigrants and their children to receive a better education and improve their future prospects. In the United States, educational opportunities are often closely connected to income and neighbourhoods. Therefore, immigrants with greater financial resources may find it easier to move upwards socially and become fully integrated into society.

However, the text also shows that socio-economic status alone does not guarantee integration. Although Marissa has become wealthier, her English skills are still limited, as shown by her halting English in the bridal shop. This suggests that language acquisition remains an important factor in integration. In addition, immigrants’ willingness to adapt to a new culture and society also plays a major role. Personal determination, openness to American values and norms, and the ability to build social connections are all essential for successful integration. Factors such as age, gender, religion, or country of origin may also influence how easily immigrants can adapt.

Furthermore, integration does not depend only on immigrants themselves, but also on American society. The openness and tolerance of local communities, schools, employers, and institutions strongly affect whether immigrants feel accepted or marginalized. Even financially successful immigrants may still experience prejudice or stereotyping.

Overall, socio-economic status plays a very important role in the integration of immigrants into U.S. society because it creates access to education, social participation, and economic security. Nevertheless, it is not the only decisive factor. Language skills, personal attitudes, and the willingness of society to accept immigrants are equally important for successful integration.

The American Dream: Still for Everyone?

In 2017, former Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that “the American dream belongs to all of us, not just the wealthy or powerful.” Her statement refers to the traditional idea that everyone in the United States has the opportunity to succeed and achieve a better life through hard work and determination, regardless of their social or financial background. However, whether this dream is still attainable for everyone today remains highly controversial.

On the one hand, there are still many reasons to believe that the American Dream is alive. The United States continues to offer opportunities for ambitious and hardworking people. Compared to many other countries, the U.S. is often associated with innovation, entrepreneurship, and openness to technological developments. Especially in industries such as science, technology, and business, talented individuals can achieve remarkable success. Many immigrants, for example, move to the United States in search of better educational and professional opportunities and are able to improve their social and economic status over time.

In addition, there are programs that support socially disadvantaged people. Scholarships, financial aid, affordable housing programs, and low-cost community colleges can help students from low-income families gain access to education and better jobs. Such measures demonstrate that there are still pathways to social mobility for people who are not wealthy or powerful.

However, Harris’ claim only partly reflects reality today. In recent decades, economic inequality in the United States has increased significantly. The gap between rich and poor continues to grow, making upward social mobility more difficult for many Americans. Rising housing costs, expensive healthcare, and student debt place enormous financial pressure on families and often prevent people from improving their lives despite working hard. For many young people, owning a home or achieving financial stability has become much harder than it was for previous generations.

Furthermore, not everyone starts from the same position. Marginalized groups, immigrants, people with disabilities, and those growing up in poor neighbourhoods often face structural disadvantages and discrimination. The common belief that success depends only on personal effort ignores the fact that many people lack access to quality education, healthcare, and stable employment opportunities. In addition, cuts in public services can further weaken the chances of vulnerable groups to achieve long-term economic security.

Another important factor is political and social participation. People with lower incomes often have less influence on political processes and fewer opportunities to shape society according to their interests. This can create the impression that the American Dream mainly benefits those who already possess wealth, education, or social connections.

In conclusion, Kamala Harris’ statement is inspiring, but only partly true today. The American Dream still exists for some people, especially for those who are highly educated, talented, or determined to succeed. Nevertheless, economic inequality and social disadvantages make it increasingly difficult for many Americans to achieve this dream. Therefore, the American Dream cannot truly “belong to all of us” unless society provides equal opportunities and support for everyone, not only for the privileged.