Week 7 Reading Notes A: In the Land of the Free

The story "In the Land of the Free" is a heartbreaking tale of a foreigner coming to America and losing what is most dear to her. This story reflects the author, Edith Eaton, and her true struggles when immigrating to America, specifically San Francisco in the mid 1900's. Even though Eaton was only half chinese, she was still discriminated against and was meant out to be less than human because she was not white (fully) and because she was a woman. In the story, Lae Choo is a woman who's instinct for maternity is shown, and it is clear that she loves her child more than anything else in the world. You can see the devastation in the character when the government forcefully takes the child away from her. Lae Choo's husband is more reluctant to oppose authority, and must force Lae Choo too let them take her son. Hom Hing tries to tell Lae Choo that it will only be for a little while but this is no consolation for her, as by the morning the next day the first thing Lae Choo says is to bring back her son. In the end Lae Choo gives up everything she has, her jewlrey and everything that she owns just so that she can get her son back. Lae Choo convinces a lawyer and after all the turmoil, Lae Choo is finally giver he son back, but her son no longer wants to be with her anymore.