The setting in Z.Z. Packer's story "Geese", was very important in understanding what the character went through by being a foreigner in Japan. Especially an American, African-american in Japan. Describing the setting down to the looks the native Japanese projected onto Dina, merely for her looks, because she stood out from the rest. Dina struggled immensely to lead a normal life, the Japanese looked down on her for her color, and at one point even made reference that the Japanese already look down on blacks and only see them fit for custodial jobs and cleaning or assume that they have a criminal background. Once Dina was out of the job at the water park, she had no luck in finding a job that was not custodial work, that she felt she deserved. Dina lived in a house with multiple people that were from all over who also had no luck and finding and keeping jobs. They were so broke through out the story they went with eating very little and having to steal for the things that they did have. Making their faces known around all the local stores because they had all gotten caught at some point shop lifting. The setting set the tone, for me to feel bad for Dina and the others, especially when she got to the point where she gave in to selling herself for money for food. That is something that I wish no one ever had to do, but with all the details from the setting Packer wrote I could see how Dina thought she had no other option to survive.
Mythology is in our everyday lives, the entire story of our own lives is our myth. That doesn't necessarily mean that myths pertain to the literal part of our lives, but more so in how we experience events, such as our emotional reactions, and perceptions. Every time someone has asked me "what happened?", I construct a story in response around the event that has taken place, all of my memories are stories, that can be told to not only portray an event but to find meaning in what happened. I also have "heroes" in my life, my dad being the biggest one. I've always looked up to him and I am so thankful for everything he does and continues to do for me every single day. He instilled in my many things that have stayed with me, he passed on his own mythological elements in my upbringing. As mentioned in previous blog post, I moved down to GA from MD, and that was a huge part in writing my own story, my own myth, and has shaped me even more. That was an emotion...
I agree with everything you said! This story is so sad, but they all did what they had to do.
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