The Difficulties of Assimilation Theme Analysis

In “In the American Society,” the Chang family contends with two opposing forces: the drive to assimilate into American life and the impulse to respect Chinese customs. Ralph Chang, a Chinese immigrant (and the narrator Callie’s father), takes over a pancake shop in hopes of saving money for his daughters’ college educations. His business quickly succeeds, and the Changs become wealthy. Before long, however, tensions arise between Mr. Chang and his employees as he tries to make Chinese practices work within an American context. Because Mrs. Chang is more highly assimilated than her husband, having already worked her way up to a managerial position at the supermarket where she’s employed, she wavers between acceptance of and frustration at Mr. Chang’s loyalty to Chinese customs. When he insists on doling out extra paychecks to employees in need, Mrs. Chang either sighs and tells her daughters, “‘Your father thinks this is still China,’” or becomes incensed by his charity, yelling “‘But this here is the U—S—of—A!’”

Mr. Chang’s allegiance to Chinese customs continues to affect his American business. He wants his employees to help him around his house, asking them to “fix radiators and trim hedges,” as loyal employees might have done in China. Feeling that they’re being treated like servants, his workers quit. Mr. Chang then hires fellow immigrants, who reveal they don’t have work permits. When they get arrested, Mr. Chang’s sense of loyalty leads him to pay his employees’ bail; however, they flee without fully paying him back, citing their fear of the American legal system. Mr. Chang’s difficulty reconciling his Chinese customs with American expectations culminates in the story’s final party scene. The rude, all-American Jeremy Brothers publicly humiliates Mr. Chang, whose family comes to his side before ditching the party with him for the pancake shop. This final gesture in “The American Society” implies that assimilating into American life—whether by running a successful business or joining a country club—does not shield immigrants like the Changs from hardship and discrimination. Indeed, Mr. Chang’s experiences throughout the story suggest that no matter how materially successful he becomes, he continues to be caught between Chinese and American cultural expectations. Ultimately, this culture clash will prevent him from assimilating fully.