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Solomon Lo

Ms. Mann

AP English Literature and Composition - Block 2

29 March 2019

Annotated Bibliography--​Native Speaker

Berghegger, Scott. “Henry Parks Identity through Selves and Space in Native ...” ​Social Sciences, Arts,

& Humanities​, Inquiries Journal/Student Pulse LLC, 2009,

www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/22/henry-parks-identity-through-selves-and-space-in-native-spe

aker.

Berghegger conveys how Henry Park has to face a dilemma as an Asian-American, where

his different backgrounds conflict and make it difficult for him to completely fit into either

his Korean background or the white culture that he is surrounded by. Most importantly, it

shows how difficult, if not impossible, it is to completely maintain one’s cultural heritage

while fully assimilating into another culture. Berghegger writes to an audience that is

curious in learning about Henry’s character dynamic through ​Native Speaker​, and how

Henry’s attempts to assimilate have affected his culture. He emphasizes the identity crisis

that Henry experiences, as he has to decide on exactly how he wants to balance the Korean

and American aspects of his culture. While the author does have to make certain

assumptions to come to his conclusion, as the novel isn’t very detailed in describing

Henry’s inner conflict, he does provide valuable insight into Henry’s immigrant

experience. As a result, I was able to use this source to back up my claims about Henry

not being able to successfully find a middle ground to preserve his Korean heritage and

white culture at the same time.

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Bhat, Shafayat Hussain, and Showkat Ahmad Naik. “Negotiating Multiple Identities in Chang Rae Lee's

Native Speaker.” ​BODHI: International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science​,

vol. 2, no. 6, Mar. 2018, pp. 49–54.​Center for Resource, Research and Publication Services​.

Bhatt and Showkat analyze how Henry’s two different backgrounds as both a

second-generation Korean-American and someone who has to work in a predominantly

white American society causes him to have an identity crisis. It elucidates on how Henry

has to balance these two identities in order to not lose his Korean self-identity, but also

appear to be assimilated enough to be trusted and treated without discrimination in

society. Through textual evidence and deductions from Henry’s actions, the authors

closely analyzes each side of Henry’s identity. They also explore the impossibility of fully

conforming to both sides of Henry’s identity at the same time, and illustrate the difficulties

that this causes. I use this source as evidence in how difficult it is to fully assimilate into

American society, drawing on the credibility of the authors and the quality of their

analysis to support my argument.

Cooper, Rand Richards. “Excess Identities.” ​The New York Times,​ The New York Times, 9 Apr. 1995,

www.nytimes.com/1995/04/09/books/excess-identities.html.

Cooper uses the article to provide a brief overview of ​Native Speaker​, and does some

surface level analysis into the novel to show how it conveys the different identities that

immigrants must decide face as a result of their background. By analyzing different

scenes in the novel, as well as the purpose behind the inclusion of these scenes, Cooper

digs into the symbolism and imagery that the novel contains to find a deeper meaning.

However, the author is forced to make certain assumptions based on the imagery, since the

meaning can only be implied, and Chang-Rae Lee hasn’t stated any definitive meanings to

them. I used this source as evidence to how several instances of clever imagery are
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included in ​Native Speaker,​ offering them as evidence to why the novel should be

considered as a literary classic.

Engles, Tim. “‘Visions of Me in the Whitest Raw Light’: Assimilation and Doxic Whiteness in

Chang-Rae Lee's Native Speaker.’” ​Faculty Research & Creative Activity,​ vol. 4, no. 2, July

1997, pp. 27–48., doi:10.2307/468145.

Engles elaborates on the interaction between white American culture as well as Henry’s

Korean background this journal publication about ​Native Speaker​. He explains how

Henry’s relationships with Lelia, other white Americans, and his Korean father all play a

role in creating a unique identity for Henry that’s a mix of several different cultures. He

also portrays the several instances that occur where Henry encounters a situation that

alienates him from all the different cultures, since he’s too American to relate to his

Korean father, but too Korean to completely relate to the other white Americans that he

knows. Engles emphasizes the differences that these cultures have from each other, and

how it causes difficulties when Henry tries to relate to only one specific culture, since his

mixed background prevents him from completely conforming to any one culture. As a

researcher, this source gave me an analysis from a credible source of the dynamics that

played a role in Henry’s character interactions, and fit into my argument how hard it is for

immigrants to completely relate to their new culture or their native culture once they try to

assimilate.

Quan, Kenneth. “Interview with Chang-Rae Lee.” ​UCLA Asia Pacific Center,​ UC Regents, 21 May

2004, www.international.ucla.edu/asia/article/11432.

This interview by Quan illustrates some of the background motives behind Chang-Rae

Lee’s works. It also explains some of the details for ​Native Speaker​ and why they’re

included inside of the novel, along with whether or not they relate to Chang-Rae Lee’s
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actual life. It provides some insight into how language is used in the novel, and the power

that it gives the characters in the novel. However, this interview may be biased because

Chang-Rae Lee’s ultimate goal from this interview is to create more publicity for his

works, which motivates him to emphasize the positive aspects and downplay the negative

aspects of his works. I used this source to reinforce how even the subtle details of the

novel have meaning, along with how Henry’s occupation as a spy has a greater meaning

than simply just being a way to make a living for Henry.