Individuality In Ha Jin's Taking A Husband

Most of the time, people rely on their own morals and beliefs to make the right decision. However, there are moments when certain conditions compromise a person’s individuality. Ha Jin’s and Ralph Ellison’s works do excellent portrayals of this exact scenario. In their stories, the protagonists find themselves dealing with circumstances where they choose to improve their social standings at the expense of losing their individuality.

In Ha Jin’s Taking a Husband, Hong Chen is a woman who must unwillingly marry. She may voice her disapproval towards her marriage arrangement but yields to the wishes of her mother. Ha Jin states that their lives have not been easy since the death of her father. Following that, Hong and Mrs. Chen lose their house

and no longer receive support from their friends. Therefore, her main reason for yielding is to gain social status. For picking her suitor, the deciding factor of the power either men can bring her ends up making her decision:
She resorts to drawing lots in order to choose, but then, to her dismay, finds that she has made the wrong choice by selecting the one who does not receive the coveted promotion for which the two suitors were vying. (Geyh, 2001, p. NA)
This is a great example of how Hong begins to sell out. Hong knows well enough just how much greater power is than anything else.
As Hong goes on, her actions continue to be made to meet her own personal gains. Ha Jin states that Hai’s matchmaker knows the Chens put off the list of gifts because they are waiting for the promotion explaining that power is better than money. The promotion does not turn out in favor of Hai. “On hearing that Feng Ping was the lucky one, both Mrs. Chen and her daughter burst out crying.” (Jin, 1997/2007, p. 391) After this, Hong becomes unreasonable in her actions. She begins to demand more. She adds more items to her list of gifts and asks for a big, and illegal, wedding ceremony claiming she is not easily won over. “In addition to eight dresses, six satin quilts, a TV set, a phoenix bicycle, a Shanghai watch, and other expensive items, Hong insisted on a large banquet, fifty tables at least.” (Jin, 1997/2007, p. 392) At the disapproval of her mother, Hong states that she will kill herself if she cannot live with Hai.
Loss of individuality due to personal gains continues in Battle Royal. A young African-American man receives an invitation by the most important people in his town to deliver his graduation speech. Going into the ballroom, the most important thing to him is his speech. Eventually, the opinions of the white men in the room become just as important. “The harder we fought the more threatening the men became. And yet, I had begun to worry about my speech again. How would it go? Would they recognize my ability? What would they give me?”(Ellison, 1952/2007, p. 508). On top of having the white men’s opinions of him become more influential than his own thoughts, this is also where he demonstrates interest in wanting to benefit from his current situation. This begins the path that leads the narrator to lose himself.
Ultimately, the narrator finally gets the opportunity to deliver his speech.

However at one point during his speech, he ends up saying “social equality” instead of “social responsibility.” This was the last chance the narrator has to redeem himself and stand up for what is right. He chooses not to, though. With that, he loses his individuality by conforming to the situation. “As the story ends, the narrator’s safety depends on his ability to remain literal, speaking safely-scripted words that illustrate his lack of power.” (Smith, 2001, p.NA). The narrator gets the award of a scholarship to a state college for his obedience throughout the night. Otherwise, if he did not participate in those cruel activities, it is certain that he would not receive the award. With this reward, however, the narrator will find himself at the command of those who award him the scholarship in the future.

Even though both of the protagonists end up getting something one way or another, their lives will now be effected in some manner. Though Hong Chen ends up marrying unwillingly, she ultimately finds some comfort in the man she chose. The narrator from Battle Royal may have gotten a scholarship to go to a state college, but everything he does will have to be met with the approval of the white men who award him the scholarship. So despite the riches one may receive by giving in to a situation, some aspect of their lives must be sacrificed as well. For one to find true happiness, it is better to follow their

heart.