Week 14 Project Action Plan: Love Reflected in "The Big Sleep" and "In the Land of the Free"

In realizing my final project had to include the text I chose to read, I have decided on the following project and choose the subject of love.

Then choose two selections and discuss how that subject is discussed in those selections. Use literary devices to help frame your discussion. 

The two selections I have chosen are "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler and "In the Land of the Free" by Edith Maud Eaton (Sui Sin Far).

Each of these to texts express the extent a mother, father, or even a sister would go for their child or sibling. 

Raymond Chandler uses a great deal of imagery within his writing. Every scene is very well described, you feel as if you have warped right into the scene. Lae Choo, mother in the story by Edith Eaton, finds herself in a paradox when her toddler is taken from her by the United States government and not returned for 10 months. 

"The Big Sleep" is written in the first person with the main character, Private Investigator Marlowe, narrating. "In the Land of the Free" is written in the third person. 

The plot of "The Big Sleep" involves a father hiring a private investigator to dig into the reason behind why the old man is being blackmailed. This father asks PI Marlowe for help instead of going to the police because a part of him knows both of his daughters are likely involved and may be in trouble. While the ending implies that the father did not know his daughters involvement in the blackmail, however, I think he did to an extent. The other side of the story is that of the older sister, Vivian, covering for her younger sister, Carmon. Vivian went to great lengths to ensure her sister would not get caught and eventually makes a deal with Marlowe to take her far away and hopefully get her some help. 

The plot of "In the Land of the Free" involves a Chinese family who has been established in San Francisco for many years. The wife, Lae Choo, had gone back to China to care (hospice) for  elderly parents. While in China, she gave birth to her son. Soon after, the parents passed from their illnesses and Lae Choo joins her husband, Hom Hing, on a journey back to San Francisco. Because they did not have papers proving the child was theirs, the government took the child and told them it would only be until the following day when they government could provide permission to them to bring the child over. This moment of having her child taken from her was a moment of intense agony which was exacerbated when the child was not returned the following day as promised, nor the day after or the day after that. The story continues for 10 months until the mother is reunited with her child. All of this effort and when the two are finally together again, the child does not recognize her and instead hides his head and cries for her to "Go 'way, go 'way!"

I think I can pull similarities between the two stories to make a solid final project. 

Please share any thoughts or ideas with me!!!

Many thanks!
Amanda