In this NPR's Book of the Day episode, author Ocean Vuong discusses his new novel, which centers on the friendship between a young Vietnamese college dropout and an elderly World War II survivor with dementia. Through this intergenerational relationship, Vuong explores themes of connection, isolation, and survival while challenging conventional narratives about the American Dream.
Drawing from his own experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant and his time living with an elderly woman, Vuong shares his perspective on working-class Americans, whom he describes as "survival artists." The conversation examines how shared struggles can bridge cultural and political divides, and how beauty can be found in life's difficulties—from daily work in fast-food restaurants to more challenging moments in slaughterhouses and personal struggles.
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Ocean Vuong's novel explores an unlikely friendship between Hai, a 19-year-old Vietnamese college dropout, and Graszyna, an 82-year-old World War II survivor with dementia. Through their relationship, Vuong examines how individuals from different backgrounds can find connection amid isolation, challenging traditional narratives of the American Dream while highlighting themes of resilience and survival.
The novel draws heavily from Vuong's personal experiences. As a 19-year-old college student, he lived with an elderly woman with dementia named Graszyna J. Vercellis, an experience that taught him the value of intergenerational bonds. His background as a Vietnamese immigrant in Hartford also shaped his understanding of working-class resilience, which he weaves throughout the narrative.
In his portrayal of fast-food restaurant workers, Vuong celebrates what he calls "Americans who dream" rather than the "American Dream." He describes these workers as "survival artists," emphasizing their ingenuity and problem-solving abilities. Vuong notes that personal connections formed through shared struggles often transcend political differences, creating what he terms a "kinetic kinship" among workers.
Vuong credits his grandmother and mother for teaching him to find wonder in all aspects of life, even its challenges. He approaches difficult subjects, such as scenes in a pig slaughterhouse or a character's relapse, with a sense of grace. Through his use of language, Vuong demonstrates his belief in the redeemable nature of every part of life, finding beauty in seemingly irredeemable moments.
1-Page Summary
"The Emperor of Gladness" is a poignant exploration of an unlikely friendship that transcends age and cultural backgrounds, illustrating universal themes of hardship, survival, and the search for connection.
The novel presents an unexpected bond between two survivors of war: Hai, a 19-year-old Vietnamese college dropout, and Graszyna, an 82-year-old grappling with dementia who fled the tyranny of Stalin during World War II. Despite the significant differences in their backgrounds, Hai and Graszyna's friendship becomes central to the narrative.
Ocean Vuong portrays Hai and Graszyna as quintessential figures in the tapestry of American experience, highlighting the country not just as a land of opportunity, but as a place where people can piece together their lives from the remains of violence and conflict. He casts both characters as symbolic debris from geopolitical upheavals. By focusing on the characters' resilience and their journey of rebuilding, Vuong disrupts the conventional narrative of the "American Dream."
The novel delves into themes of isolation and loneliness experienced by American youth and the elderly, particularly those who exist on the margins of society. Hai an ...
Themes and Characters in "the Emperor of Gladness"
The experiences of Ocean Vuong during his formative years have deeply influenced the narrative and characters in his novel.
Ocean Vuong shares a poignant chapter of his life that mirrors the deep intergenerational connections depicted in his novel. As a 19-year-old college student, Vuong faced housing instability and subsequently lived with Graszyna J. Vercellis, an elderly woman with dementia. During this time, Vuong learned the value of intergenerational bonds, reflecting on the often overlooked loneliness of both the young and old in America.
Vuong recognized the marginalization that comes with societal perceptions of inadequacy or obsolescence, particularly among the young and the elderly. His experience with Graszyna J. Vercellis taught him how these societal views could lead to isolation and loneliness, fueling a bond of mutual support similar to the relationship he shared with his own grandmother. These insights are evident in the character dynamics within his novel, where the nuance of age and connection ...
Vuong's Experiences That Informed the Novel
Ocean Vuong offers a profound perspective on the humanity and interconnectedness of working-class Americans, which he explores through characters in his novel who work at a Connecticut fast-food restaurant.
The novelist celebrates the dignity and spirit of fast-food employees by recognizing them as "Americans who dream." Vuong emphasizes their individual personas, talents, and vibrant human essence. The workers, according to Vuong, embody a unique artistry and resilience in facing daily life's trials.
In Vuong's perspective, these workers demonstrate the essence of "survival artists," bound together by the mutual labor they undertake daily. He admires their ingenuity and problem-solving abilities, qualities that forge a silent camaraderie known only to those united by enduring toil and reliance on each other.
Vuong has noted a "kinetic kinship" among fast-food workers, which, despite their potential ideological disparities, serve ...
Vuong's View on Working-Class Americans and Shared Humanity
Ocean Vuong offers a distinctive approach to unveiling the beauty intertwined with life’s hardest moments.
Ocean Vuong speaks about the role of language in exploring and expressing the duality of beauty and life's inherent ugliness. He elucidates how he can portray such harsh realities as a pig slaughterhouse or a character's relapse with a sense of grace, attributing this skill to his grandmother and mother. These matriarchs taught him to maintain a sense of wonder and to find awe in the various aspects of the world, even those that are challenging.
Vuong holds a strong belief in the redeemable nature of every part of life, no matter how ugly or seemingly irredeemable. ...
Vuong's Approach To Finding Beauty In Life's Difficulties
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