The Price of Indebtedness in May-Lee Chai’s Saving Sourdi

Whether stabbing a man with a paring injure or getting a friend to slug her sisters conserve in the face, Nea always manages to start trouble for her and her sister, Sourdi. She doesnt do it on purpose, its just that Nea go forth do anything to comfort her cured sister. The issue stems from when the family lived in their native Cambodia Nea was only four and Sourdi carried her across a minefield on her back. always since that moment, Nea has felt indebted to her elderlyer sister and has been determined to protect her at all in all costs. However, the costs seem to be high as her individualism has become tied to this nonion of debt.In May-Lee Chais Saving Sourdi, Neas identity is shape by her feeling of certificate of indebtedness to her sister Sourdi, which compromises her ability to grow and objectively see the world. The cause behind the storys central conflict lies in Neas subjection to Sourdi, which in turn was caused by a distant memory. Once upon a time, Nea recall s, Sourdi had walked across a minefield, carrying me on her back (Chai 140). With the terrible warf are background on the Khmer Rouge-era in Cambodia as an exposition, Nea recalls her sister Sourdi carrying her across a field by stepping on countless perfectly bodies to avoid the mines.This is something that Nea views as secret between just her and her sister, one she will never relegate to another soul. It is because of this unity incident that Nea vows to walk on drum and chemical decomposition reaction flesh to save Sourdi, which itself foreshadows events to come (Chai 140). It is this event that defines Nea and motivates her actions finishedout the story. It is because Neas identity is derived from this debt to her older sister that causes Nea to respond in such a haphazard manner.not only do her responses create tension in the story, but they move on develop Nea as a character. I would walk on bones for my sister, I vowed. I would put my bare feet on rotting flesh. I woul d save Sourdi(Chai 140). These words were spoken by Nea after Sourdi sacrificed herself to carry Nea by a treacherous mine field reeking with the stench of dead bodies. Only a few people in the story retire about this incident it is a highly guarded secret of Neas. This single incident defines Neas identity through out the story, which clarifies Nea as a unchanging character her identity never changes.From the time when these two young girls reached the States Nea always has Sourdis back, she is overly protective like that of an older sister which is humourous because she is the youngest daughter. Nea will always feel like her life was saved by Sourdi so she will do anything to repay her. Sourdi develops throughout the novel at first by being very brave, strong, and independent as she carriers her bollocks sister across of the mine field. It is almost as if that identity transferred from her to her young sister Nea.Sourdi does not speak up for herself when she disagrees with h er grow or Duke. She does not even try to put up a fight when her mother arranges her marriage. This classifies Sourdi as a very dyanmic character or round character. As a result of this, Nea has never really lived her life for herself. Everything that she has done and the decisions that she makes are based upon the events that occur in Sourdis life. This in turn leads to Neas inability to grow, because she is constantly caring and looking after her sister, instead of worrying about herself and locomote on with her own life.Because of these events Sourdi can be labeled as the resist to Neas charater in this story. Just like the examples that were given earlier, when Nea jumped up and stabbed the man that was hassling Sourdi at the restaurant, or when she and Duke went knocking on Sourdis door because they thought she was in trouble, all of the actions that Nea took were always a reflection of the situation that Sourdi was in at that lay moment. One of the major effects of Neas i dentity being tied to her indebtedness to her sister is that it clouds her ability to be objective.This leads her to make spur-of-the-moment decisions that may not be in her or Sourdis trounce intertest. One example took charge in the family restaurant at the beginning of the story. Sourdi was serving some old drunk men when one decided to put his arms well-nigh her. This immediately sent Nea into a blind rage in which she ran into the kitchen, grabbed the knife, and stabbed the man (Chai 131). Luckily, the knife she had grabbed was only a paring knife and it got caught in the mans sleeve of his jacket.Obviously, the girls mother became quite upset and apologized to the men while scold Nea. Nea, overcome with anger, had not stopped to consider the consequences of her actions. Had she actually injured the man, he could take for sued the restaurant and Nea could have faced criminal charges. Obviously, this was not the best way to handle the incident. This is again illustrated when Nea overhears a conversation between Sourdi and her mother. She becomes positive(p) that Sourdis new husband is abusive and convinces their mutual friend Duke to drive her to Sourdis sign of the zodiac in Des Moines.Upon their arrival, Duke, having only heard Neas interpretation of events, ran inside and punched Sourdis husband in the nose (Chai 142). Sourdis husband was surprisingly understanding about the enumerate and another disaster was narrowly avoided. However, the event still must have had a profound effect on Sourdi and her husbands home life. Again, it was Neas impetuous positioning and blind calling to protect her sister that led to the encounter. Ever since Sourdi carried Nea through that minefield on her back, Nea has been trying to find a way to repay her sisters kindness.However, as the years have passed, the protection of Sourdi has become a compulsion. She is consumed with her desire to protect her sister from combat injury without regard for the consequences. This has clouded Neas judgement and hindered her ability to objectively look at a situation. And, consequentially, her solution often causes more harm than the percieved threat she is fighting. Unless Nea can somehow overcome her need to protect her sister, she will never be able to live a normal and talented life. Maybe Sourdi is not the one who needs saving.