ALTHOUGH HOME is often regarded as the place you were born and raised, the concept of one’s true home is much more complex. Home is a place of comfort and strong bonds. However, this may not be the case for all; some people are still treated as foreigners in their own birth countries. Barriers created by race and culture lead to a lack of a genuine sense of belonging and strong connections to their community. Suki Kim’s novel The Interpreter insightfully reveals this reality of Korean-American immigrants who never feel at home.

Discrimination in positive stereotypes

   Whether they are true or not, stereotypes of Asians prevail in Western society. Asians are often said to be naturally good at math, obedient and hard-working. While this may set positive surface-level impressions of Asians, it pressures Asian Americans to meet these expectations or feel inadequate otherwise. For example, even though the stereotype that Asians are good at math acknowledges their merits, it asserts that the reason they are skilled is simply because they are Asian, understating the efforts they put in behind the scenes. These discriminatory undertones are not always noticeable on the surface thus, it is important to stay conscious of such words and their implications.

   The characterization of the protagonist Suzy demonstrates how “good stereotypes” can put pressure on an individual. Her parents force her to embrace the social expectations of a Korean girl, and even Suzy herself idolizes her intelligent and reserved sister who better meets such expectations. The persistent pressure to hold certain “Korean" characteristics made her feel incompetent and alienated from society. She is constantly reminded that she is not enough. To feel a sense of belonging in society, acceptance in the family must come first. However, Suzy, who is not a perfect Korean daughter, is implicitly rejected and never learns the comfort that family and home can give. She incorrectly blames conservative Korean traditional values, which caused her to believe that rejecting her Korean heritage would help her blend into the primarily white society[1].

   To truly honor diversity and achieve equality, individual efforts must ensure that no one is culturally or socially marginalized. “Good stereotypes” forced upon minority groups must be rejected; Asian Americans are a diverse group consisting of many different individuals, and the generalization of this huge group certainly has its limitations. Instead of perpetuating these prejudices, attaining an open mind is the key to a diverse and accepting society.

Ambiguity in Suzy’s job and her dual identity

   Suzy works as a Korean-English interpreter, which reinforces her confusion about her dual identity. Her role is to facilitate trials in court by interpreting for attendees who speak limited English but fluent Korean. She must remain detached from the case and maintain objectivity, translating the language simply to aid communication. Ironically, interpreting the language involves more than just translating as it often requires her to bridge the two cultures beyond the language. This is exemplified when Suzy encounters a car accident case where the victim was a Korean immigrant. She has to fill in the cultural gap by explaining that the victim had refused medical attention at the scene of the accident because of the Korean cultural tendency to downplay unpleasant situations, which is rooted in Confucianism. While she must not express her own opinions regarding the case, she has a duty to clear this cultural misunderstanding. The standards of objectivity become ambiguous; it is unclear to what extent she should interpret the case. In this sense, she faces a dilemma because whichever one she chooses, the discomfort of not choosing the other inevitably follows.

   Suzy’s journey addresses identity crisis issues that multicultural people often face. She was born and raised in the United States which guarantees her U.S. citizenship. She is fluent in English and is familiar with Western culture. However, the lifestyle and values she acquired in a conservative Korean family contradict what she learns from a white-dominated society. As a result, her two identities clash. Her father restricting her from freely exploring and learning about herself, especially in her teenage years, later cause the absence of a solid identity in adulthood. This makes it difficult to blend into American society, yet she is not familiar enough with Korean culture to feel connected to Korea. Ambiguity arises here along with Suzy’s in-between state, which reflects the marginalized position of multicultural people.

   As they are both too ambiguous to distinguish, the two features overlap. Whether she remains objective is subjective depending on how one perceives her role and how much she should cover as the interpreter. There is no clear indication of this because a mere translation of the language may end up having different implications, hindering communication. Similarly, whether she defines herself as Korean or American depends solely on one’s perception.

The line that Suzy can never go beyond

   Suzy ultimately realizes the stark reality of the glass ceiling where “the line had been marked from the beginning[2].” She feels that she can never become like one of the white Americans and that there is a point she cannot reach as a “forever foreigner.” This is a perfect example of the glass ceiling, which is the invisible social barrier preventing people of minority groups from acquiring a respectable social position regardless of their ability.

   Readers may expect the protagonist to break this glass ceiling, but Suzy accepts her unstable position as a Korean American. This way, she overcomes her dilemma as she establishes her own hybrid identity without feeling the pressure to fill the gap between her two worlds. It is a refreshing approach to overcoming her struggle by no longer perceiving it as an issue she must deal with. Simultaneously, it portrays a realistic but unfortunate image of Asian Americans constantly having to accept their powerless position in the stubborn society.

   While the novel depicts the realistic life of an immigrant, it implicitly undermines the need for the change required on a societal level. By depicting Suzy overcoming her hardships on her own, it leaves the struggles of Asian Americans for them to deal with by themselves. Furthermore, its message can be interpreted in support of the model minority myth which argues that Asians are competent enough to not need any social or economic support from society. Instead, what is needed is the acceptance and acknowledgement of diversity. The race that is seen on the surface tells so little about individuals and, consequently, the inferences based on race alone are invalid.

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   Kim enlightens readers with her realistic portrayal of the “American Dream” being merely no more than a dream. This convinces them to see the frank reality of immigrants through a multicultural lens. As the ending proposes that it is a matter that can be overcome by one’s determination, it touches less on the problematic societal structures—which must change through the acceptance of diversity. The complex issues of racism and unacceptance will remain without a radical change in the social atmosphere. It is only through individual effort that an ideal society ensuring one’s “true home” will become an attainable goal.

[1] Translating Korean American Life: Suki Kim’s The Interpreter

[2] The Interpreter