The Arrival by Shaun Tan, is a novel told through a series of illustrious black and white images. It depicts the journey of a man settling in a foreign country. The protagonist is leaving his country and his wife and daughter likely in hopes for a better future. The protagonist arrives at this new country and is an unfamiliar environment, barely able to communicate. The front cover symbolizes his bewilderment in the new environment as he stares at a strange animal baffled by it. This animal, which he meets once he finds an apartment, accompanies him throughout the novel. The protagonist’s inability to communicate is first shown in an amusing way when he is at customs and does not understand what he is being asked and gestures wildly with perplexing facial expressions.
The book shows many surreal things, such as the structure of the buildings, the animals, the language and the flying ships. These images stand to show the unfamiliarity immigrants often feel in a new country. The land itself seems odd. In this novel, Shaun Tan represents the story of many foreigners as they enter a new country when they are well acquainted with the language of and customs of the country. Everything seems new in a place unknown. To the protagonist, even the light bulb seems new as he lightly taps it not knowing what it is. Also, when he tries to put up a sign, he ends up putting it upside down as he is unable to read the words. This journey is not easy for him. However, with the kindness of strangers and other immigrants that he meets who have fled various difficult situations, he is able to get basic things such as food, and later on, a job.
The one thing that seems to keep the protagonist going even through his hardships is the remembrance of his family. Through the depiction of the man’s native country as being overshadowed by dragon tails, one can assume that the situation in his country is not safe. Therefore, even with the problems in his new country he continues to strive for better. He often looks at the portrait of his wife and daughter longingly and is visibly happy when they arrive. In the very end of the novel, the man’s daughter is shown giving directions to presumably a foreigner. This perfectly shows the cycle of a foreigner works: you enter the country as a foreigner and receive help from the natives of the country, settle down and become a native, and then serve as a guide to another foreigner.
