Shaun Tan’s novel The Arrival is a wordless graphic novel that depicts the journey of a migrant from an unnamed poor city to a new and fantastical one. The actual names of these places don’t matter because this story can apply to any immigration story. Its purpose is merely to create the tone of the experience of an immigrant from their perspective. Tan incorporates fantastical elements to strengthen the feeling of being in a foreign place.
The creature on the cover is one of the fictional characters that is present throughout throughout the book. When the immigrant moves into his home he feels lost and confused after a hard day and then he finds the creature. He sets it free but it stays on his window sill and keeps him company. This creature suddenly makes him feel less alone and acts kind of as his guide as he explores the new city he has found himself in. This creature is his companion that has dog like characteristics. It represents the friendliness that is possible in such a foreign place. Without exchanging any words, they have an understanding that they need each other. There is no need to speak the same language or even be the same species to become friends. This is apparent with the migrant’s other interactions with people throughout the book as he tries to learn the ways of this new city.
The publication page also represents a statement that Tan is making. It is a representation how diverse people are. The images seem to be identification photos similar to what an immigrant would have on their paperwork upon arrival in a new country. They all have their own identity and culture but they are all connected by the fact that they are people. Any two people can have a meaningful interaction even if they are very different or don’t share a common language. Because there are no words in this book one must infer the meaning of the illustrations. Based on the appearance of the people depicted in the publication page the differences between them are apparent. Despite these differences the book proves that we all share in the human experience and should not judge people only based on their appearance.
