Throughout Shaun Tan’s illustrative book, The Arrival, the author indicates a tale of immigrants coming to America for the first time. What they expect to see when they arrive is unclear to them. Most hope for opportunity to come their way, while others do it because the suffering in their native countries is unbearable. Either way, many of these immigrants felt they didn’t have a choice but to leave. It wasn’t something they wanted, but rather what they must do to survive or prosper. In retrospect, they were weary about coming over in the first place, and now they can’t turn back.
One of my favorite biblical stories is that of Lot and his wife. When God orders them to leave the city of sin, they are also instructed not to look back. Lot listened to his Lord’s orders while his wife made the mistake of glancing back, resulting in her turning to a pillar of salt. Some may argue that she peeked behind her because she felt nostalgic towards her prior hometown. How could anyone blame her? In the case of the immigrants who flooded New York Harbor in the early 20th century, they didn’t have an omnipotent being advising them not to look back. However, when the immigrants glared back, all they can see is the ship that brought them from their homeland.
On the title page, a square picture of a man with a hat is displayed. He is a good example of looking back, as the reader cannot view his face – his head is turned away facing what was behind him. The other page that includes the publishing information has such information inscribed on an inspection certificate. One that would resemble what an immigrant would receive on Ellis Island. Graphic designs pierce the page to create an aesthetically antique look.
All in all, the immigrants may not have wanted to come to America. Their decisions were based on their need to live or their desire to succeed. Some came with hopes of going back, although rare, this was their dream. And America provided them with a way to achieve such a dream.
