“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free The wretched refuse of your teeming shore Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
The poem, written in 1883, was a result of the inspiration that Lazarus received from the Statue of Liberty. In her opinion, the statue was “The New Colossus” (The Old Colossus is the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and a statue of the Greek Titan Helios that stood at the entrance of the harbor of the island Rhodes). She saw Lady Liberty as a motherly figure that welcomed the immigrants – those who were tired and poor – to the New World. As they entered in the hopes of finding a better life filled with more opportunities, Lazarus says that the Statue of Liberty lifted her torch to guide them and reassure them that the world they left behind is nothing compared to what lies ahead.
I couldn’t help but notice a similarity in the Colossus of Rhodes and “The New Colossus” to Tan’s illustration of the immigrants reaching the harbor that I have appropriately named “The Newer Colossus.” In the picture, there is a structure at the entrance to the city of what appears to be two men leaning in to greet each other with a handshake. They have different hats on, are holding different animals, and are carrying different structures in the boats that they are on, but they have still managed to come together to shake each others hand. This brotherhood and togetherness is what made that new city so appealing to the man in The Arrival, and what makes America so appealing to immigrants from all over the world. In the story, the man has trouble at first with understanding the new world that he has been thrown into. Fortunately, with the help of the young girl, the family, and the elderly man that he meets, he is able to adjust and learn more about the city’s way of life. They all had their own unique stories to tell, just like Americans who come from different backgrounds, but those differences did not and still do not affect the ability to unite and help each other. It is this constant dependency on each other to succeed and be protected that makes the immigration process to America and the New World in The Arrival unlike any other. For what would life be without our brothers and sisters?
I completely agree that America does possess a certain grandeur that attracts any immigrants. The Statue of Liberty and the image you posted are all, in my opinion, explicit signs that allure immigrants. I also acquiesce with your statement that immigrating to the U.S. is a unique experience, but I believe it is unique in a negative manner. For most people who immigrate to the U.S. in search of a better life, the real America becomes a nightmare as opposed to a heaven. As soon as one steps into American soil, he/she is forced to the bitter realization that even in America, the wealthiest nation in the world, poverty exists and can affect anyone. Eventually, they learn the terrifying truth that it is this fear that drives people to work beyond their normal limitations.