Homebase: Analysis of Major Characters
"Homebase: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the life and experiences of Rainsford Chan, a fourth-generation Chinese American navigating his complex identity against the backdrop of personal loss and societal expectations. The narrative unfolds through Rainsford's perspective, primarily focusing on his childhood and adolescence marked by his father's and mother's deaths, which profoundly shape his sense of self and belonging. Rainsford grapples with his racial identity as he faces questions about his origins, reflecting broader themes of cultural dislocation and acceptance.
Throughout the story, Rainsford's relationships with his family—his adventurous father, nurturing mother, and supportive aunt—play crucial roles in his development. His father's adventurous spirit and his mother's floral artistry leave lasting impressions, while the influence of his grandfather's history on Angel Island provides deeper insights into his own struggles. Rainsford's interactions with peers at an all-white high school and his internal dreams serve as coping mechanisms against racial slurs and the pressures of adolescence. The narrative is rich with poetic language and symbolism, particularly in Rainsford's dreams and daydreams, which blur the line between reality and imagination, enhancing the exploration of his identity and emotional landscape. This introspective analysis invites readers to consider the multifaceted nature of identity, loss, and belonging in a culturally diverse context.
Homebase: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Shawn Hsu Wong
First published: 1979
Genre: Novel
Locale: Primarily Berkeley, San Francisco, and surrounding areas of California; and Guam
Plot: Domestic
Time: The 1950's and the 1960's
Rainsford Chan, a fourth-generation Chinese American, named for the town in California where his great-grandfather settled during the Gold Rush. It is through his eyes exclusively that the novel is told. The evocative, elusive narrative consists of interwoven flashbacks recalled by Rainsford as an adult. For most of the novel, he is having a difficult adolescence, marked by the death of his father and, eight years later, that of his mother. These losses are complicated with issues of racial identity: Although he was born in Wyoming and lived in Berkeley, people keep asking him where he is from “originally,” expecting “Hong Kong” for an answer because of his Asian features. At one point in the novel, Rainsford shamefully compares being a Chinese American to being a mutant. As a seven-year-old on Guam, Rainsford often goes to outdoor movies with his parents and keeps company with the many sailors on the island. His father gives him a Charlie McCarthy puppet that Rainsford calls “Freddy.” With it, Rainsford and his mother practice English and Chinese words. As the only Chinese student in an all-white high school, he letters five times in sports and is voted the most valuable player. His daydreams about committing heroic acts help him develop self-esteem and counteract the racial slurs he often experiences. His habit of dreaming helps him to claim a place in life.
“The Body,” the image that stands for all of America to Rainsford. He calls this illusory, blond-haired, whining character his “dream bride,” “the shadow,” and “the white ghost of all my love life.” Because much of the language in the book is highly poetic and many episodes have a dreamlike, illusory quality, it often is difficult to distinguish what really happened from what Rainsford only imagined. This is particularly important to bear in mind in passages that refer to this female entity. Rainsford identifies her as a “pilot” who lands his plane perfectly as he gives instructions from the ground, and as a lover to whom he gives his car, spurning her when she tells him to “go home.” These are examples of incidents that make more sense if they are perceived symbolically rather than literally.
Father, an adventurer who once tried to climb Mt. Shasta. Rainsford calls him a “man of journeys”; he covers a lot of territory by himself and in family trips. Rainsford feels the spirit of his father in all the journeys he himself takes, particularly in a canyon near Gold Run.
Mother, who owned a floral shop. She taught Rainsford how to construct exotic floral arrangements. The jade bracelet that she wears becomes an identifying and an endearing symbol to him. Her death when Rainsford is fifteen years old fills him with pity and loneliness. Being orphaned at that age affects him deeply.
Grandfather, who was born in San Francisco but sent to China for safety while his father worked on building a railroad in the Sierras. Eventually, he returned to Angel Island, where he almost died. At one point in the novel, the images of great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and Rainsford himself blur and merge so that they all seem to be the same man. Rainsford's visit to Angel Island at the end of the novel gives him a greater awareness of the violence and survival that his grandfather experienced. By association, he acquires a greater awareness of himself.
Uncle, the husband of Rainsford's mother's sister, a physician and absentminded driver. Rainsford, after his mother's death, moves to Uncle's home in a small town in California, near the ocean.
Aunt, Rainsford's mother's oldest sister. She is enthusiastic about Rainsford's future and wants to do the best for him. Rainsford worked in her children's shop, sweeping floors and doing odd jobs.