They said I looked like a foreign devil; they said I spoke like a foreign devil. I made mistakes in manners, and I didn't know delicacies that had grown up since my father left. They wouldn't have me. You can believe it or not - I'm less foreign here than I was in China.
In "East of Eden," the narrator reflects on the feelings of alienation and cultural disconnection experienced when returning to a familiar environment after a long absence. Despite being born in China, the narrator is treated as an outsider, revealing the complexities of identity and belonging. The locals' harsh judgment highlights the challenges of adapting to changes that have occurred over time, which further deepens the sense of being out of place.
...