The Arrival

So this is my first post, of my first blog. I want to take a strong step forward and talk about The Arrival by Shaun Tan. This was a wonderful graphic novel. It is about a father traveling to a new country seeking a better life for his family, and the struggles there in. The illustrations are beautiful and the world is so interesting. I really enjoyed how the new country was strange to both the main character and the reader as it allowed me to share in the experiences with the character, rather than just reading about them. The lack of dialogue was a perfect choice to convey this feeling as well. It forced me to focus less on what they were saying and pay attention to what was being said.

The monsters that were terrorizing cities were also interesting. I found myself trying to figure out which oppressive force they represented in our own historical timeline. I believed that the timeline would be around the 1930s, and the monsters represented different terrors from World War II. I saw this most in the family that shares a meal with the Father. The image of the Giant Men, sucking up everything into flaming vats on their backs really made me think of the Nazi death camps, especially with how the couple escapes in secrecy during the night. However, the monsters I liked the most have to be the winding tails from the original city. They feel threatening and oppressive, yet not openly so. They represent to me the unrest bubbling under the surface, one that everybody knows about but no one mentions.

The cyclical ending of the tale was just how I wanted the tale to end. The Daughter giving directions to another new arrival really was just the right touch. It showed full adaptation to their new home, as well as showing how the cycle continues on. I also think that having the daughter give the directions gives a sense of hope as well, especially since the new arrival is also a young woman. It seems to be implying hope for the future, due to their ages and the act itself being a kind gesture.