Gathering of Pearls" Study Guide Questions - Ch. 11

Chapter 11

1.     Compare the two letters from home: how is the one from her mother different from the one from her sister? What does this show about these two women and their different viewpoints about life and about Sookan?

Sookan’s mother is very kind and wants Sookan to be happy. She is telling Sookan not to worry and to enjoy her life in America. She tells Sookan what is going on with her brothers, but she does not say anything to put more pressure on Sookan. It is not important to her mother that she follows Korean culture. It is important to her mother that Sookan be happy. The letter from her sister shows that her sister does not think about Sookan’s happiness at all. Her sister talks about how hard she is working in Korea. In her sister’s letter, her sister talks about how she is disappointed with Sookan because there are things about American culture that she likes. The sister told Sookan that she wanted her to share her feelings, but the sister did not approve of Sookan’ feelings. Sookan’s sister also wants her to send some things to her in Korea and does not care that Sookan has little money.