In The Gangster We Are All Looking For by Thi Diem Thuy Le, the author uses manipulation of narrative structure and language to convey the fragmented and displaced experiences of Vietnamese refugees in America. Through the use of non-linear storytelling, poetic language, and a mix of English and Vietnamese, Le creates a sense of disorientation and loss that mirrors the experiences of her characters. This manipulation contributes to an interpretation of the work as a whole by emphasizing the cultural and personal conflicts that arise from the trauma of displacement and the difficulty of assimilating into a new culture.
One piece of evidence that supports this interpretation is the recurring motif of water and drowning throughout the novel. The protagonist and her family are forced to flee Vietnam by boat, and their dangerous journey across the ocean is described in vivid detail. The use of water as a metaphor for displacement and loss is further emphasized by the fragmented structure of the narrative, which jumps back and forth in time and blurs the lines between memories and present-day events. The language used to describe these experiences is also poetic and sensory, creating a dreamlike quality that emphasizes the characters' disorientation and feelings of being lost. Overall, this use of narrative manipulation contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological effects of displacement and the complexities of identity in a multicultural society.