Abigail Philip
Dr. J Elizabeth Clark
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
4/4/07
Discussion Questions
The two cultures
1. I feel the author was evenhanded in her presentation of Hmong culture and
medical culture because it seems as though she tried really hard to get all sides
and perspectives that had to do with both cultures.
2. The book contains many Hmong phrases and many medical phrases, both
unfamiliar to most readers. I think that the author included them because she still
wanted us to see the differences in the both cultures and the way in which the
language was spoken, once again showing an even presentation to us the readers
giving us a better understanding.
3. Over the centuries, the Hmong fought against many different peoples who
claimed sovereignty over the islands. The role that this tumultuous history played
in the formation of the Hmong culture is because they had endured so much
throughout the years, with them having to fight and travel together very closely
they are a more closer group than most other cultures I believe because we see in
the book how the Hmong stuck together and they all tried assist the Lee’s as much
as possible with Lia.
4. The Hmong folktale about how Shee Yee fought with nine evil dab brothers, told
at the end of Chapter Twelve, reflects the Hmong culture by showing how they
never gave up and how no matter what obstacle they faced that they would always
find a way to assimilate and conquer. This also showed the determination of the
Hmong and how they’re very fierce when dealing with their enemy, I think also
that they are very smart in their own way because in this story no matter what
Shee Yee was faced with she always was very smart as to what her next move
would be and in the end she was successful.
5. The traditional Hmong considered their immediate family, their extended family,
clan and religion their most important duties and obligations. The American
doctors consider their jobs, money, medicine, and their family their most
important duties and obligations.
6. In chapter 18, Fadiman writes, “As William Osler said-or is said to have said- Ask
not what disease the person has, but rather what person the disease has.” The
events of this book may have unfolded differently if Osler’s dictum were
universally followed in the medical profession because then the Lee’s would not
have received such an intensive support base and treatment from the hospital staff
because they aren’t “American” they would have been seen as immigrants who
didn’t speak the language and then therefore according to his dictum they
wouldn’t have received the help they needed. This would have most likely
happened to me also because although I’m American, I am not rich nor would I
most likely receive the attention required based on his dictum.
7. In matters of attitude, the average American doctor could learn how to really
spend time with a patient, and how to have patience when dealing with people
from the txiv neeb (shaman) they would also learn how to incorporate religion
and spirituality into their practices and perhaps herbs. A txiv neeb may learn how
to use some of the medicine that the doctors use today to heal some of their
patients.
8. I think the writer would have answered the questions “what is a good doctor?”
and “what is a good parent?” by saying a doctor who is willing to do everything in
his power and knowledge to assist their patient and a good parent would be
someone who looks after their child and puts their best interest first, and this
would also be my general definition of what both of these things are.
9. At the end of chapter 18, Sukey Waller asks, “which is more important, the life or
the soul?” I think that the soul is more important because of my religious beliefs it
is a somewhat difficult question to answer but I would say the soul because while
life can end, the soul has to be right to find favor with god because there is life
after death.
The Characters
10. I think that I know Lia Lee to some degree because much of her life and
experiences are apart of the book. We knew what her life was like at home with
the foster family and at the hospital. I believe that even though she cannot walk or
talk she is a person of value because she is a constant reminder to the doctors, the
legal system and the Hmong what the cultural and medical differences can cause.
11. In chapter 8 when Foua says “I miss having something that really belongs to
me.” She has lost her free spirit and having the chance to do whatever she wants
to do. In America she is restricted by not only the language barrier but also how
different it is from her homeland. I do not think there is anything still that “really
belongs to her.
12. I feel that the Lees’ reluctance to give Lia her medicine as prescribed is
understandable because they were not aware of how serious Lia’s seizures were.
They also were not accustomed to dealing with illnesses by taking medicine and
when they did try to administer the medicine they saw their daughter’s reaction to
the medicine and they believed genuinely that she was being hurt. I can
understand their motivation and I do sympathize with it.
13. The reason why the message of Neil Ernest didn’t get through to the Lees’ was
because of the language and cultural barriers. In the United States there are certain
things a parent has to do especially if a doctor suggests it, and then if it isn’t done
and it’s a life threatening then the parents can be charged with negligence and the
child can be taken away. If I was Neil I would feel this way too because your at a
point where drastic measures are called for to do something you think is right.
14. In chapter 15, Foua, who has heard that one of the Ernest sons has leukemia,
embraces Peggy. After all the conflict between them, they are finally able to
resolve their differences because Foua knows what it’s like to have grief over a
sick child and she empathized with them. I don’t think this could have happened
earlier because this brought out both motherly intentions and how a child can
bring people together.
15. If I had lived in Merced I would choose Neil and Peggy as my children’s
pediatricians because based on what I read in the book they were very dedicated
to Lia and went above and beyond the call of duty and I would want that also for
my child.
16. The difference between a cultural broker and an interpreter I think is an
interpreter is just someone who translates the words while a cultural broker is
someone who interprets and explains the culture to the person. May Ying’s
contributions to the book were very great.
17. I was surprised by the amount of care and affection given to Lia by her foster
parents. Lia’s foster parents loved and respected both Foua and Nao Kao. Foster
care was ultimately supposed to be for her benefit but turned out to be her
detriment because she experienced more seizures in foster care than when she was
with her parents.
18. The only American who fully won the Lees’ trust was Jeanine Hilt, their social
worker. The reason why Jeanine succeeded where so many had failed was
because she genuinely wanted to know and learn about the Hmong and the Lees’
she wasn’t judgmental at all and the Lees’ saw this and liked her.
19. The book contains sections on Hmong leaders. They taught Fadiman that there are
Hmong who are successful and have assimilated into the American culture.
The Writing
20. This book may have been different if it had been written by a Hmong, a doctor or
an anthropologist individually because it would have only had their opinion and
their point of view. Whereas Fadiman addressed everyone’s point of view.
21. From a writers point of view the advantages and disadvantages of being an
outsider in the two cultures Fadiman explores are she gets to learn more about
both cultures and then would have to form her own opinions about what she
thinks.
22. I think the author chose the long and difficult title because there is so much
explanation beyond the title and it is a very significant and suitable title. It also
has a very dear meaning and religious one to the Hmong and this may be a
dedication to that.
23. To be honest I really don’t know why the author structured the book this way I
hadn’t observed it myself. Do you have an idea why?
24. The concept of “fish soup” and how it is reflected in the book is that “he world is
full of things that may not be connected but actually are; that no events occurs in
isolation.” This might mean that although the Hmong and the doctors are
different, they are actually connected.
25. Some other ways that she could use may be to address them by their first names.
26. Many readers have commented that the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is
a book without villains. I think that from a literary point of view this is not a flaw
because without an obvious villain in the book there were still a lot of controversy
surrounding who was right and who was wrong and who knew the best thing for
Lia.