Analytical Response

[Dylan]

I personally believe that the most interesting literary technique presented by John Chu in "The Water That Falls On You From Nowhere" is the water that falls on characters during their times of guilt or shame. It adds a sort of "magic realism" element to the story because all the other elements in the story are very realistic besides the fictitious water falling from nowhere on characters. This seems to only happen to them when they feel ashamed, such as when Matt is afraid to tell Gus the truth about how he has not told his parents about their homosexual love. Chu's portrayal of unrealistic elements such as water falling from above indoors adds an element to his writing that I don't think many writers can successfully pull off, let alone win a Hugo Award. The only part regarding the water that left me a bit dumbfounded was the fact that Matt did not get wet when he allowed Gus to leave the room at the end without confessing his love for him openly. Instead, he stays dry and waits for Gus to leave in order to say it aloud. This may express the overall fact that Matt does not feel guilty about his love for Gus, but his family's cultural background causes him to second guess his feelings about Matt as a whole.

In addition, John Chu exemplifies his extraordinary use of characterization during this short story. I believe that Matt is a very relatable character and his many struggles of being a homosexual Asian American man are exploited through many scenarios. His interactions with his own sister allow the reader to have some insight about the negativity that surrounds people who may not be considered the norm in some cultures. She never really takes into consideration what Matt wants to be happy, instead, she just pushes for him to find a nice Chinese woman to marry because that's what she thinks would be good for him, when it obviously would not be. I think the interaction with his mother towards the end of the story is the most vital portion of this entire piece. Knowing that she has known about the severity of he and Gus's relationship from the time they stepped through the door for their extended visit may have given Matt the confidence to finally jump all in with Gus and progress their relationship together. His love for Gus is evident, but his constant worry about public perception, particularly his sister's perception, is what holds Matt back. The ending leaves the reader a bit up in the air about what will happen to their relationship, but if I had to make an educated guess, Matt will finally overcome his insecurities regarding his sexual orientation and make the right choice to be with Gus despite his sister's desires. I'm sure that if his sister truly loves him, she will learn how to respect and accept her own brother for who he is as a person over time.