Sam Lee Wong

At Home in a Strange Place The Prairies are often portrayed as cold, lonely and harsh landscapes. The people of the prairies are often depicted in the literature as strong and enduring but with a genuine frailty. The stories of Gabrielle Roy take no exception to this trend. Prairie inhabitants are often viewed as bored and isolated persons, tucked away from excitement. Gabrielle Roy’s short stories “Where Will You Go, Sam Lee Wong?”, “A Tramp at the Door” and “Hoodoo Valley”, explore prairie dwellers in difficult landscapes surviving their isolation because of the friendships and connections that help them through, but more importantly, the objects or landscapes that remind them of their past and allow them to move forward. These reminders
Sam Lee Wong lives shut away in his restaurant that doubles as his home. He is hard working and desperate to make his restaurant a success. Sam Lee Wong wants so badly to make life work in his newfound home. He soon befriends a town outcast named Smouillya, and together they find friendship and companionship in the harsh and lonely prairie town they call home. Sam Lee Wong lives a lifetime inside his little restaurant. He sees change and growth through his patrons and out the big glass window at the front of his store. Shortly after arriving, Sam Lee Wong learns that life in the prairies is often difficult and harsh. The cold winter months and intense heat of the summer are hard and difficult to deal with; however, Sam Lee Wong is strong and resilient but often portraying an image of frailty. The windows of Sam Lee Wong’s store allow others a look inside at the curious little Chinese immigrant they now share their town with but these windows also allow Sam Lee Wong a look at the outside world. He lives his life behind this window but is often transported beyond its panes of glass. He looks to the hills in the distance and sees another life, a past life. He is reminded of his time before the
The time passes and they “no longer talked of him, but thought of him often, each of [them] , in the evening when a shadow grew long on the road outside” (31). The Trudeaus are dealing with the continuity of a life shut away, a life of quiet, cold, isolated, prairie life. Albertine, the female head of house, remained somewhat distant with the tramp while he stayed with the family; However, after feeling the loss of Gustave and his vibrant stories that seemed to transport the family outside of their prairie home, she comes to realize the fond thoughts and feelings he instilled in her. She could feel his absence. Gustave represents Albertine`s window to the rest of the world. Gustave’s stories took Albertine to places she had never been and introduced her to people she had never met. After the tramp returns and in his delirium confesses his ploy. Upon further investigation by Arthur, the Trudeau`s realize they have been played for fools by a con-man. Albertine, however, finally understanding Gustave`s statement ``Come now! Who`s related to who? There`s a question: where is starts, where it stops, who knows? ” (20). For Albertine, the tramp is fun and interesting. Albertine ends Gustave`s visit with the care and familiarity reserved for family and friends, shouting “Take care! Take good care…Cousin Gustave!”