Essay Questions

Why is Alice depressed with life?

When Huyen leaves to live with her daughter, Alice is commanded by her mother to take care of her siblings. Alice must balance between going to school and attending to her younger siblings. Unfortunately, a few days later, Alice learns that Huyen Thai is dead, which breaks her heart. Huyen was the closest person who shared a lot with Alice. Alice falls into depression, and she is taken to the hospital, but she refuses to take the depression pills. Towards the end of the memoir, the reader learns that Alice manages to overcome depression and fears because she leads a happy life after that.

How does Alice express her interest in having a sexual relationship with Michael?

Alice is deeply in love with Michael, the boy she meets at the university. As time goes by, Alice gets aroused to have sex with Michael, but she does not know how to express her feelings. Alice comes up with a tactic, and she puts three unopened packed condoms in Michael's book. When Michael opens the book, she is sure that the condoms will symbolize her intentions to have sex with him.

What is the significance of the character, Huyen Thai, in the memoir 'Unpolished Gem'?

Alice Pung reflects on her life, and Huyen Thai emerges as one of the most influential characters. Huyen Thai is Alice's grandmother, and they both live in Australia as immigrants from China. Alice's father, Kuan, is a busy man working in the factory, while her mother, Kien, is a housewife. However, Kien is a lone ranger woman who does not like associating with her daughter and mother in law. However, Alice and her grandmother Huyen are very close, and they share a lot. Huyen tells Alice stories about China and convinces her not to abandon the Chinese culture. Consequently, Huyen Thai is a significant character because she does not want her granddaughter to leave her culture. Sticking to her culture, Alice ends up developing a strong sense of identity.