Joyce Wu 

Research Prospectus

English 1121 (Prof. Scanlan)

May 3, 2020

“A Good Fall”

 

  1. The short story I chose is “A Good Fall,” by Ha Jin. I like this story because Ganchin went through many challenges in his life. We met two friends of his, Fanku and Cindy. Seeing Ganchin coming to New York and working extremely hard made me feel empathy when he went and asked for his pay because he needed money. Master Zong refused to believe he deserved the salary and kept pushing him to go back to his country. He never encouraged him, but his friends and people he met along the way were great mentors and stabilized him. Therefore, I find this story to be inspiring and motivating to readers who might know someone or is going through similar situations in life to never give up.
  2. Ganchin works at a temple in Flushing,New York and being a monk wasn’t easy for him. He struggles to be financially stable or even to have money. Fortunately enough Fanku let him stay over at the place and took care of him. Although, he did let Master Zong and emotions get in the way of wanting to kill himself. It didn’t work out in the end and he came to a realization that there are people who care about him. 
  3. Main Characters:
  • Ganchin- He is a monk and kung fu teacher.

The choice/decisions he made was living at a friends house, escape from Master Zong when he was kidnapping him to the airport and attempting to sucide afterwards. 

  • Cindy- She was once a student back at his monastery and kungfu school in Tianjin City and learned martial arts. She works as a flight attendant.

The choices/decisions she made was helping Ganchin by providing advice, offering him to stay at her place and even getting two lawyers for him at the end.

  • Fanku- in the story stated “not really Ganchin’s friend”, however was the friend that let Ganchin stay over at his house. He worked as a line cook and met at a spring festival celebration. 

The choices/decisions he made was supplying him with food and a place to stay and even some money when he was struggling financially himself. He betrays him by telling Master Zong.

  • Master Zong- He was the boss of Ganchin and is very controlling and selfish. 

The choices/decisions he made was firing Ganchin, keeping his passport, not giving his pay, and dragging him out of the house to go to the airport.

 

  1. Ethics they follow:
  • Ganchin- Virtue, Deontology, and Global
  • Cindy- Utilitarian, Global, and Virtue
  • Fanku- Utilitarian and Deontology 
  • Master Zong- Ultiltrain