From Times and Places by Emily Hahn

 2/27

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From Times and Places by Emily Hahn

“Though I had always wanted to be an opium addict, I can’t claim that as the reason I went to China. The opium ambition dates back to that obscure period of childhood when I wanted to be a lot of other things, too–the greatest expert on ghosts, the world’s best ice skater, the champion lion tamer, you know the kind of thing. But by the time I went to China I was grown up, and all those dreams were forgotten” (344). 

Reading this passage is difficult, but not in the way it was difficult to read the others. In other excerpts we had to read about child loss, torture, and pain that the female authors could not avoid or prevent. Here, Emily Hahn actively chooses to become an addict, although she believes she is not an addict and can stop anytime (350). While reading, you wish to stop the author and intervene. She is obviously very strong-minded and intelligent, and this addiction wastes so much of her potential in my eyes. The author does not see opium as a setback, but rather almost like a hobby. 

I have a close friend who is impulsive and spontaneous like Hahn. She becomes easily addicted to many things and will try anything once. This is how I view Emily Hahn. Perhaps this is harsh, and I do respect her vulnerability when writing. She admits the symptoms of withdrawal and her other struggles although she still talks confidently and casually about this (352). Through the help of a friend, she was able to overcome her addiction, but many Chinese people did not have this luxury and spent their lives as slaves to addiction (359). 

I admire how shameless she is about her experiences. Experiences like hers must’ve been so uncommon for western women, and when you read you can easily sense her confidence. Perhaps this inspired women to live more recklessly and feel more independent. Also I think her writing brought awareness to the Opium war, but didn’t accurately show the suffering and sadness opium caused in the lives of so many. In fact, she romanticized the use of opium in a way.