Adaptation of Cambodian Genocide Victims in Stories “4 Years in Cambodia” and “Escape from the Hell”

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to study the adaptation of Cambodian Genocide victims and to compare the thoughts of adaptation of Cambodian Genocide victims in the stories “4 Years in Cambodia” and “Escape from the Hell”. The population and samples in the research were 2 victims of the Cambodian Genocide: Yasuko Naito and Chia Kimlang. The research instruments were the application of literature and society concept which was used to consider how the writer reflected the society at that time, and Roy’s Adaptation Model was used to describe the way of people’s adaptation according to stimulation or environmental contexts which divided into 3 aspects as follows: 1) focal stimuli, 2) contextual stimuli, and 3) residual stimuli. The results showed that (1) the Cambodian Genocide victims adapted to focal stimuli, contextual stimuli, and residual stimuli harmoniously to the environment, , so the Cambodian Genocide victims survived from the genocide war in Cambodian. (2) The study of the Cambodian Genocide victims’ adaptation found that the victims had different thoughts of adaptation due to different experience and background. Yasuko chose the concept of “When in Rome, do as Romans do”, meanwhile Kimlang used the concept of “The journey to find the dream path”. These adaptations helped the victims survived and passed through the brutal crisis and realized that the value of life was the contending toward the fatality. This research indicated that common characteristics are patience and earnestness to evacuate to a safe country. The struggle for survival lesson of the victims made us realize the value of human life which drove all to yearn for freedom and long life.