Submission And Subversion

The thesis studies contemporary Chinese American writer Laurence Yep's Golden Mountain Chronicles with the method of imagology of comparative literature from the perspective of Orientalism. With an attempt to reveal the writer's paradoxical psychology and desirable ideal for equal communication among human beings, the thesis not only probes into Laurence Yep's tendency of submission and subversion against American Orientalism but also tentatively investigates the causes behind. The thesis consists of four chapters. The first chapter gives a brief introduction to Laurence Yep's life, literary achievements and the content of his Golden Mountain Chronicles, as well as the already existent studies on Laurence Yep's works at home and abroad. Besides, the introduction to Edward Said's Orientalism and comparative literature is also included in chapter one. Chapter Two analyzes the reflection of Oriental complex in his Golden Mountain Chronicles and explores the underlying reasons for such reflection. In his works, China is an ancient and mysterious land, resided by people who are uncivilized and apathetic, worshiping prerogative and money. The reasons for such orientalized representation have been discussed from internal and external aspects. Chapter Three displays Laurence Yep's conscious rebellion against American Orientalism and discussed the causes for his motives in doing so. Laurence Yep subverted against American Orientalism by representing the miserable history of early Chinese Americans, setting right Chinese American images and lashing out at whites'hypocritical idea that advocated freedom, equality and philanthropy. The author's overtly subverting American Orientalism lies in four factors. First, the image of China is changing; second it can contribute to the establishment of Chinese American identity; third, it's a means to impair the white superiority and achieve equal communication among people; fourth, it is inseparable from the author's conscience. Concluding part comes as Chapter four which restates the findings of the thesis and points out the limitations of the thesis together with the prospect of the future study.The study found that Laurence Yep has been greatly influenced by American Orientalism due to his growing up in the mainstream culture, whereas he consciously subverted it after reflecting on the two cultures. In the process of submitting to and subverting American Orientalism, was revealed a universal truth that the virtue and evil is not unique to a specific race but universal to all human beings, based on which Laurence Yep proposes that if human beings want to achieve a harmonious community, they have to respect and tolerate each other's culture, to value humanity that transcends time and space, national boundaries and races. Only if human beings succeed in conquering human limitations, can harmony be accomplished. Almost each novel of his Golden Mountain Chronicles contains a friendship across culture and race, which exactly reflected the aspiration and ideal in the author's bottom heart-eternal pursuit for the true, the good and the beautiful.