Initiation On American Lands

Centering around Americans'influence on the growth of a Chinese American young adult in Frank Chin's first novel Donald Duk, this paper offers an analysis of different aspects associated with the initiation of the young Chinese American named Donald Duk as well as a tentative study on Frank Chin's views of writing. The paper applies theories of cultural studies and Bildungsroman so as to gain a further insight into Chin's argument about Chinese Americans'ideal existence on American lands: to recognize their ethnic identity, to grasp their historical and cultural heritage, and to gain their dignity and acknowledgment from American mainstream society.The paper is expounded in five parts:Introduction is a general introduction about the author, Frank Chin, his works, and the latest studies carried out home and abroad on the novel Donald Duk. Then follows the interpretation of four literary terms employed in this paper, including cultural studies, Caucasian culture, Chinese American culture and Bildungsroman.Chapter One presents American images in three perspectives, which are Americans distorting, seeking and acknowledging Chinese American history and culture, represented by the railroad boss Charles Crocker and Donald's history teacher Mr. Meanwright; Donald's schoolmate and friend Arnold Azalea, and Arnold's parents as well as Donald's idol, a famous American entertainer, Fred Astaire.Chapter Two expounds the different influences of the Americans mentioned above on the growth of Donald. Crocker and Meanwright function as catalyst in Donald's growth, without whom Donald would not have a rapid initiation and the profound insight in his identity. It is Arnold who accompanies young Donald in his soul-searching journey, in which they have a fresh recognition of Chinese history and culture and Donald gains his ethnic identity.Chapter Three explore Chin's argument about Chinese American writing and his intention revealed in this novel. Frank Chin contends that life is war and writing is fighting. The more Chinese Americans respect their own cultural heritage, the more white Americans will appreciate Chinese American history and culture, which is the basis to create a relatively fair, harmonious, and mutual-respectful living environment.In Conclusion, Chin's argument in this novel is restated that to be an American, Chinese...