Marveling At The Other

Stephen Jay Greenblatt is one of the most important critics in the contemporaryhistory of literary criticism. As a noted scholar of Shakespeare studies, a chiefproponent of New Historicism as well as a keen researcher on culture. Greenblatt'scriticism covers a wide range of subjects, including Shakespeare studies, Renaissancestudies and culture.However, Greenblatt has received less attention than he deserves in China. Andthe focus of many scholars has been restricted to Greenblatt's Shakespeare studies andRenaissance studies, while his theory of cultural analysis, especially his idea of"wonder" is seldom introduced or applied.Greenblatt defines "wonder" as "the power of the displayed object to stop theviewer in his or her tracks, to convey an arresting sense of uniqueness, to evoke anexalted attention." (Greenblatt, 1991:42) Accordingly, wonder may give rise to acultural blockage or a mimetic circulation. In a cultural blockage, the self rejects theother, and denies that there is any element of the other in the self. The rejection of theother in a cultural blockage renders one's cultural identity secure. On the other hand, amimetic circulation enables the self to acknowledge the similarities between the otherand the self. And the admittance of the other in a mimetic circulation endangers one'scultural identity. As a matter of fact, Greenblatt argues, wonder serves either as theagent of the appropriation of the other or the sign of the dispossession of the self.What's more, the go-betweens of cultures are important figures in the process ofappropriation or dispossession.This paper attempts to conduct a more comprehensive study of StephenGreenblatt and his theory of "wonder". Greenblatt's key concepts "negotiation", and"New Historicism" are given first. Then his theoretical basis is examined. But mostimportantly, this paper is devoted to an elaboration on his notion of "wonder" and itsrelationship with the other. Finally, an attempt is made to apply his theory of"wonder" to Amy Tan's The Hundred Secret Senses. The writer of this paper finds that Greenblatt's notion of "wonder" isenlightening in studying one of Amy Tan's novels, The Hundred Secret Senses, inwhich the Chinese culture appears to be the other. When Olivia, the heroineencounters with the Chinese culture, her initial response is a strong sense of wonder.This kind of marvelous encounter has a formidable impact on the constitution of herhybrid identity as a Chinese American.This paper consists of four chapters. The first chapter serves as an introduction,concentrating on the importance of Greenbtatt in literary criticism and the overallstructure of the thesis. The second chapter introduces briefly Greenblatt' theory ofNew Historicism, focusing on his key concepts and his theoretical basis. Then thesecond chapter particularly elaborates on his notions of culture as well as "wonder".Chapter Three is devoted to applying Greenblatt's theory of "wonder" to Amy Tan'sThe Hundred Secret Senses. Firstly, a brief introduction is given to the author and theplot of the novel. Then the novel itself is approached from the perspective of"wonder", with an exploration of the western marveling at the Chinese culture fromthree aspects: 1) Kwan, the eccentric other; 2) the exotic Chinese landscapes; and 3)the bizarre Chinese cuisine. Finally, a conclusion is provided in Chapter Four.