The Multi-dimensional Identity Pursuit Of Chinese American Women In Amy Tan's Novels

Chinese American writers who live between two cultures have always been puzzled by the issue of identity problem. The analysis presented in this thesis focuses on the multi-dimensional identity construction of contemporary Chinese American women in Amy Tan's two novels, The Joy Luck Club and The Bonesetter's Daughter. Different from the previous researches, this study concentrates on three typical aspects—gender identity, cultural identity, and ethnic identity, which all together present the comprehensive identity construction of Chinese American women.The present thesis consists of five parts:Chapter One is an introduction, including a brief review of Amy Tan's life, the critical response as well as the transmutation of critical perspective in Chinese American literature.Chapter Two focuses on the Chinese American women's gender identity, exposing the double marginalized situation of Chinese American women and the stereotypes of Chinese women in American literature influenced by Orientalism. It continues to analyze the images created by Tan and her rebellion against the stereotypes. The rebellious images she creates fall into two categories, rebels against feudality and sexual prejudice, and rebels against racial prejudice. Chinese American women also overturn their othered place by breaking the silence. Story-telling is the main way to break away from their mental and psychological imprisonment and confirm who they are and where they belong to. Through these effective ways, Tan successfully forge the ethnic women's gender identity.Chapter Three studies the cultural dilemma and the reconstruction of Chinese American women's cultural identity. The author selects some typical examples from Tan's works to support her idea that mother acts as the carrier of Chinese tradition, while daughter represents the American way of thinking. The mother/daughter conflicts actually indicate the cultural conflicts between eastern and western culture. The conflicts are caused by three reasons: the different cultural traditions, language barriers and the default of communication. After learning about their mothers' past, daughters achieve mutual communication with mothers, and realize that their cultural identity can be reconstructed only by keeping both American culture and her indigenous culture.Chapter Four analyzes Chinese American women's formation of ethnic identity. No matter how Americanized they are, they are still recognized as ethnic Chinese by white Americans. Realizing they are rejected, they begin to rethink their internalization and revalue their cultural and ethnic root. Through seeking family history and adopting the technique of reinterpreting Chinese culture, Chineseness and Americanness are combined, they become Chinese Americans in a real sense.Chapter Five ends as a conclusion for the present thesis, which shows the importance for Chinese American women to identify themselves from gender, and cultural and ethnic dimensions. In the construction of subjectivity, they become aware that gender, culture and race are indispensable. What's more, the three factors are not isolated but interrelate with one another. The thesis suggests that the new identity is neither Chinese nor American but a new hybrid one which undermines the hegemonic American culture. To seek the identity from multiple perspectives helps Chinese Americans find their right position in and live better with the American mainstream society.