Amy Tan's Writing, From The Sense Of Alienation

In recent years, Chinese American literature has given rises to the attentions of scholars all over the world. Amy Tan is one of the outstanding American Chinese writers. The life, which shuttles back and forth on the edge of multiple cultures, grants Amy Tan multiple visual angles. These visual multiple angles proceed to decide her openness and mobility of her literary creation.The conception of "isolation" is put forward by American social and cultural critic Alfred Kazin. It means that a writer' s creation should keep a definite distance from the object of creation. Because of it, the writer can touch and feel the characteristics of the object. As an American Chinese writer, Amy Tan is not only different from "Americans" , but also from Chinese Americans in the past, from Chinese who live in the way of American life style. With the insight of America, the viewpoint of America, she looks closely at China and narrates Chinese stories. As an "isolator" , she grasps the initiative right to expound Chinese culture. Although in her mind' s eye, Chinese culture is mixed with American culture, she still expresses her recognition, confirmation, and return of it. When confronted with American main-stream culture, she shows her peace and mediocrity of traditional Chinese culture. She truly looks upon the society and her works as a real "isolator" .This thesis is composed of three chapters. Chapter one gives the general introduction to the meaning of "isolation" . By returning to American main-stream culture and traditional Chinese culture, this chapter shows us the influences of these cultures on Amy Tan' creation. Chapter two introduces how multiple cultures are reflected and mixed in her works. It demonstrates the special thoughts of Chinese novels and traces of traditional Chinese culture, and manifests the changes of...