The relationship between a mother and her children has been a prominent topic in literature
ever since the genre of written fiction has become popular in the past. Mother figures
from Jocasta in the ancient Greek tragedy King Oedipus and Gertrude in the
Shakespeare classic Hamlet to Norma Bates in the 20th century suspense novel Psycho,
to name but a few, have thrilled the audience as well as given critics a diverse subject to
deal with. One reason for this ongoing fascination over centuries of literary production
may lie in the extraordinarily complex relationship structure which can be developed
between a mere dyad of people who happen to be mother and child. Yet, another reason
for the perpetual re-invention of the issue can be found in its apparent comprehensibility:
every human being has a biological mother and gets socialized by at least one focal
person of reference which enables them to relate to the fictional stories easily. The
unique quality of mothers in this process – as plain as it sounds – still is their ability to
bear children, and by this act to establish an irreplaceable link to another human being.
In the twentieth century, the socio-anthropological development has created a
myriad of new possibilities and demographic changes that consequently were to find
their way into literature and even have created new genres. Due to “significant shifts
[…] in attitudes towards sexuality” (Allan 10), technological advance, and demographic
changes, a whole new range of potential life-styles has evolved since the end of World
War II. This involved deconstruction of a traditional middle-class myth, namely the
breaking up of the nuclear family’s near-monopoly position has ultimately led to an
“increasing diversity occurring in family and household patterns” (Allan 10). Consequently,
issues like working mothers, single-parent families, step-families, or same-sex
couples adopting children have also enriched literary production of the past fifty years.
Additionally to this, the increase of migration to the western industrialized societies has
caused a development of a wider ethnic diversity than before the turn of the century.
Especially in the United States of America this influx of new potential authors became
the cornerstone of a prolific process which has been producing works apart from American
mainstream literature and still continues to do so.[...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The United States and Immigration
- From Gold Mountain Laborers to Model Minority: The Chinese
- From Issei to Gosei: The Japanese
- On Racism: Yellow Peril and the Anti-Japanese Sentiment
- The Immigrants' Literary Produce: Ethnic Literature
- Literary Techniques: An Analysis
- The Importance of Presentation
- Figure Constellation and Characterization
- The Central Issues in The Woman Warrior and No-No Boy
- Gender Roles and Their Deconstruction
- The Tacit Rebellion: Femininity in The Woman Warrior
- Women vs. Chinese community
- The Novel's Feminist Agenda
- Virtues of the Samurai: Masculinity in No-No Boy
- Forms of (Non-) Communication and Social Interaction
- Speech as a Means of Showing Personality
- Voice and Silence in The Woman Warrior
- Identity Formation: In Between the Worlds
- A Social-Behavioral Approach: The "I" and the "Me"
- Between Talk-Story and the Laundry Mountain: Maxine
- Momotaro's Transition: Ichiro
- Flowers in the Melting Pot
- Americanization or Why the Mothers Never Really Stood a Chance
- The Endings of the Two Stories
- Conclusion
- Intergenerational Conflict: The tension between traditional cultural values and American assimilation.
- Identity Formation: The struggles of the protagonists in finding their place in society as children of immigrants.
- Gender Roles: The deconstruction of traditional gender roles in both novels and the impact of societal expectations on the protagonists.
- Communication and Social Interaction: The role of language, silence, and communication styles in shaping relationships and understanding.
- The Influence of Cultural Background: The impact of the Chinese and Japanese cultures on the characters' lives and choices.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the complex relationship between mothers and their American-born children in the context of Asian-American literature. It focuses on the novels "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston and "No-No Boy" by John Okada, analyzing how the mothers' emphasis on traditional cultural values impacts their children's development and search for identity in a new society. The paper aims to explore the tensions that arise between the generations, the cultural clashes, and the challenges faced by the protagonists in navigating their heritage and their American identity.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction explores the enduring presence of mother figures in literature and their complex dynamics with their children. It establishes the significance of intergenerational relationships, especially in the context of cultural change and immigration, highlighting the increasing diversity in family structures and the rise of ethnic literature. The chapter introduces the two novels at the core of the paper, "The Woman Warrior" and "No-No Boy," and presents the central research question: how do the mothers' actions and cultural expectations influence their children's identity formation?
Chapter two provides a historical overview of Asian immigration to the United States, specifically focusing on the experiences of Chinese and Japanese Americans. It examines the social context of these groups, including their encounters with racism and discrimination, and the development of their respective literary traditions. This chapter highlights the importance of understanding the cultural and historical background of the novels to fully appreciate their themes.
Chapter three delves into the literary techniques employed by Maxine Hong Kingston and John Okada in their respective novels. It analyzes the importance of presentation, characterization, and figural constellations, providing insights into the authors' artistic choices and their impact on the narrative.
Chapter four explores the central issues present in both novels, focusing on gender roles, communication, and identity formation. It examines the depiction of femininity in "The Woman Warrior" through the protagonist's rebellion against societal expectations and explores the challenges she faces in reconciling her Chinese heritage with her American identity. The chapter also analyzes the portrayal of masculinity in "No-No Boy" through the protagonist's internal struggle with cultural expectations and his search for a sense of belonging. It further examines the role of communication, voice, and silence in both novels, emphasizing how these elements shape relationships and reveal the complexities of navigating cultural differences.
Chapter five delves into the theme of Americanization and the impact of cultural assimilation on the protagonists. It explores the challenges the mothers face in navigating a new society and the consequences of their attempts to preserve their traditional values for their children. The chapter also examines the endings of both novels, providing insights into the authors' messages regarding the complexities of identity and belonging in a multicultural society.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper explores themes of intergenerational conflict, identity formation, gender roles, communication and social interaction, cultural background, immigration, Asian-American literature, "The Woman Warrior," "No-No Boy," Maxine Hong Kingston, John Okada, and the American experience.
- Quote paper
- Michael Burger (Author), 2011, Intergenerational Conflict in Ethnic Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/174697
