The Woman Warrior e China Men: A busca por identidade(s) em obras de Maxine Hong Kingston
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Data
2022-04-29
Autores
Scalvenzi, Jéssika Rubiati
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
Este trabalho analisa aspectos da construção da identidade cultural sino-americana observados nos romances The Woman Warrior (1976) e China Men (1980), de Maxine Hong Kingston. Para tanto, são examinados aspectos formais da narrativa presentes em ambos os romances para poder estabelecer relações de sentido com os aspectos temáticos, de modo a observar a crise de identidade presente nas obras. Verifica-se a relação entre os aspectos formais e interpretativos de modo a avaliar o contexto da imigração chinesa nos EUA no século XX e sua ligação com a crise de identidade vivenciada por Kingston, filha de imigrantes chineses e nascida nos Estados Unidos. Kingston apresenta duas perspectivas em seus romances. Em The Woman Warrior, a autora focaliza situações vivenciadas por diversas mulheres de sua família, relacionando-as com suas experiências por meio da reflexão e da reconstrução de suas histórias, em um processo de combinação de estruturas históricas e ficcionais (Sato, 1991). O mesmo processo foi efetuado em China Men, porém voltado para a questão da imigração dos homens da família e do bairro chinês em que moram. Em ambos, Kingston busca sentido nas histórias e tradições familiares ao mesmo tempo em que tenta conciliá-las com os costumes estadunidenses. A pesquisa também contempla como a autora utiliza-se, em sua escrita, de histórias tradicionais e de ditos populares. O presente estudo também examina a criação de mecanismos para banir outras culturas nos EUA, como a lei de exclusão para a imigração chinesa, posta em prática em 1882.
This thesis aims at analyzing aspects related to the construction of the Chinese-American cultural identity as shown in the novels The Woman Warrior (1976) and China Men (1980), by Maxine Hong Kingston. In order to fulfill this objective, formal elements of the two novels are examined to establish connections with the thematic aspects to show the identity crisis that exists in both texts. The relationship between form and content is observed, so that it is possible to evaluate the Chinese immigration into the United States in the 20th century, and its association with the identity crisis experienced by Kingston, whose parentes were Chinese immigrants in America. Kingston presents two perspectives in her novels. In The Woman Warrior, the author focuses on situations faced by women in her family, relating them with her own experiences, and reconstructing this knowledge in her stories, in a process that combines history and literature (SATO, 1991). Almost the same procedures occur in China Men, although it addresses the immigration of men of her family and from the Chinese neighborhood where they lived. In both novels, Kingston longs for meaning in her family stories and traditions trying, at the same time, to reconcile them to American values. The narratives approach tradicional stories, popular sayings, and even her parent’s mother tongue. This study also discusses strategies used by the USA to ban other cultures from its borders, for instance, The Immigration Laws, put into practice in 1882.
This thesis aims at analyzing aspects related to the construction of the Chinese-American cultural identity as shown in the novels The Woman Warrior (1976) and China Men (1980), by Maxine Hong Kingston. In order to fulfill this objective, formal elements of the two novels are examined to establish connections with the thematic aspects to show the identity crisis that exists in both texts. The relationship between form and content is observed, so that it is possible to evaluate the Chinese immigration into the United States in the 20th century, and its association with the identity crisis experienced by Kingston, whose parentes were Chinese immigrants in America. Kingston presents two perspectives in her novels. In The Woman Warrior, the author focuses on situations faced by women in her family, relating them with her own experiences, and reconstructing this knowledge in her stories, in a process that combines history and literature (SATO, 1991). Almost the same procedures occur in China Men, although it addresses the immigration of men of her family and from the Chinese neighborhood where they lived. In both novels, Kingston longs for meaning in her family stories and traditions trying, at the same time, to reconcile them to American values. The narratives approach tradicional stories, popular sayings, and even her parent’s mother tongue. This study also discusses strategies used by the USA to ban other cultures from its borders, for instance, The Immigration Laws, put into practice in 1882.
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Palavras-chave
Literatura americana, História na literatura, Autobiografia, Identidade, Maxine Hong Kingston, Imigração, Identity, Immigration