American Born Chinese: Jin Character Analysis

Austin Block
Mr. Ainscough
Block E
9/15/15
Jin’s Identity Goes from Okay to Worst to Okay

Identity is bearing one's personality which does not belong to someone else. Jin's identity is finally established after changing his actions and hearing from the Monkey King. The portions in this book which include Jin start from a young age and approach teenage years. The story begins with him and friends playing with toys prior to moving and starting the third grade in a new school. Eventually, he makes a friend and begins dating Amelia with a new hairdo. This ends in disaster, but Jin accomplishes something worth a better life and earns Wei-Chens friendship back. In American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, Jin's character evolves to become less likable

When he is a young boy, he accompanied his mother to the Chinese Herbalist and sat outside with an old lady: “Sometimes the appointment lasted for what seemed like hours. I would sit in the front room, listening to the herbalist’s wife” (27). Rather than hanging out with friends, Jin spent his day quietly. You can tell he is bored due to the feeling described with long visits and listening to ‘click clack, click.’ This represents Jin as lonely during his younger age. In addition, Jin played with a transformer toy when sitting at the Herbalist’s shop including saying “…I…I want to be a transformer!” (27). This communicates the idea of Jin being lonely because several other dreams are possible. At his new school, Jin is introduced to his class and shortly after goes to recess. He sat alone during lunch where a group of bullies approached him regarding meals in his culture, one saying, “Come one. Let’s leave Bucktooth alone so he can enjoy Lassie” (33). Due to Jin’s race and choice not to play with others, he is lonely. He also does not defend

Wei-Chen whispers in Jin’s ear and suddenly his head is shown surrounded with lightning bolts prior to him asking out Amelia: “Hang out…With me…Sometime? (105). Not long before asking Amelia out, Jin is extremely worried she does not like him however his conscience and Wei-Chen tells him to go ahead. This action is very outgoing especially considering two grades prior, Jin did not even want to make a friend. While this could be seen as an improvement to his character, he is not his true self. An additional change is Jin’s hair, which is changed to be like Greg’s (97). Amelia and Greg are great friends, which causes Jin to look at how Greg appears. This physical modification is performed as Jin believes Amelia cares more about hair than personality. This definitely moves Jin away from his true self. Suzy, his best friend’s girlfriend displays vulnerability while explaining how she was not invited to a party except by a girls’ mother, when Jin kisses her and she responds angrily, saying, “What’s wrong with you, Jin?” (188). This could be identified as Jin’s second to worst moments. He betrayed three people in reality which can easily be seen as unpleasant. Jin, worst of all, kissed his best friend’s girlfriend and betrayed Amelia, his recent date, as well as Suzy. Wei-Chen arrives at Jin’s house to confront him about previous actions however explains