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Succinct summary of The Woman Warrior
Succinct summary of The Woman Warrior
maxine hong kingston's the woman warrior analysis
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The Woman Warrior
Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior discusses her and her mother Brave Orchid's relationship. On the surface, the two of them seem very different however when one looks below the surface they are very similar. An example of how they superficially seem different is the incident at the drug store when Kingston is mortified at what her mother makes her do. Yet, the ways that they act towards others and themselves exemplifies their similarities at a deeper level. Kingston gains many things from her mother and becomes who she is because of Brave Orchid, "Rather than denying or suppressing the deeply embedded ambivalence her mother arouses in her, Kingston unrelentingly evokes the powerful presence of her mother, arduously and often painfully exploring her difficulties in identifying with and yet separating from her" (Quinby, 136). Throughout Maxine Hong Kingston's autobiography Kingston disapproves of numerous of her mother's qualities however begins to behave in the same manner.
One of the most apparent ways that young Kingston and Brave Orchid are similar is the way they insist that people do as they say. Brave Orchid sends for her sister Moon Orchid to come to America from China. When she arrives, Brave Orchid tells Moon Orchid that she must go and face her husband even though Moon Orchid does not want to, "How dare he marry somebody else when he has you? How can you sit there so calmly? He would've let you stay in China forever. I had to send for your daughter, and I had to send for you" (Kingston, 125). Brave Orchid does not allow Moon Orchid to leave without confronting her husband and makes her see that this all is for her well being. When Kingston enc...
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...o their past and culture, which was before a huge issue between them. They are aware of their certain differences and know that they can only go to show how comparable they are in other areas, "Kingston eventually sees the similarities between herself and her mother" (Ling, 179).
Works Cited
Cheung, King-Kok. Articulate Silences. Ithaca: Cornell University Press,
1993.
Ho, Wendy. In Her Mother's House: The Politics of Asian American Mother-
Daughter Writing. Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press, 1999.
Huntley, E.D. Maxine Hong Kingston: A Critical Companion. Westport,
Greenwood Press, 2001.
Kingston, Maxine Hong. The Woman Warrior. New York: Random House,
1976.
Ling, Amy, Lee Quinby, etal. Critical Essays on Maxine Hong Kingston. New
York: G.K. Hall and Company, 1998.
Since people who have different identities view the American Dream in a variety of perspectives, individuals need to find identities in order to have a deep understanding of obstacles they will face and voices they want. In The Woman Warrior, Maxing Hong Kingston, a Chinese American, struggles to find her identity which both the traditional Chinese culture and the American culture have effects on. However, in The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros clearly identifies herself as a Hispanic woman, and pivots to move up economically and socially to speak for her race. Even though both Kingston and Cisneros look for meanings of their identities, they have different approaches of reaching the full understanding.
They do not want to forget who they are. They hold on to their superstitions, stories, customs and native tongue. Kingston demonstrates how the Chinese hold on to their culture and sustain it. When her aunt, Moon Orchid, first arrived in the United States, they took her to Chinatown and she said “ It certainly looks different from China. I’m glad to see Americans talk like us” (Pg. 136). Chinese immigrants feel more comfortable with the Chinese community because they can communicate with them. This is one of the reasons that some immigrants never assimilate. They go through life working and living with others who speak their native tongue, so they never have the need to learn English. They perceive themselves as outsiders from the American culture and thus some do not identify as Americans but only as Chinese immigrants. Even so, China town is not the same as China and they still have to greatly modify to a new life. Unfortunately, Moon Orchid was incapable of living life differently and was not able to expand her self concept. This lead to her mental breakdown and hospitalization. Kingston’s mother, Brave
Throughout history women have been underestimated. Society as a whole is patriarchal, and even though women have mead great strides in gaining equality, there are still crimes and prejudice against women. Women are capable of great feats, if they are given a chance. Some women ignored all social standards and managed to accomplish incredible things that changed the course of history.
I want to go to college for the wholesome intellectual stimulation and to get more involved with my community. College will be my last opportunity to do so before I enter the work force. At college I can be intellectually and academically challenged; I will be able to learn with friends who are as dedicated to learning and the pursuit of knowledge as I am. My goals in college are to acquire the skills that I need to lead a successful and productive life, to expand my knowledge of the world, to step out of my comfort zone, and to become more proactive.
As stated above in the summary Kingston believed that when going to Chinese school everyone must be quiet and not talk about their past. This is shown first when Kingston refers to her estranged Aunt who murdered herself and her child. Her family disowned her because she was pregnant by another villager who was not her husband. Kingston’s family disowned her aunt because of what she did. Therefore Kingston’s family kept quiet about this because this was a disgrace to their heritage along with their culture. In reading The Woman Warrior, we see that Kingston is naturally quiet and socially awkward. When she begins to write the real Kingston begins to unfold. Kingston then develops her own voice and has a say in what she feels and in what she believes in. In the article Cutting the Tongue: Language and the Body in Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, it shows and sparks the question should Kingston’s views of the Chinese culture and the Chinese-American culture. Although the book does seem very biased Kinston develops a voice. The article then defends Kingston’s biased racial views. In actuality her views help contribute and validate the stereotype of Chinese culture and the American-Chinese cultural tradition. This also fits in with cultural theory because it reflects how the cultures are
There is a resounding tone of guilt and irritation in this last page of the first story for the Woman Warrior. Here the reader learns how a child can become a victim, but also involuntarily become a passive advocate of their parent’s moral choices about the past. By not speaking of her aunt or questioning her parents’ silence, Maxine becomes a part of this dead woman’s chastisement.
"Those of us in the first American generations have had to figure out how the invisible world the emigrants built around our childhoods fit in solid America." Maxine Hong Kingston is a native of Stockton, California, born in 1940. The essay, "No Name Woman", was taken from her book ,"The Woman Warrior" (1976). Kingston is , in her everyday life, surrounded by "ghosts" from her past cultural heritage. The role identity concept parallels Ms. Kingston's essay. In the role identity concept, factors surrounding us in our daily life are continuously shaping and reshaping who we are and what we will become. In this concept, taken from the structural school of symbolic interaction, we tend to conform our sense of self to adapt to individual social situations as we are exposed to them. The theory in the concept of role identity is that we all play different "roles" in society, on various levels , which can include our families, our workplaces, our peers, daily experiences, and even within ourselves. Therefore, we are continuously changing and evolving into our "sense of self". Kingston, born a Chinese-American, struggles with her sense of self as she attempts to balance her American lifestyle with that of her Chinese family's rich cultural beliefs; although, even as she begins to accept her "role identity" within her family structure, as an author, she realizes that she will be "haunted", merely by writing about it.
Kingston tells stories as a means for penetrating those silent walls that kept this woman and not only the people she had love for but also the societal rest at a distance. The violent action Brave Orchid commits against the tongue of Kingston exists as a testament towards how willing she is when it comes to compromising if not destroying things if there’s even a slim possibility of such an anti-heroic deed improving them over time: “I cut it so that you would not be tongue-tied. Your tongue would be able to move in any language. You’ll be able to speak languages that are completely different from one another. You’ll be able to pronounce anything. [The frenulum of your tongue] looked too tight to do those things, so I cut it” (Kingston
Coley is a timber cutter that is addicted to crystal meth. He has three young children, two girls and a boy and a wife that he affects everyday with his crystal meth abuse. Throughout the episode Coley locks himself in the garage, so he can snort powder form of crystal meth without his children being directly in front of it. Coley thinks that if he locks himself in the garage his children do not see his behaviors. Coley's addiction stemmed from his childhood where his mother was a speed addict and alcoholic and allowed Coley to do drugs and drink with her throughout his young teens and late adult hood. After Coley married his wife and his wife recognized the problem was connected to when he was at his mother's home she asked that he not be involved with his mother. Coley does this and shortly after his mother dies. This leads Coley to more drug abuse and his addiction becomes worse, due to the guilt he feels for hurting his mother and the guilt from the fact that she died alone. Coley somewhat blames his wife for this. Coley put his family in great danger with the bills not being paid and him putting off jobs for something he thinks will become his gold mine and turns out not to.
Noted authors, Brandon Chambers, is quoted saying, “If you are going to fear anything fear success. Think about what you are doing and when you succeed what life you will have.” There are several different reasons why I could stay home, work and not go to college; I could go to work every day and make more money for the house, it’s easier, and I would be less stressed. Now, on the other hand there are many reasons why I should go to school; such as further my education, make my family proud, and make myself proud. I am attending college for several different reasons. One reason is to further my education. I hate feeling like I don’t know something, I like being the person everyone comes to for information. Also, because I want to be better prepared for my major, I want to be better then the next person with the job credentials. I want to major in Social Work and Criminology. I dream to be a counselor or an clinical service social worker. I want to help people who need someone there for them someone who can guide them or even just talk too. Another reason is because I would be the first in I would be the first in my family to go to college. I feel in some type of way I am setting an example for my parents and my brother that they too can go back to school. Lastly is simply because I love school. I love knowing more and more each day. College is not for everyone, but I will be successful by grasping the benefits, preparing for the problems, taking heed from experts, and working on strategies to be successful.
Kingston’s mother takes many different approaches to reach out to her daughter and explain how important it is to remain abstinent. First, she tells the story of the “No Name Woman”, who is Maxine’s forgotten aunt, “’ Now that you have started to menstruate, what happened to her can happen to you. Don’t humiliate us. You wouldn’t like to be forgotten as if you had never been born”’ (5), said Maxine’s mother. Kingston’s aunt was murdered for being involved in this situation. The shame of what Kingston’s aunt brought to the family led them to forget about her. This particular talk-story is a cautionary tale to deter Kingston from having premarital sex and to instill in her fear of death and humiliation if she violates the lesson her mother explained to her. Kingston is able to get pregnant but with the lecture her mother advises her with keeps her obedient. Brave Orchid tells her this story to open her eyes to the ways of Chinese culture. The entire family is affected by one’s actions. She says, “‘Don’t humiliate us’” (5) because the whole village knew about the pregnant aunt and ravaged the family’s land and home because of it. Maxine tries asking her mother in-depth questions about this situation, but her m...
Maxine Hong Kingston’s “The Woman Warrior” is novel composed of myths and memoirs that have shaped her life. Her mother’s talk-stories about her no name aunt, her own interpretation of Fa Mu Lan, the stories of ghosts in doom rooms and American culture have been the basis of her learning. She learned morals, truths, and principals that would be the basis of her individuality.
Having ambition to be successful is key in getting what you want in life. Ambitions of getting a great job, a family, and any other thing that will make your life more enjoyable is all do to setting goals. Setting goals of getting paid a certain amount of money by the age of 40 is a goal that will make you work hard, and do well in the business place. Having a family and a nice house is also a goal that will make you do well in the business place, to be able to provide for your family. Also, having those extra things that make your life more enjoya...
As a result, she goes crazy and dies in California state mental asylum. Hearing these stories from her mother can make her perceive Chinese people differently. In the final chapter, “A Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe”, it is about Kingston. It focuses on her anger to express herself trying to please her mother. In the story it talks about how Kingston used to bully a silent Chinese girl. Kingston told her mother how she feels and her mother told her to be quiet. Kingston gets frustrated from her mom and she tells her mother confessions. She end up thanking her mom for the talk-stories. This chapter shows readers how Chinese people are expected to be respectful and “quiet”, and because there was a girl in Kingston’s class who was quiet, she wanted to be the only quiet person so she bullied her. This indicates how Kingston’s culture affects her
A person needs to achieve certain goals in one's life before you can call them successful. Success is to achieve goals, you have set. I have set certain goals I would like to achieve in my lifetime. Some of these goals are personal while others are professional. My professional goals in life are to find a good job that makes me happy, get a good education, find a job that makes enough money for me to support my family, and help people. Goals it is very important for me to receive a good education. Most job fields require a descent education. If I don't have an education I would not be able to function properly at the work place and I would not understand what to do. To maintain a good job that will make good money will require me to go thorough schooling or training and maybe even both. Education is the first and foremost way to become successful, because the job I will choose will need me go to school and maybe even beyond college. My happiness in what I do is also a goal for me I my life. There is no way someone can become successful if they are not happy with what they are doing. ...