a woman warrior
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston presents the story of a girl trapped between the cultures of her surrounding environment and that which her mother and family have forced upon her. Knowing only the Chinese way of life, this girl's mother attempts to familiarize her daughter, whom is also the narrator, with the history of their family. The mother shares this heritage through the use of stories in hopes the narrator will be prepared for her ultimate return to China, which is a life completely foreign to her own. Through these stories and the strong influence of the surrounding American culture, the narrator's life and imagination spin off in a new direction. She is confronted by many obstacles, which cause problems with not only her mother, but also with her attempt to discover her personal identity. Although the narrator's assimilation to the American culture causes numerous conflicts with her mother, she is able to overcome adversity and come of age as a Chinese!-American with the help of her mother's stories. In Kingston's first story, "No Name Woman," the reader is first introduced to the stories of the narrator's mother. This particular tale involves an aunt that the narrator never knew, w
There is significant evidence of this growing maturity in "Shaman." In the beginning of the chapter, the reader can find an increased pressure placed on the narrator while hearing about her mother's bravery and intelligence at medical school. This story added on to those her mother told about World War II fighter planes, which terrified the narrator for many years. Also, as a young girl, her mother would refer to America as being "full of machines and ghosts" (96). These false assumptions about this life foreign to her mother and family plagued the narrator's mind. It was not until years later, after moving away from home, did she realize the invisible trap her family had set for her. Since the narrator was given a false sense of reality at home, she was required to discover herself and the world on her own. She would have to put an end to her fear of the "size of the world" (99) her mother had already established. Through this courageous independence, the narrator wa! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Although it was difficult for her to first adjust to the school life of America, her overall growth and maturity are noticeable in "A Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe." First of all, she had to overcome her introverted personality due to the speech impediment caused by her mother. Second, she had to deal with the hassle of going to a Chinese school in the afternoon. This school was full of disruptive children and unsupervised activities, which seemed to frustrate the narrator. In addition, there was the usual ridicule from her mother. Perhaps this was the reason she had "no IQ-a zero IQ" (183). She may have been too afraid of failing and causing further disappointment in the eyes of her family. Finally, the reader is able to see the anger building deep inside the narrator come alive during the bathroom scene when she torments a young, quiet girl in her class. Although not apparent, this can be seen as a breakthrough for the narrator. While feeling sympathy for this lit! difference between the narrator and the Chinese culture in "Shaman." Her aunt, who had just arrived from China, finds the narrator's lifestyle so fascinating. She finds it necessary to talk about all she sees going on: the daily routines, the unusual clothing, and the foods and sty
Some common words found in the essay are:
Reed Pipe, White Tigers, Name Woman, War II, Knowing Chinese, Moon Orchid's, Moon Orchid, Soon China, China America, Mu Lan, american culture, woman warrior, narrator's mother, chinese culture, feel sorry, narrator feels, chinese life, moon orchid, mother family, leave home,
Approximate Word count = 1566
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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