The "Ghosts" In The Woman Warrior: An Interpretation

"Ghost"is a unique theme in American literature and culture, which can be dated back to Halloween and the ghost images in early American literature. It embodies not only the meanings of darkness, evil and mystery but also jocularity and facetiosity sometimes. At times, it also refers the mystical power that could haunt and control people. Since the day The Woman Warrior was published, it has been translated in to more than twenty languages. Its subtitle is"Memoirs of A Girlhood among Ghosts"and thus the decoding of"ghost"is the key point to comprehend this book. In terms of its specific indication– the literary image– there are opinions among critics and readers varying from one to another. Critics of Post-Colonialism think that"ghost"implants in white American society whereas feminism critics decode it to be societies dominated by men, etc. This thesis aims at carrying out such an idea that the meaning of"ghost"is not monogenetic but diversifies into many and meanwhile, it is not totally derogative but complex in both positive and negative sense. This thesis also tends to remove the stigma that people have toward this icon"ghost". In the essence,"ghost"mentioned in this book roots in a kind of dissimilation that results from Chinese-American's misunderstanding and lack of understanding of American culture and society, because they are stuck in the conflicts between two different cultures and values, they have stereotyped ways of thinking and they segregate themselves with surrounding American society; in another sense, it results from the dissimilation caused by the prejudice, misunderstanding and discrimination American society holds toward Chinese-Americans; lastly it results from the dissimilation accumulated from oppression and sexual discrimination that women suffer.This thesis is put forward into an"Introduction", three chapters and a"Conclusion". The"Introduction"states the comprehension of the"ghost"of various opinions, which is followed by the theme of this thesis that the meaning of"ghost"is not single but diversified. The first chapter argues the first manifestation"ghost"...