| Receiving more attention in recent years, Amy Tan is undoubtedly regarded as one of the most influential and representative writers in Chinese American literature. Her works, favored by domestic and foreign readers, are considered as paradigm for exploring the connection between Chinese and American culture. The combination of eastern and western cultures gives her special identity, which enables her to express some important themes and thoughts by using China-related materials and contents from a unique perspective.The Bonesetter’s Daughter, one of her most representative works after the publishing of Joy Luck Club, is a long autobiographical narrative lyric. This novel succeeds in surpassing the narrative pattern of classical literature by creating a story within another, which represents the collision of two pairs of mother and daughter of three generations. Different from Amy Tan’s previous works, this one is regarded as the sublimation of the theme concerning mother-daughter relationship in most of her works.Many researches have been conducted by scholars at home and abroad. This thesis aims to give interpretation of this novel on the basis of binary opposition which is a key point in the structuralism theory. The oppositions, referring to pairs of diacritical terms, are often complementary with each other instead of being mutually exclusive. There are many binary oppositions embodied in this novel and this thesis tries to give detailed illustration and analysis of this feature in the text from different perspectives.The thesis consists of five chapters.The first chapter gives a brief introduction about Amy Tan and the novel The Bonesetter’s Daughter, as well as a literature review of Amy Tan and this novel at home and abroad. Then the theory of binary opposition is introduced, providing theoretical foundation for the thesis. In addition, the necessity and significance of the thesis and the framework of the thesis are also mentioned.The second chapter focuses on binary oppositions in the characters. Firstly, several pairs of binary oppositions embodied in characters are analyzed. In this novel, the three generations of women had to face their own problems, namely the strong conflicts as pairs of binary oppositions formed in their own experiences. Then, the thesis further reveals the conflicts between mother and daughter, Precious Auntie and LuLing, LuLing and Ruth respectively. However, through the analysis on the basis of the theory of binary opposition, it can be concluded that Amy Tan’s intention is not just to list out these oppositions, but to deeply explore the reasons why these conflicts occur and find solutions to these conflicts. Her ultimate writing purpose is to show that Chinese American women can find a way out to solve their confusions and achieve reconciliation with each other in the end.The third chapter mainly deals with the binary oppositions in writing skills. As one of the outstanding representatives of Chinese-American literature, Amy Tan is good at performing unique writing skills in telling stories. In The Bonesetter’s Daughter, binary opposition which is embodied in Amy Tan’s writing skills can be showed in three aspects:arrangement of time, space and narrative perspectives. On one hand, oppositions of time and space in the plot arrangement can help Amy Tan portrait and introduce the Chinese traditional culture to her readers more easily and thoroughly. On the other hand, the alternative narrative perspectives adopted in the novel makes readers gain deeper and detailed understanding about characters’subtle changes in their psychology. From the perspective of binary opposition, Amy Tan’s writing methods and the purpose of writing can be known more specifically.The fourth chapter interprets the oppositions in culture. As one of the most important Chinese American female writers, Amy Tan always intends to express her views on the two different cultures in China and America in most of her works. In The Bonesetter’s Daughter, through illustration of oppositions in beliefs, marital notions and family values, the cultural conflicts and reconciliation are reflected very clearly.The fifth chapter is the conclusion part, which makes a brief summary, and lists out the innovation and also extends the significance of this thesis. In this novel, binary oppositions are prevalent. From the interpretation of binary oppositions embodied in the characters, writing skills and culture, the thesis concludes that Chinese American women are facing dilemma and conflicts when they try to pursue their own happiness and find their identity in America. However, they still can find a way out to reconcile when they face these oppositions, which also reflects Amy Tan’s positive attitudes towards the great efforts made by Chinese American female. In a word, the employment of binary opposition has helped to deepen the theme, depict the characters, and finally find a solution to the conflicts and confusions of them under different cultures.By the interpretation of the novel on the basis of the binary opposition, the writer of the thesis wants to provide a new perspective for readers and researchers to come to a deep understanding of the novel. Amy Tan’s writing intentions are also further analyzed and understood. |
