Compliance With, Deconstruction, And Surpassing Of Orientalism In Dragon Bones

As a representative of Chinese American writers since the 1990 s, Lisa See has published nine works since 1995. Dragon Bones was published in 2003. The thesis analyzes how Lisa See caters for, deconstructs and surpasses Orientalism from the perspectives of setting, characterization and themes.The thesis has five parts. Introduction provides a brief introduction to the author and the novel Dragon Bones, the new trend of C hinese American literature in the 1990 s, See’s binary attitude towards C hina which is reflected in her most popular novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the theoretical framework of Orientalism as well as a summary of this thesis. The main body of this thesis is divided into three chapters which are See’s compliance, reconstruction and surpassing of Orientalism from setting, characterization and themes respectively. Conclusion summaries the whole thesis and points out its academic and social value.Chapter O ne analyzes how See caters for Orientalism in terms of the setting of the novel. In the novel, C hinese politics is misrepresented and exoticism of ancient Chinese civilization is fashioned. Descriptions in the novel show that the Chinese government is indifferent to people’s wellbeing and illegal strife for power and corruption among different political factions is serious. See’s mere focus on legends and overemphasis on superstitious customs in Chinese countryside contribute to creating an exotic C hina. With double cultural identities and concerns for commercial interests, See cannot completely get rid of the influence of Orientalism.Chapter Two analyzes how See reconstructs Orientalism in terms of the characterization. Hulan is a brave, brilliant, and knowledgeable C hinese woman and Captain Hom is a masculine patriot. By characterizing them, See subverts the stereotyped images of Chinese men and women. On the contrary, Lily is mercenary and erotic and Q uon tortures his countrymen to death in order to gain power and status, thus superior American men and women are “otherized”. The sharp contrast in the characterization of Chinese and Americans forcefully deconstructs Orientalism.Chapter Three analyzes how See surpasses Orientalism in terms of themes. Americans offer Chinese help in constructing the Three Gorges Dam and protecting Chinese cultural relics. Love is a sentiment shared by all human beings without being affected by differences in race and nationality. Firm love between the C hinese woman Hulan and the American man David surpasses cultural conflicts and makes them a happy couple. The American man Brain and the C hinese widow fall in love with each other even though they have no common language. In the novel, the loving relationship between American husbands and Chinese wives are based on mutual respect, equality and tolerance, which demonstrates See’s surpassing of Orientalism.Conclusion summarizes that as a representative of C hinese American writers in the 1990 s, See overcomes the limitation of racial identity, surpasses the political thinking mode of dualism and shatters Orientalists’ narcissistic and self-praising dream with her novel.