A Study Of The Initiation Themes In Fifth Chinese Daughter

With the development of Chinese American literature and the initiation story and the improvement of female's status,the growth of the Chinese American female has absorbed numerous scholars' concern.Therefore in order to reveal the Chinese American female's growing process under the pressure of racial discrimination and sexual discrimination and then interpret the protagonist's rough experience of getting rid of the dilemma and melting into the American society,this thesis makes Jade Snow Wong's Fifth Chinese Daughter as the research text,and applies some theories of the initiation story to analysis the protagonist Jade Snow's puzzlement,awakening and self-realization.This thesis consists of five parts.The introduction part mainly introduces Jade Snow Wong's lifetime and her Fifth Chinese Daughter,and the recent researches on this novel both at home and abroad,then there is a description of the relevant theory of initiation story,and finally the motivation and significance of this thesis.The following three chapters are the main body of this thesis.The first chapter narrates Jade Snow's puzzlement both about her cultural identity and gender identity due to her special growing background.As a Chinese American female,Jade Snow on one hand has been looked down upon by the American society;on the other hand,been neglected by her traditional Chinese family members.Chapter Two analyses how Jade Snow gradually experiences four epiphanies and then becomes awakening under the assistance of some initiation guides.Through accepting the American education and communicating with the American families,Jade Snow changes her traditional thoughts and gradually realizes the importance of independent and equality as a Chinese American female.The third chapter explores Jade Snow's self-realization after experiencing the puzzlement and awakening.By becoming a spokesman on the graduation ceremony,sending the ship to war and opening a pottery shop in Chinatown,Jade Snow wins both her parents' recognition and praise and the American people's respect and congratulation.The last chapter of this thesis is conclusion.Although Jade Snow's growing process full of hardships and difficulties,she successfully receives her parents' recognition and the melts into the American society in the end.Through analyzing the second generation of Chinese American female's growing process,the writer hopes the readers would not only have a better understanding of the reason why Jade Snow Wong and her Fifth Chinese Daughter can become popular in America,but also experience the tough life of the Chinese American female under the background of racial discrimination and patriarchy society.Meanwhile,the purpose of this thesis also lies in providing some useful information on the study of Chinese American literature and female initiation.