One thing that I found to be unique about American Born Chinese was that it had relatively little foreshadowing. Perhaps I just wasn't being as astute of a reader as I should have been, but the reveals late in the story took me by surprise. I thought the stories might connect, and noticed things seemed a little off with Chin-kee, but I would not have guessed that he was really the monkey king, that Wei-Chen was his son, or that Danny was Jin. Reflecting on the story, I can recall a few moments that foretold of something to come, but in general, Gene Luen Yang let his twist be a true surprise.
One moment when things begin to appear to not be what they seem is when Danny explodes about his relation to Chin-kee in response to being "friend-zoned" by Melanie. Danny exclaims "I'm nothing like him! I don't even know how we're related!" (123). This could be considered a foreshadowing moment, because it makes the reader question how they are related as well. Another moment was when Wei-chen mentions the gift his father gave him "as a good-bye present" (39). Knowing the truth, this makes sense, he was not going to see his father much. However, there could have been other reasons for his leaving his father, so this statement did not stick out nearly as much. The final moment that could be considered foreshadowing is when the old lady mentions becoming what you wish "so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul" (29). This certainly seems weird, but as Jin had just mentioned being a transformer, and the story included some intentionally comical moments, I assumed this was one of them. Therefore, while traces of the big reveal can be seen in earlier parts of the story, they are so unclear that they keep readers from being able to figure out what is really going on by themselves.
This lack of foreshadowing was therefore likely intentional. Yang introduces readers to three seemingly unrelated tales, and is careful to leave out links that could connect them. For example, seeing Danny's parents would give us a clue that he was not who he appeared to be, but they only talk from out of the picture. Where Wei-chen came from is also left out, which could have provided a clue. Many details that could have provided clues about where the story was heading were skipped over, making it difficult for readers to guess the ending.
I also found myself surprised at how the stories in this book intertwined. From the beginning of the story, Yang keeps the readers guessing by defying what the reader expects to happen. In the very first page of Jin’s story, I expected the story being told to be that of the monkey king after the first section, but Yang introduces what seems to be an entirely different story line about a mother and son (24). Yang also keeps the audience on their toes later in the novel when Jin kisses Suzy for seemingly no reason (188). While this makes a large contribution to the plot and tying the stories together, there is no sign that this was going to happen, with even Suzy being confused saying, “What’s wrong with you Jin?!” (188)
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that the stories in the book seemed surprising in how they intertwined in the end, there was definite foreshadowing at the beginning of the book, however subtle. In the very beginning of Jin’s section the old woman in the Chinese herbalist’s store says to Jin, “It’s easy to become anything you wish…so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul” (29). That is very blatant foreshadowing of Jin getting his wish to be white later in the novel. Wei’s robot is also foreshadowing of how the stories intertwine as he says that he got it from his dad (39) and that “He can change into a robot monkey” (38), which though subtle really should stand out to the reader, even if they interpret the monkey as just a symbol.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that the stories overall had a lack of foreshadowing. One of the great strengths of American Born Chinese is how the three stories parallel each other and eventually merge when it is revealed that Chin-Kee is the Monkey King and Wei-Chen is his son. One can be surprised by this plot twist; however, since the stories are parallels of one another it could be inferred.
ReplyDeletePerhaps one of the stumbling blocks to anticipating the plot twist is that the Monkey King in his own story plays a role similar to Jin’s and Danny’s in their own stories. All three of the protagonists’ struggle with their identities due to the prejudice they face because of them. In the end, all of the characters embrace their identities. The Monkey King accepts he is a monkey, Danny transforms back into Jin and Jin starts patronizing a Chinese bakery and reconnects with Wei-Chen. However, in Danny/Jin’s story the Monkey King plays a role akin to that of Tze-Yo-Tzuh, the creator of the universe with “an ever-present reach” (77). Tze-Yo-Tzuh who urges the Monkey King to accept his identity and punishes him or “serve[s] as a signpost to [their] soul[s]” when he does not, just like Chin-Kee punishes Danny for not accepting himself as Jin (221). Wei-Chen plays a role akin to Wong Lai-Tsao. They both encounter the protagonist because the Monkey King/ Tze-Yo-Tzuh place them in the protagonist’s path to help the protagonist accept themselves. One difference though is that Wong Lai-Tsao never falters in his mission, while Wei-Chen strays from the path because of his treatment by humans who are “petty, soulless creatures” (219). In the end, it appears that Wei-Chen accepts his identity by reconnecting with Jin. The endings are similar in that regard as well.
I hadn’t thought about the lack of foreshadow being intentional in the novel. I interpreted the slight foreshadowing in the novel to be a message about an individual's true character. When you meet someone, all you have are their first impression and appearance - there isn't much foreshadow to who they truly are, only the stereotypes associated with their identity. Chin-kee is a great example of this concept because he was created to fit all of the stereotypes of a Chinese individual, such as referring to the binding of a woman's feet when he saw Danny's friend Melanie and answering all of the questions asked in school correctly, yet it turns out he is a wise monkey teaching Jin an important lesson (59, 111-113). When it comes to the more subtle clues that were hidden throughout the novel connecting the three stories, they seem to represent Americans rushing to conclusions and skipping over the little things that make someone an individual. Instead of taking the time to get to know an individual, Yang implies that Americans skip over this part of a relationship and immediately stereotype a Chinese individual, grouping them with other Chinese individuals. This can be seen when Greg asks Jin to “not ask Amelia out again” because he wants to “make sure she makes good choices” and “she has to start paying attention to who she hangs out with” (179). Instead of taking the opportunity to get to know Jin as Amelia did, Greg judges Jin based on the negative stereotypes surrounding Chinese-Americans and concludes that he is not a proper friend for Amelia; Greg rushes to the conclusion that Jin fits the stereotypes associated with his identity and skips over his individuality.
ReplyDeleteI remember coming to a realization about Chin-Kee's character, what he could represent and where he was going that I was fairly confident, only to have that theory blown out of the water by the sudden reveal. Honestly, I think that precisely is what makes this story work, though I needed to reread that particular section a few times.
ReplyDeleteThe sudden reveal that the three stories were not merely connected by a thematic thread, but a direct narrative one was something I don't think we were supposed to see coming. One is an adaptation of a classic and beloved story from ancient times, one is a more grounded, emotional story, and one seems to be the comic relief or perhaps a satirical sting at the ludicrous degree to which we stereotype others. The way in which they all converge, blend together into one story, especially the jarringly direct connection of the ancient fable and the irreverent humor creates a twist that, for all it seems to come form nowhere, has a certain...not "rightness" but oddly-fitting nature to it.
In short, the reveal, at least in my experience, worked because of how utterly it blindsided us