American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang, emphasizes transformation. Transformation is seen by the characters as the key to acceptance into American society. In the first section of the story of Jin Wang, Jin is asked by an herbalist’s wife about what he plans on being when he grows up. Jin replies that he wishes to be a “transformer”. The significance of this dream isn’t evident until the Monkey King, also in disguise, reveals the character of Danny is actually Jin.
Before Jin becomes Danny, he continuously attempts to fit in with his American classmates, changing his hair and speech. He also tries to instill this conformity with another Asian American, Wei-Chen, telling him, “You’re in America. Speak English” (37). After Jin tells Wei-Chen he’s not worthy of Suzy and justifying his treatment of Wei-Chen, Jin finally becomes like the American children, effectively losing his soul. This allows him to transform into blonde-haired Danny.
In the story of the Monkey King, he’s not accepted into Heaven. Embarrassed and upset, he works to be worthy of entry and proclaims himself, “The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven” (60). His transformation into different forms does not work, as he is seen only as a monkey and doesn’t accept this fact until he is buried under rocks. The only way out is to transform back to his original monkey form. Once the Monkey King accepts his “true identity”, he serves Tze-Yo-Tzuh and sends his son, Wei-Chen, to live with humans for a test of virtue. Earlier in the graphic novel, Jin talks to Wei-Chen while he is holding a robot that transforms into a monkey. This toy is a symbol of Wei-Chen’s true identity. This detail explains why Wei-Chen, even though there are little moments where he learns how to fit in as an American child, doesn’t place as much pressure on himself to push away his cultural identity.
After Chin-Kee reveals himself as the Monkey King to Jin, he says he came to “serve as your conscience-a signpost to your soul” (221). The loss of Jin’s soul led to him becoming Danny, and now Jin is supposed to accept himself and change his actions, which he tries to do by speaking with Wei-Chen and visiting the Chinese café. The Monkey King and Jin come to realize changing themselves isn't going to solve their problems, they need to stay true to their souls.
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ReplyDeleteGood post! Something I found interesting while reading the graphic novel regarding disguises and transformation was how Danny so closely resembled Greg, whose features Jin tried to imitate by getting a perm (Yang 97). Amelia, the girl Jin has a crush on, resembled Danny's crush, Melanie. Without Jin's Chinese background, Jin becomes Danny and his dreams to resemble Greg and date Amelia are attainable and only ruined by Chin-Kee. This mirrors Jin's belief that it is his Chinese heritage and its perception that take these opportunities away from him. WIthout being burden by his Chinese identity, Jin has the ability to become a "cool" student like Greg. But of course, this is impossible and even Danny is haunted by Chinese stereotypes in the form of Chin-Kee. The way Jin views being Chinese as a burden is evident through this transformation. Yet the Monkey King allows Jin to see that he should listen to the herbalist's message and choose to be himself rather than forfeiting his soul (29). At the end of the novel we see Jin embracing his Chinese culture by actively surrounding himself with Chinese culture at the cafe. Though this is hard for Jin, he is beginning to make an effort to embrace his culture and is assisted in this journey by Wei-Chen, as he helps him find a better place to get pearl milk tea.
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