Beyond Dread: The Postcolonial Fear and Transition in The Joy Luck Club

• Main Authors: Chiu, Ya-Li, 邱雅莉
• Other Authors: Chiang, Hsiao-Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/96c6vy

碩士 === 國立彰化師範大學 === 英語學系 === 106 === This thesis aims to explore the fear of the heroines in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club and analyze the relief of dread. The study adopts postcolonial perspective, mainly with the notion of Other, to examine the fear of the characters and delves into the development of the heroines with Peter Barry’s three-stage model of postcolonial literature. The thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter summarizes critical reviews on The Joy Luck Club and briefs the backgrounds of the author and novel, providing a comprehensive understanding of the text. Chapter Two builds up a theoretical framework for the thesis. First, the postcolonial fear is explicated with the concept of Orientalism. Secondly, the hegemony and aphasia under representation are subsequently expounded. Finally, the postcolonial writing and its three-stage model which includes the unquestioning acceptance of mainstream culture, the claim for partial rights of genre, and the achievement of cultural independence are discussed in the last part of the chapter. Chapter Three focuses on the fear of the heroines. Owing to the instillation of cultural hegemony, the characters subconsciously look down on themselves for the identity of Other, giving rise to an inferiority complex and fear. Thus, they dare not resist the discrimination in society and the exploitation in marriage. Eventually, they lose themselves in dread. Chapter Four illuminates the conversion of the heroines. This chapter analyzes the transition of the characters under two diverse cultural hegemonies with three-stage model of postcolonial literature, which includes Chinese-American daughter’s internal colonization of white supremacy and the Chinese mother’s ideological oppression of patriarchy. In the beginning, the heroines adopt an obedient attitude toward the hegemony. However, under constant oppression, they are awakening to think about their value and rights. Finally, they take the plunge and retrieve their voice and pride, controlling their own lives. Chapter Five concludes the theories and analyses, affirming the significance of the novel. Overthrowing the obedient stereotype of Chinese, Tan successfully shapes the image of courageous fighter and conveys the thought that self-respect and self-confidence could be the best strategies for overcoming dread and creating Joy and Luck.