The two books that I've read are "The Bluest Eye" and "American Born Chinese." The two books compare to one another in many ways. They are similar to each other because they not only deal with racism but how different characters respond to it as well. It seemed like both books characters wanted to fit in, so they did things out of the ordinary or different that caused negative and positive consequences. For example in, "American Born Chinese" the monkey king wanted to be acknowledged and lean away from his true monkey self. In The Bluest Eye, Pecola wanted to have blue eyes, pink skin, and blonde hair, so she could just fit in and be pretty instead of ugly and black.
Both create conversation about cultural identity, race, and privilege. Both books converse about cultural identity by, "The Bluest Eye" saying, blonde hair, blue eyes, and pink skin is successful, beautiful, and privileged and black is ugly.While, "American Born Chinese" says, being a monkey isn't fit for normal, just as being Asian or Chinese isn't good enough or beneath other races. The conversation of race that both books display is that different races don't mesh well, or being different do not go together when trying to have a relationship of some sort. Even if things are going well there's always someone from the outside looking in disapproving. The conversation being held on the topic of privilege is that both books seem to portray being white is the way to go, or is simply the most successful race as well as the most rewarded and powerful.
Both books share the theme that the characters want to be either changed or want to be rid of the race that is basically ruining their lives. For example in the book, "American Born Chinese" Danny wanted to get rid of his cousin Chin-Kee from China or Japan, because he always embarrasses him and rubs his friends the wrong way, which forces Danny to transfer every year after Chin-Kee visits. In " The Bluest eye," Pecola wanted to have blue eyes in order to fit in and be beautiful and not ugly, as other people called her. Both books show that the dominant race in each book held all the power. It was white people in "The Bluest Eye," and being a human and not a monkey, white and not Chinese or Asian in, "American Born Chinese."
First of all I think you read The Bluest Eye, not White Like Me, but you have all the information the same haha. I definately agree that both books explain who the "priveleged" race is. I also like how you noticed the main characters in the books were changed or were wanted to disappear in a way. I never thought about it that way but I like it!
ReplyDeleteyea i read the same two books and and agree that they were both very similar in themes and many other ways but i liked bluest eye more.
ReplyDeleteExcellent connections to the overall themes in both novels. I think your recognition that each of the characters tried to buy in to what is the "most rewarded" or "most powerful" is accurate for each character, it's interesting to see, however, the lessons each of the characters learn in their personal "quests" to be someone "other" than who they truly are. The Monkey King and Jin seem to have revelations about themselves that unfortunately Pecola never does.
ReplyDeleteThe one phrase in your response that particularly caught my eye was your idea that "it seems as though there is always someone on the outside disapproving". I agree with this whole heartedly involving our society that can be very judgemental and quick to make assumptions. Ironically enough it seems as though reality is portrayed through both of these novels despite the factor of some of the impossible things (such as Pecola getting blue eyes, or a Monkey transforming into a Asian student's father). Reality is portrayed by people making assumptions and judgements just like in our society today....in a sense I felt this truly connected with your post.
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