Blog #1
The three characters from Yang’s American Born Chinese were all interconnected and each represented a different aspect of what one might consider it to be like to be Asian American. The Monkey King was a reminder of where the Asian American came from; his/her roots so to speak, Danny was the face of an Asian American teenager that is trying to fit into a culture and country that does not readily accept him, and Chin-Kee is the embodiment of all the stereotypes that Americans think of when they think of the Chinese or other Asians. Of all of these characters, the one who stands out the most is Chin-Kee. By American standards, he dresses weird; he talks funny, and is an overall embarrassment to his cousin Danny.
One might question why Yang created a character that personifies such blatant stereotypes. I think it was a way to demonstrate that things are not always as they seem. There is “more than meets the eye” with Chin-Kee. In this particular instance, this character is not bad and should not be viewed in a negative way. He is there to remind Danny of who he is. Since Chin-Kee is the Monkey King in a different form, he is there to bring Danny back to the root of who he is. Initially I was unable to make this connection. When Danny was first introduced into the story, he looked like a typical white, American teenage boy and I didn’t understand how he could possibly have a cousin that was so clearly Asian. I did not realize that Danny was really Jin Wang. Due to the prejudices that Jin faced as a young boy, over time, he transformed from someone who was the punch line behind jokes and was ostracized for being “different”, to a westernized teenager who did not resemble someone of Asian descent. He tried to separate himself from what he was. Initially, he might not have even realized he was different until it was pointed out to him in school. Much like the Monkey King, who was rejected by the other deities for being a monkey, he too tried to alter who he was. Yang wrote “when he entered his royal chamber, the thick smell of monkey fur greeted him. He’d never noticed it before. He stayed awake for the rest of the night thinking of ways to get rid of it” (Yang, 20). Try as one might, there are certain aspects about oneself that they cannot change such as one’s race, sex, etc. You cannot change who you are especially to please others in order to gain their acceptance.
The stereotypical portrayal of Chin-Kee was meant to reaffirm Chinese stereotypes that Americans have. It was a way to demonstrate that we should not be so quick to pass judgment and there is more to a person than the color of their skin or the way they dress. More importantly though, he was meant to be a cultural representation and reminder for Danny to not forget who he is. There is nothing wrong with embracing the culture of where one lives however Danny appeared to completely reject his Asian heritage. The Monkey King said, “I would have saved myself from five hundred years’ imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I only realized how good it is to be a monkey” (Yang, 223). Chin-Kee was able to set Danny free.
