Abstract

Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, known as a masterpiece in the Chinese American literature, makes good use of vivid description and imagination to show a Chinese American’s girlhood life and reveal the sufferings of oppression and racism afflicted upon the female characters. This article analyzes the three deep meanings of the Chinese element, “ghost” herein: an illustration of discontent and rejection from the first-generation immigrants; the seconde-generation Chinese Americans’ acception of America being regarded as “ghost” in the eyes of the first-generation immigrants; the negative elements of traditional Chinese culture, especially gender prejudice. The employment of the element “ghost” reflected the author’s criticism to racism and sexism and her wish that the females fight against oppression and bravely pursue love and freedom.

Keywords: ghost, The Woman Warrior, racism, gender prejudice

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-1

3. “Ghost” as the First-genneration Chinese Americans’ Rejection to America and its Culture-2

3.1 Rejection to the American whites-2

3.2 Rejection to the American culture-4

4. “Ghost” as the Second-generation Chinese Americans’ Acception of American Culture -5

5. “Ghost” as Fighting Against Gender Prejudice-7

5.1 No name woman-7

5.2 Brave Orchid-9

6.Conclusion-10

Works Cited..12