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American Born Chinese By Gene Luen Yang

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Would you change everything about yourself to fit in or gain respect? American Born Chinese is a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang that grapples with themes of identity and self acceptance. The three stories of the monkey king, Jin Wang, and Danny is how the author portrays these themes. By looking at how The Monkey King, Jin Wang, and Danny overcome obstacles, we understand the book's message about self-acceptance and personal growth. Danny has trouble with his image due to the insecurities surrounding his cousin. We can tell that his cousin embarrasses him when he has to take him to school and he makes sure to bring him in late so that no one will see them in the hallway together. Danny was so insecure about how people’s opinion of his cousin …show more content…

When the monkey king is invited to a party, he is refused entry because he has no shoes. The Monkey King attempts to reason with the guard but the guard remarks, “ You may be a king- you may even be a deity- but you are still a monkey” This made the Monkey King deeply insecure and was the start of his journey. This made the Monkey King deeply insecure and was the start of his journey towards being seen as more than just a monkey. This experience made the monkey insecure in his mannerisms and traditions that made him a monkey, it made him feel like no one could ever see him as a monkey no matter what he did. The monkey king went on a journey to prove himself but he still was seen as just a monkey, due to his stubbornness he was trapped under a mountain of rock and only when he went back to being a monkey was he strong enough to escape his rock prison. Here we can see that the monkey king just needed to accept himself to set him free from prison. In this section we see how the monkey king ends his struggle to be seen past his appearance and realizes how being “just a monkey” is powerful in it’s own

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The story itself is quite unlike any traditional Western tale. However, monkey who encompasses unlikable characteristics is surprisingly the most popular character in china. Deducing from Chinese history and its political satiation being unstable, it can be assumed that Monkey as a character represents the citizens frustration in the government. The popularity of monkey as a character also could

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Danny’s cousin is visiting America from China for a few weeks, and Danny is forced to accompany him. However, Danny is humiliated by him and can’t stand being around him. When he approaches his crush, Melanie, she turns him down lightly, but Danny thinks it’s because of his cousin. He explains to Melanie, “I’m not like him, Melanie. I’m nothing like him!

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Thesis: In The Monkey's Paw by W.W Jacobs, the realistic essence of the monkey's paw made it fundamentally creepy. Point 1: The monkey's paw is a symbol for inclination for greed, exposing our superior wants as people, even the most humble. Point 2: Consequences for the actions of those using the paw develops the image of regret and fear. Point 3:

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The Monkey King most likely grew up with everyone always wanting to please him, but as soon as someone looked down on him he became devoted to the idea that everyone would view him as preeminent.

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The monkey king attends a party for gods, but the guards at the door deny him access because he is a monkey. The guard also teases the monkey king because he is not wearing shoes. On page 60 the monkey king changes his appearance by becoming taller and more human-like to fit in with the gods. In addition, on page 56, he also starts to wear shoes to show he's more human-like. Meanwhile, Jin has a crush on a girl in his class named Amelia.

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In the graphic novel American Born Chinese, Yang uses particular features to make his ideas of transformation, cultural identity and his use of humour with certain issues unforgettable. The use of symbolism is most prominent in the beginning of the novel when Yang uses a transformer toy to represent transformation. This symbolism is used all through the graphic novel and is also a well-known symbol, which makes it so memorable. Yang also uses characterisation to make the idea of cultural identity important amongst the audience. It is clear, for the most part, that Jin Wang and the Monkey King are unhappy with their cultural identity and appearance.

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American Born Chinese is a graphic novel written by Gene Luen Yang. The book is used to represent what life is like for Chinese people that are born in America. It uses three main storylines to show what life is like for them, the Monkey King, Jin Wang, and Danny. The Monkey King is a Chinese deity who goes to great lengths to make himself more human as he doesn't like being a monkey. Jin is a Chinese American junior high school student subjected to many accounts of racism, living in a primarily white community.

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Danny’s insecurities are getting in the way of his self-confidence, as he lets people’s opinions take control of his self-worth and confidence. Ashamed of him, Danny is embarrassed to even be close to Chin-Kee. In addition, Jin comes over to talk to his friends about a girl he likes, when Wei-Chen makes a snarky comment, “... talking is more than he has ever done. Because he is a cowardly turtle” (Yang 94). Though he might be teasing, what Wei-Chen said was not helpful and had a negative effect on Jin’s mood.

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American Born Chinese While you may try to abandon your roots, they will always be a part of you. Throughout the novel American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang the protagonist, Jin Wang struggles with whether he is Chinese or American because he cannot possibly be both, thus provoking a journey of knowledge, remembrance, and growth. However, no one can entirely change themselves to fit a situation without first leaving a piece of themselves behind. In the first part of American Born Chinese jin woo is just trying to make it through school the best he can, he manages to do this by keeping to himself and trying not to piss any of the other students off.

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Although Monkey’s motives were initially blurred with bad intentions, this is a major turning point in the novel where he starts to evolve into one of the most important Buddhist heroes within the story. To achieve enlightenment per Bodhisattva, the one who convinced him to bring the Buddhist holy scriptures to the people of China, so that Monkey can attain salvation and be allowed back into heaven, Monkey must first accompany the Buddhist monk, Tripitaka on a journey. Though Tripitaka has many human flaws, he exhibits the idea of imperfection being alright, and that learning is a life-long process. Therefore, with Monkey not wanting to die or change lives originally, he is illustrating that both Taoism and Buddhism pursue the idea of reincarnation/ enlightenment and immortality except in different

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Initially, Monkey views the world as privy to his own needs because he is his own master. His life is all pleasure in the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. He disrespects the customs of heaven and steals from the people of heaven. He chooses to engage in mischief and views the beliefs and actions of others as inferior to his own. He tells Natha, an emissary of Jade Emperor, to “tell the Jade Emperor that if he will give me [the rank of Great Sage, Equal to Heaven] he need send no more armies” (Waley 49).

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American Born Chinese written by Luen Yang portrays an Asian boy named Jin who moves from San Francisco Chinatown to a mainly white dominated community. Upon arriving at his new school in the neighborhood he faces a struggle of fitting in with his peers and self acceptance. Going to drastic measures to change himself so he can meet society's expectations of “normal”. He learns how to not be ashamed of himself but rather embrace his identity. Likewise to ABC,

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Arriving at the party for all the Gods, the Monkey King had tried to get in. However, the Gods laugh at him and kick him out because he isn’t wearing shoes and he he 's a monkey. Due to the conflict at the party, readers question what the Monkey King will do next after he is humiliated and kicked out. The author effectively uses this plot element because it is made clear that the Monkey King did not belong with the Gods and the conflict makes readers want to keep reading to find out what happens.

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The novel "American Born Chinese" by Gene Yang explores the subject of identification and the volume to which people are willing to adjust their appearance to be healthy with others. The individual of the Monkey King serves as a traditional people hero who undergoes big adjustments in each his physical appearance and self-confidence as he interacts with the opposite gods. One example of the Monkey King's initial confidence is seen when he first arrives at the Heavenly Palace and pronounces, "I'm the incredible Sage, Equal of Heaven! there may be now not whatever I cannot do now!"

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