Transformation Of Wei Chen In American Born Chinese By Gene Luen Yang

Cooper Maschmeyer
Mrs. Mercado
English 1-11
12/21/22
American Born Chinese Essay

No change or transformation is made on its own, it is influenced by somebody, somewhere, or something. People can be influenced in many different ways; this idea is conveyed through two characters that Gene Luen Yang creates. Wei Chen is constantly influenced by Jin, which leads to negative transformations for Wei Chen. In the graphic novel, “American Born Chinese”, Gene Luen Yang communicates the theme, people’s actions often influence change in identity and mindset, by using Wei Chen’s moral principles, identity, and attitude in the moral world.
Gene Luen Yang’s character, Wei Chen changes his own moral principals when he is influenced by one of the main characters.

In the first panel on page 188 it shows an image of Jin kissing Wei Chen’s girlfriend at the time. This deeply affected Wei Chen in a way that he could never look at a human the same and became deeply disgusted by them. He felt as if Jin broke his heart more than his girlfriend ever could, Wei Chen was completely betrayed by his friend who he looked up to in such a high manner. Wei Chen learns from his father about what a human means to an emissary when Wei Chen asks, “That includes humans?” and his father responds with, “Yes, Tze-Yo-Tzuh considers them the pinnacle of his creation” (Yang 188). With Wei Chen’s new opinion on humans it was a quick decision to quit being an emissary. He was inheriting this job, preparing for it since birth and at this point it seems as if he had thrown it all away. Wei Chen was blown away by the actions of Jin and how this hurt him, this influenced him to a make decision that would change his life

After arguing with his father about his further commitment as an emissary, Wei Chen leaves by saying, “I will spend the remainder of my days in the mortal world using it for my pleasure” (Yang 220). Wei Chen has changed from a polite scholar to a selfish being, this all strains from the influence that Jin had and used. Further into the story on page 228 and 229 of the story Wei Chen returns almost unrecognizable. He pulls up to a restaurant in a loud fast car, when he rolls down the window he is smoking a cigarette, wearing sunglasses, big diamond studs, and a chain. He had developed a whole new style for himself. Wei Chen completely changed, becoming rather arrogant and obnoxious. Wei Chen’s mindset and identity changed in the mortal world from the influence of