In American Born Chinese the role of the transformer toy is of great importance to the overarching theme of the novel. From claiming a spot on the front cover of the novel to forging a connecting between Jin and Wei-Chen, the transformer is a constant reminder of how the main characters- Jin, Danny, and the Monkey King -want nothing more than to change their identity and transform into someone else.
However, these desires do not come without a consequence. The Chinese herbalist warns Jin that "it's easy to become anything you wish...so long as you're willing to forfeit your soul" (Yang, 29). This is evident in all of the main characters. Jin wants to become independent from his asian roots and even fellow asian classmates. Danny wishes nothing more than to escape the shadow of his cousin Chin-Kee, stating that "by the time [Chin-Kee] leaves, no one thinks of me as Danny anymore. I'm Chin-Kee's cousin" (Yang, 127). Finally, the Monkey King, though highly regarded by his subjects, wants to distance himself from his monkey roots by practicing and mastering the twelve major disciplines of Kung-fu. The Monkey King then changes his identity to "The Great Sage, equal of Heaven" (Yang, 60). The consequences of transformation are most evident in the case of the Monkey King, for he becomes buried under a mountain of rock for five hundred years.
In all of these characters, the most inherent issue is separation from their asian roots. Jin dissociates himself from his asian heritage by rejecting Wei-Chen's original offer of friendship, which becomes more clear at the end of the novel when we are shown that Jin is actually Danny. Danny shows the true feelings of Jin- he wants to escape the reign of his Chinese roots by rejecting his cousin. Chin-Kee is a clear representation of Chinese heritage and how it is oftentimes seen by others. However, no matter where Danny moves to, Chin-Kee returns each year to wreak havoc on Danny/Jin's life, exemplifying the fact that transformations do not come without a consequence. In the end, however, the characters are more accepting of their identity, with the Monkey King stating that he "could have saved [himself] from five hundred years imprisonment beneath a mount of rock had [he] only realized how good it is to be a monkey" (Yang, 223). It is with this statement that the reader is left with a true sense of the theme of the novel- accepting who you are is the only way to live a happy life.
The idea of transforming/transformation is true in the graphic novel. The three main characters (the Monkey King, Jin, and Danny) transform themselves in their appearance and their personality. They all find ways of wanting to be different from who they really are. They do not start being self-conscious of themselves until they hear people’s opinions on them. At a party, the guard points out to the Monkey King that, “-you haven’t any shoes” (Yang 14). He is not allowed into the party and that is when he becomes insecure of himself because he is not like the other people at the party. For Jin, when he moves away from his friends in Chinatown to another place where he is now the minority, his self-esteem lowers because he feels like nobody can relate to him as his friends did back in Chinatown. In Danny’s story, he is confident in himself until Chin-Kee comes to visit. His connection to Chin-Kee makes him feel vulnerable to people possibly making fun of him. The connection between the three characters is seen from the beginning of the graphic novel when they try to separate themselves from who they really are and from where they came from. Throughout the story, they try to change their innermost selves from people who may make fun of them and make them feel less of a person. The story shows how insecurities can drive people to change themselves to hide those said insecurities.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that transformation is a major theme of the graphic novel. While the transformation of the Monkey King is rather apparent in the novel, Jin’s transformation is more gradual.
ReplyDeleteIn order to impress the deities and gain acceptance in their party, the Monkey King learns various Kung-Fu techniques. To convince the deities of him being “The Great Sage, equal of Heaven,” he uses his skills to intimidate them (60). His violent actions contrast greatly with the small monkey that is happily drawn early in the graphic novel.
Jin starts as a seemingly innocent, quiet boy who’s only friend at Mayflower Elementary School is Wei-Chen. He does not start drastically changing his identity until he wishes to gain the favor of Amelia, a classmate of his. First, he changes his hairstyle to mimic the hair of Greg, a White boy Amelia hangs out with. He starts having “jolt[s] of confidence” which leads him to becoming friends with Amelia (105). All is well until Greg asks Jin to stop being with Amelia. Having failed his attempt to be with Amelia, he starts taking drastic actions in his frustration. He kisses Wei-Chen’s girlfriend, and then insults his friend by saying his girlfriend could “do better than an F.O.B. (fresh off the boat) like [him]” (191). At this point, Jin’s character is transformed. He no longer acts like himself, and he has forfeited his soul to become Danny, a popular White boy.
The Transformer toy is a critical part of Jin's childhood and foreshadows his eventual transformation into Danny. While Transformers themselves are a very american toy, they originated in Japan. For years Hasbro would buy the Transformer toys from a Japanese toy company, changing the names and backstories of those toys eventually creating the Transformers we know today. This name changing Americanization is a direct parallel to Jin's transition. This is explicitly outlined outlined with Jin's interaction with the herbalist on 27-29 saying to her when he grows up "I want to be a Transformer!" (Yang) Over the next few panes, the transformer is drawn considerably larger than in the wider shots symbolizing how this idea of change and superficial Americanizing will grow to dominate Jin. Eventually going on "to forfeit [his] soul" (Yang 29) in his effort to fit in.
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