Asian-American Literature

Paper Summary:

This paper attempts to construct a definition of an Asian-American writer through the common themes in their literary works. Several examples of Asian-American novels are presented and analyzed for their shared themes such as alienation and family. These works include Eric Liu's "The Accidental Asian," "The Interpreter" by Suki Kim and "No-No Boy," by John Okada. The author concludes that the themes of self-doubt and estrangement make reading 'Asian-American' literature an enriching, complex experience.

From the Paper:

"This theme of internal estrangement becomes a metaphorical plot device in The Interpreter by Suki Kim. The protagonist of the novel has two murdered parents. The young woman is a both a literal and figurative orphan of her home, her original Korean culture, and cast adrift in America. If she can find their murderers, Suzy hopes, she will gain a sense of identity and a greater affinity with her national past. However, her pursuit of justice only drives her deeper into psychological turmoil and a sense of displacement, as she seeks her parent's murderers in vain in the Korean-American underworld of New York City."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kim, Suki. The Interpreter. New York: Random House, 2003.
• Liu, Eric. The Accidental Asian. Random House, 2003.
• Okada, Jon. No No Boy. Seattle: University of Washington, 1976.

More papers on Asian-American Literature:

• Essay # 57751 : "Asian-American Literature"
• Comparison Essay # 91855 : "Gender in Asian-American Literature"
• Comparison Essay # 129556 : "Similarities in Asian-American Literature"

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