This paper discusses the structure, narrative voice(s), and political, social and economic stratification and entitlement in Jessica Hagedorn's novel "Dogeaters".
Abstract This paper explains that Jessica Hagedorn's novel Dogeaters, which takes place in Manila in the Philippines during the heyday of the Marcos dictatorship, is written in a style that is sensually seductive, structurally fragmented and with a multiple-viewpoint. The author points out that this novel reflects, in depth, the contrast between the overwhelming superficiality of the wealthy and powerful in keenly class-conscious Manila and the "dogs", the various down-and-out young Filipinos characters in the story. The author points out that "Dogeaters" is 'radically-disjunctive' in form, which means that instead of writing in a traditional linear storytelling framework, Hagedorn allows bits of memories to surface so that characters can recall past impressions and experiences through their senses.
From the Paper "Throughout this story, Rio looks back at past times spent in her homeland, by way of adult associations often spurred by memories. In the end, the fragments Hagedorn describes do not quite add up to a clearly recognizable picture. (Proust's, or even Rushdie's do so much better.) Still, Hagedorn's main character Rio continually recollects sharp (for whatever reason) youthful impressions from distant memory. In what still might be loosely but justifiable called "Proustian [sic] fashion", Hagedorn also implicitly "shifts" the former, original, significances of them, in Rio's adult mind, to a more integrated adult one. "
Abstract The paper reviews Jessica Hadgedorn's novel, "The Gangster of Love" which depicts the struggle between the Philippines and America and their history of mutual delusion, strife, and misleading affection. The paper explores the main character, Rocky, and explores the relationships and themes of the book.
From the Paper "Negligent of the cultural tradewinds reeling around her, Rocky constantly constitutes a psychological niche for herself in asserting her independence as a female spirit. Geared up to seek the extent of America's potentialities, she decides to take a chance by embarking on a cross-country trip with Elvis Chang to New York. Armed with little more than a limited amount of funds, a shaky pickup truck, and a repletion of dreams conceiving musical triumph, the couple make plans to start up a rock band called ?The Gangster of Love.?"
From the Paper "Two recent novels--Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn and Rolling the R's by R. Zamora Linmark--illuminate different aspects of the Filipino experience, the first set in Manila and so in the Filipino homeland, the second in Hawaii and so a reflection of the immigrant experience in America. Both works reflect the difficulty faced in the conflict between the old culture and the new. In both books, the older generation is tied to the culture of the Philippines while the younger generation is seduced by American popular culture. In Dogeaters, this conflict takes place in the Philippines as the powerhouse of American popular culture beckons to the young. In Rolling the R's, the conflict takes place in Hawaii as people who have immigrated form the Philippines are exposed even more directly to American life and culture. The themes of class conflicts, assimilation, and the.."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the two novels and discusses the way in which the theme of identity has been used in both. It shows how identity plays a crucial role in both these novels, but in far different ways. It links the personal identity of the authors to the characters and shows that their dilemnas and searches for their true indentities were similar to the characters.
From the Paper "Chang-rae Lee was born in Korea, but his family moved to New York City when he was only three years old. His father is a successful psychiatrist, so the family always prospered, and lived in well-to-do neighborhoods, but his mother never really learned to speak English. His first book, "Native Speaker," received the PEN/Hemingway Award for Best First Fiction and the 1995 Discover Award. In addition, the literary journal "Granta" called Lee one of the fifty best American writers under the age of forty (Kich 176)."
