Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior

American ethnic literature can be identified as literature written by an American author who writes about cultural issues in America. “Native born individuals whose literary careers are pursued in the United States and whose work reflects American themes and issues (however broadly defined) indisputably qualify as American writers” (McQuade, Atwan, & Banta, 1999, p.2811). Being native born in America does not mean however that these authors did not grow up in a culturally rich environment. America is a melting pot of sorts for all cultures; in that manner an author who was born here can still be raised with a culturally diverse background and chooses to write about it. These are the stories that would make up American ethnic literature.
American
She focuses her stories on the way the rich cultural traditions of her parents influenced her American way of growing up. Kingston tells her story The Woman Warrior “No Name Woman,” in an ethnic style of writing. Her use of symbolism and cultural understanding paint a vivid picture. She begins with her mother talking to her in a cryptic secretive manner. Kingston tells the story of her aunt in segments, first with the direct words from her mother. Her mother made sure to instruct Kingston to never speak of what she was bing told, as in Chinese culture you do not talk about the dead who are considered a disgrace to the family. As Kingston retells this tragic story of her aunt killing herself it becomes apparent that she has to fill in the gaps with what she knows of Chinese culture and tradition. Since she is not allowed to ask and clarifying questions Kingston pieces together a story of her aunt’s tragic
Americans who have no exposure to Chinese culture and traditions would not have been able to piece together why the aunt killed herself if the information was not told to them. “Mothers who love their children take them along. It was probably a girl; there is some hope of forgiveness for boys” (McQuade, Atwan, & Banta, 1999, p.2631). The aunt took her own life as well as her newborn baby’s because in the Chinese culture she would not have been able to earn forgiveness, and the shame would follow her baby, especially if it was a girl. This kind of view into traditions outside of ones culture can only happen if it is explained and retold in the same manner that is culturally important. In America a woman may have had options or the ability to run away. In China this was not the case. Kingston’s story allows a small window into the cultural differences in American ethnic