Lisa See’s novel, China Dolls, affords a wealthy exploration of identification formation and cultural negotiation by means of the lens of a particular sociological principle. This principle posits that which means is created by means of social interactions and the shared interpretation of symbols. The novel offers a compelling instance of how people develop their sense of self by means of interactions with others, significantly throughout the context of a marginalized neighborhood going through prejudice and discrimination. As an illustration, the close-knit relationships between the Chinese language American nightclub performers in Nineteen Thirties San Francisco show how shared experiences and cultural symbols, like the frilly costumes and make-up, contribute to a collective identification and provide solace amidst societal pressures.
Inspecting China Dolls by means of this theoretical framework illuminates the complexities of cultural identification and the influence of social forces on particular person lives. The novels historic setting through the Nice Melancholy provides one other layer to this evaluation, highlighting the precise challenges confronted by Chinese language People throughout a interval of financial hardship and widespread xenophobia. This strategy deepens our understanding of the characters’ motivations, struggles, and triumphs as they navigate a society that usually views them as “different.” Moreover, it reveals how people actively create and negotiate which means inside restrictive social buildings.
