In Wayson Choy’s The Jade Peony, each of the three narrators deal with their own battles and experiences with isolation. Set in Chinatown, Vancouver, in the 30’s and 40’s, the very traditional Chinese cultural standards have a considerable effect on the lives of each character, resulting in their solitude, be it societal, physical, linguistic or racial. First, there’s Jook-Liang, the initial main character and her upbringing, being surrounded by the constant strain to achieve the high standards of her family. Then Jung-Sum, the second perspective in the novel and his struggle to reach a feeling of inclusivity amongst his new family and come to terms with his sexuality. Lastly, the final story told, Sek-Lung, the youngest child’s strife with
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Under such pressure to reach unattainable expectations she found herself feeling alone and unwanted. This created space to be filled in Jook-Liang’s life, allowing the perfect opportunity for her mentor, Wong-Suk to step in and provide the companionship she needed. Wong-Suk, being an outcast of society himself, could understand Jook-Liang’s problems and help her find courage and acceptance. He gave her the chance to express her aspirations of one day becoming a star, like Shirley Temple and to show her creativity and …show more content…
This, paired with being held back from school due to an illness, left him with very few people in his life he was truly close to. He was left unsure about where he belonged, knowing little of either of the Canadian or Chinese cultures, traditions or languages he belonged to. When Sek-Lung met his new mentor, Meiying, he was shown a different side of the world he wouldn’t have seen otherwise. She helped him explore diverse aspects of contrasting people through her secrets trips with him to Little Tokyo where she would visit her forbidden Japanese boyfriend. Sek-Lung had finally found someone he could closely depend on and look up to until she passed abruptly leaving him once again without a familiar advisor. Despite this, the things she taught him would be able to assist him throughout life for years to
Under such pressure to reach unattainable expectations she found herself feeling alone and unwanted. This created space to be filled in Jook-Liang’s life, allowing the perfect opportunity for her mentor, Wong-Suk to step in and provide the companionship she needed. Wong-Suk, being an outcast of society himself, could understand Jook-Liang’s problems and help her find courage and acceptance. He gave her the chance to express her aspirations of one day becoming a star, like Shirley Temple and to show her creativity and …show more content…
This, paired with being held back from school due to an illness, left him with very few people in his life he was truly close to. He was left unsure about where he belonged, knowing little of either of the Canadian or Chinese cultures, traditions or languages he belonged to. When Sek-Lung met his new mentor, Meiying, he was shown a different side of the world he wouldn’t have seen otherwise. She helped him explore diverse aspects of contrasting people through her secrets trips with him to Little Tokyo where she would visit her forbidden Japanese boyfriend. Sek-Lung had finally found someone he could closely depend on and look up to until she passed abruptly leaving him once again without a familiar advisor. Despite this, the things she taught him would be able to assist him throughout life for years to