Surname1 Name Instructor Course Date The twists in Tripmaster Monkey Introduction The book Tripmaster Monkey written by the author Maxine Hong Kingston follow a plot that prompts the reader to try and decipher the elements therein or more so what the author could be implying in her text. It takes a highly dedicated reader, a reader not easily swayed by mundane literature to find the literary work by Maxine interesting. The reader would need to delve deeper into Maxine’s world to understand her texts and find the essence of the book or what it was intending to convey. Maxine, therefore, uses symbolism that the reader ought to seek and take note of. The author; Maxine uses this technique, as well as the incorporation of a well thought out layout and style, to engage her readers. Maxine also utilizes figurative techniques in her book that further implores her readers to comprehend what Maxine might have been trying to imply. For the purposes of reviewing the plot in the book Tripmaster Monkey, this paper will analyze how symbolism impacts the plot of the novel thereby making it an interesting read. The plot in Tripmaster Monkey Garden and Cigarette symbolism Symbols of gardens and cigarettes are evident in the entire novel written by Maxine. Both elements of the novel can be assumed to bear proximal relations to the leading character; Wittman. Wittman is found to have been a survivor in the garden, thus, the garden poses importance to Wittman. Wittman then considers the garden as something more of a blessing in which case he takes the initiative to modify and thereby establish what to him Surname2 would be the best definition of a garden; a garden that suits his preferences. It is through this garden that Wittman seeks and finds his true self-identity (Kingston, 1990). Cigarette, on the other hand, may depict dependency and necessity. The “cigarette” is more or less always in accompaniment; he takes it with him wherever he goes or in whatever activities he chooses to undertake. Thus, it is notable that the cigarette depictions at different times within the novel may be reflective of Wittman’s psychology. Wittman’s mental processes were always depicted as shifty often versatile depending on the situation he found himself in (Kingston, 1990). Through the incorporation of the two elements: cigarette and garden the plot of the novel by Maxine comes alive allowing the reader to stay entertained throughout the entire novel. When Wittman enters the garden he I confronted by various images of people doing various different things. For instance, at some point he encounters “..a pigeon and a squatting man, both puking.” Albeit the fact that most people and activities he encounters in this garden may be unpleasant it is his ideal garden (Kingston, 1990). At that point, it depicted Wittman’s mental processes that were at the time unpleasant but depicted the state of the real world in which he lived. At that point it may have been seemingly in turmoil Wittman does manage to get out of the situation “Golden Gate Park was wild today. I fought my way out. Lucky.” The fact that Wittman is able to escape the harsh realities present at the time may depict the mental state he must have been at the time when he leaves the golden gate in which he encounters disturbing images. Thus, as soon as Wittman is able to leave that state of mind that is, in essence, perplexing and presumably, we are able to decipher that he may find a new garden to that effect. The garden has for the most part been mirrored to fit the perfect paradise envisioned by Wittman. “A Pear Garden in the West” is the point at which Wittman is able to then modify his ideal garden (Kingston, 1990). His ideal garden is then presented to the public whereby his audience is comprised of a diverse community, of whites, blacks, Surname3 Asians etc in which liberation, equality, and harmony create his ideal garden; “artistic pear garden.” The symbolic elements in the novel used to depict Wittman’s ideal environment which was devoid of marginalization and discrimination. It is through this depiction of the garden that a close of the novel is foreseen by the reader where ideology meets practice. It is at this pointy that Maxine leaves the imagination of the reader to run wild trying to figure what the next course of action will be, both by Wittman, and other people falling into the novel’s context. More so, the use of the cigarette and the fire are used to signify a new beginning. According to Wittman, the cigarette may be a source of inspiration and hope thereby making it vital to well being. In the first chapter, even after Wittman has seemingly encountered a suicide scene, he returns to the golden gate park and smokes on his cigarette (Kingston, p.3). Thus, at this point the cigarette allows him to withstand the situations therein “he blew smoke hard between clenched teeth.” The essence of the cigarette is therefore evident throughout the novel in which case the cigarette is often used by Wittman to soothe his nerves when necessary. Theaters and movies Theatres and movies have been used in this novel as the propaganda tool. It is through a channel that the public is made aware of the fact that other cultures and ways of life exist. The movies and theaters are used in this novel to depict the similarity between the period and Wittman’s line of thought. The movie industry is under development (Kingston, 1990). The numerous movies mentioned by Wittman reflect his perceptions and wants as well as how they may be similar to various aspects of Wittman's life. When Nanci tells Wittman of her encounter with the movie industry and how she was seemingly eliminated, Wittman seeks to confront the predicament assuring Nanci that he would modify a theatre for her (Kingston, Surname4 p.58). Perception of the western world is just as Nanci had depicted it to be; Chinese Americans are perceived to be ugly and lacking in linguistic abilities whether they be male or female, the bias perceptions were the same. They are even considered to lack in morals as well. It is through this situation that a direct comparison to that of Wittman can be made (Kingston, 1990). Western biases and prejudices towards Chinese Americans are clearly articulated within the movie industry. The Western has perceived the Chinese Americans as a stereotyped group. It is because of this that Wittman is compelled to create a theatre that would be ideal in his perception and that would further educate the western people about the Chinese American (Kingston, p.75; 228). This would be in a bid to eradicate the prejudices and improve the Chinese Americans self-identity crisis. The “Pear garden” therefore, is meant to disrupt the norms of the west through the inclusion of diversity, harmony, and equality (Kingston, 1990). Conclusion The plot of the book Tripmaster Monkey is easier to decipher through the inclusion of symbolism in the structure of the novel. The symbolism used in the novel allows the mind of the reader to run wild and liberated in thinking about an ideal America and how they too could contribute to changing it. The novel by Maxine provokes the reader’s empathy and logical processing into assessing their current situation and making an informed decision as to whether the environment that is in is ideal as well as what they too could do to change that through creating their own “ideal gardens.” Devoid of symbolism that Maxine articulates in his novel, the book would lack in artistic developments that would engage the reader more thereby rendering the book mundane. Surname5 Works Cited Kingston, Maxine Hong. Tripmaster monkey: His fake book. Vintage, 1990. MAXINE HONG KINGSTON Author of THE WOMAN WARRIOR and CHINA MEN miplustes E O ZA N K E Y A N" h is f a k e INTERNATIONAL b'o o k 22222222 "A dazzling leap of imaginative sympathy (and) narrative magic.“ – The New York Times Book Review 222 വല
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