The novel Islands of Silence by Wei-chen Su,a female writer from Taiwan,explores the identity and roles of women by portraying two characters with the same name,Chenmian,who struggles with her unbearable reality from ...The novel Islands of Silence by Wei-chen Su,a female writer from Taiwan,explores the identity and roles of women by portraying two characters with the same name,Chenmian,who struggles with her unbearable reality from her family,desperately trying to build a“solid”identity for herself.The character is so eager to have ways out that she imagines another totally different self,with a happy marriage in a lovely family.In the novel,the single Chenmian travels around the world while the alter ego lives a stable life in Taiwan.Through the intertwined story lines of both Chenmians,Su challenged our traditional understanding of female identity;attempted to destabilize the traditional concepts of womanhood.This concept starts with Chenmian’s quest for an essential womanhood,but ends with her realization of its indefiniteness.展开更多
文摘The novel Islands of Silence by Wei-chen Su,a female writer from Taiwan,explores the identity and roles of women by portraying two characters with the same name,Chenmian,who struggles with her unbearable reality from her family,desperately trying to build a“solid”identity for herself.The character is so eager to have ways out that she imagines another totally different self,with a happy marriage in a lovely family.In the novel,the single Chenmian travels around the world while the alter ego lives a stable life in Taiwan.Through the intertwined story lines of both Chenmians,Su challenged our traditional understanding of female identity;attempted to destabilize the traditional concepts of womanhood.This concept starts with Chenmian’s quest for an essential womanhood,but ends with her realization of its indefiniteness.
