2.

The Monkey Fable: Why might Gene Luen Yang have decided to include the story of the
Monkey King in American Born Chinese? How might the Monkey King’s efforts to be admitted into
a dinner party for deities serve to illuminate Jin Wang’s experiences in a predominantly white middle
school? Which details from the Monkey King’s narrative serve to deepen the reader’s understanding of
how Jin Wang feels or behaves?

Gene Lune Yang talked about how American-born Chinese try to socialize and how to explore and find
out his true identity. This book talks about the situation and conflicts when two different cultures
communicate and blend. The author implicitly expresses or shows readers some social problems as
well, like the stereotypes about Chinese and Chinese culture. In the illustration of these topics, the
author includes the story of the Monkey King to help express the subjects. In three paragraphs below,
there are three different explanations about the advantage about the existence of the story of the
Monkey King in American Born Chinese.

First of all, the story of the Monkey King is a symbol of Chinese ancient culture. Gene Lune Yang has
decided to include the story of the Monkey King because this story is a classical Chinese ancient story,
and it is famous throughout the world as well. This can help the author to express subjects that are
about American-born Chinese and Chinese culture. This can closer the distance between the comics
and readers. Readers who are familiar with Chinese culture will be familiar with scenes in this book as
well. The existence of the story about the Monkey King highlights this property. Almost everyone from
Chinese culture will be well-informed about the story of the Monkey King and the plots in it. For
instance, the dinner party that is mentioned in this book, this plot is well-known among the Chinese
culture. This display of Chinese culture is also related to the topic of this book.

Secondly, the existence of the Monkey King help explains the experience of Jin Wang. The story of the
Monkey King can illustrate or explain the plot of Jin Wang. For example, the Monkey King used to
live in a free place without constraint. He attempts to get into the dinner party for deities which is quite
different from the place he lived in. A good manner is required in high regard, people are used to
reserved expression, not true temperament. However, the Monkey King is used to express his ideas in
explicit ways instead of speaking with the indirect transference of meaning. Also, the Monkey King
cannot behave like other deities in the dinner party, it is hard for him to transform and get along with
others. He decides not to change himself, but comes back to his own home. This is another wise choice
for him. From my opinion, the Monkey King finds his true identity and his position in his world. The
situation the Monkey King faces is similar to Jin Wang’s, who tries to integrate into local culture. The
story of the Monkey King help readers understand the experience of Jin Wang easily.

Besides, the Monkey King helps Jin Wang finds his true identity. In the view of the Monkey King, Jin
Wang faces a lot in the virtual world which guide him to find out or realize his true identity. Jin Wang
feels difficult to get along with others when he experiences a transformation of the environment. The
change of culture can be stressful to an individual, especially for a teenager. He was lonely at the
beginning of the story. He tried to get into the native culture and local friend circle. But in the end of
the story, with the help from the Monkey King, he also finds his true identity. The story of Jin Wang is
similar to the Monkey King’s. At the end of Jin Wang’s story, the Monkey King help him made a
virtual world where Jin Wang’s experiences reflect what he really think and the things he wants to do.
He wants to get into the native culture and local friend circle, he doesn’t expect the stereotypes or some
misunderstanding from surroundings. Finally, Jin Wang realizes all these, also, he finds and accepts his
true identity. In this plot, the conversation between Jin Wang and the Monkey King is important and
crucial to the development of the plot and the growth of Jin Wang.