The characterization of Jing-Mei along with her family members contributes to the theme of self-discovery. Jing Mei is the protagonist of the story; she has lived her entire life without feeling emotionally connected to her homeland, China. Jing-Mei is a round character; the author reveals many hidden traits throughout the story. Jing-Mei struggles with the reality of her Chinese ancestry and the western ideals she has grown up with; her thoughts are often expressed in the story; “I was a sophomore at Galileo High School in San Francisco, and all my Caucasian friends agreed: I was about …show more content…
Amy Tan uses characterization to provide insight into the emotional responses of the protagonist Jing-Mei. The setting, based in China supports the theme of self-discovery because it shows Jing-Mei what her ethnicity means. The use of flashback provides the reader and main character with understanding of Suyuan’s background. By the end of the story, Jing-Mei realizes her Chinese ties are not associated with the country but rather with the individuals who share her