A Phenomenological Analysis of Female Characters in Selected Novels by Amy Tan and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Abstract

This thesis explores the works of Chinese American author Amy Tan and Indian newlineAmerican author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni through a phenomenological analysis of newlinefemale characters in selected novels. Although Tan and Divakaruni come from distinct newlinecultural backgrounds, both authors share a profound connection to their heritage despite their newlinelives in a foreign country. Literature is the expression of life of an individual and the society. newlineBooks become literature when they are brought in connection with the real life. The writers newlinehere have used literature to share their thoughts and emotions. Their works emphasize the newlinestrong psychological connection they have with their land. Through literature, they give newlinevoice to immigrant women s lives, illustrating the psychological resonance of their native newlineculture and the complexities of maintaining cultural identity abroad. The novels by Tan and newlineDivakaruni examine migration, tradition, and cultural dissonance, revealing the struggles newlineand resilience of women facing traumatic experiences rooted in their homeland. This study newlinedelves into the shared themes of culture, tradition, and migration, alongside the unique newlinehardships faced by immigrant women, as depicted in the novels. The research further newlineexamines gender dynamics through a phenomenological lens, contrasting male and female newlineperspectives to highlight the impact of gender on identity formation and cultural adaptation. newlineBy comparing Tan s portrayal of Chinese American women with Divakaruni s focus on newlineSouth Asian women s identities, this thesis bridges the similarities and differences in how newlineeach culture navigates issues of self, tradition, and cultural assimilation. Ultimately, the newlinestudy seeks to enrich the understanding of immigrant literature and the nuanced experiences newlineof women in multicultural contexts through the lens of phenomenology newline