Date of Award
1-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
College/School
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department/Program
English
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Jeffrey Gonzalez
Committee Member
Melinda Knight
Committee Member
Adam Rzepka
Abstract
This thesis explores the cultural and counter-cultural narratives presented in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club and Cristina García’s Dreaming in Cuban, examining how these works impact the literary canon and redefine the immigrant experience through a distinctly female lens. Both novels share themes of generational conflict, fragmented identities, and the struggles of communication shaped by cultural and linguistic divides. While these works feature distinct cultural backgrounds, Chinese American and Cuban American respectively, the authors challenge patriarchal norms by privileging female voices and presenting nuanced portrayals of mother-daughter relationships. The analysis highlights shared literary techniques and thematic parallels, including identity negotiation and the influence of cultural heritage. Despite their distinct cultural contexts, the works reveal universal struggles for autonomy, voice, and understanding in immigrant families. This study argues that the counter-cultural elements in these novels create a bridge for broader readerships to engage with marginalized perspectives, ultimately reinforcing the need for diverse narratives in the literary canon.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Ninewise, Melinda M., "Cultural and Counter-Cultural Contexts in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club and Cristina García's Dreaming in Cuban" (2025). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 1458.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1458
Included in
Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, English Language and Literature Commons, Women's Studies Commons
