The Jade Peony

A victim could be described as a person cheated, injured, or even fooled by circumstances. Yet it seems that the idea of victimization has become a symbol of Canada for Canadian authors. Margaret Atwood explains in, "The Victim Theory," that in most instances of literature, the central theme is "bare survival in the face of 'hostile' elements"(Atwood, "The Victim Theory" 77) Hence, for the French Canadians after the English took over, "it became cultural survival, hanging on as people, retaining a religion and a language under an alien government"(Atwood 77). Unlike the style of the Americans or the English, who hold out excitement and security, the Canadian literature can be seen on the opposite side of the spectrum with its unwanted anxiety. Accordingly, The Jade Peony, written by Wayson Choy, is a story about a Chinese family living in Vancouver, within the heart of Chinatown. The story presents the struggles and misfortunes that the characters have undergone, thus acknowledging the idea of survival. …