A Literary Analysis of the Book Tripmaster Monkey Essay

Tripmaster MonkeyWittman uses theatre throughout the book Tripmaster Monkey to get back to his cultural roots and Asian culture. He is trying to find himself through theatre and to open up a new avenue for his people. There are numerous examples of this throughout the book as he is writing his play and incorporating the old (legends and myths) with the new (contemporary times).The first significant reference to legend occurs when Wittman is putting his entire night s worth of writing into the incinerator (42). As he does so, he reflects on the arrival of Monkey, Tripitaka and friends at the Western Paradise. They secure the sacred scriptures, and are on their way home to china when curious Monkey takes a peek at the books, only to find that the pages are blank. They return to Paradise to complain, and because their spiritual incapacity makes hem unable to absorb the truths of a blank text, are given pages with writing on them. But it turns out that the Heart Sutra s wisdom concerns the emptiness of inherent existence, and the blank text was the right way to express that truth after all. Kingston is illustrating the frustration Wittman feels at having to put into words the truths that are obvious to him.At another point in the book, Wittman recalls when the Monkey learns his position in Heaven (61). Monkey is ecstatic to have a place in Heaven, an important role to play, but once he realizes that his Appointment to Pi-ma-wn really means shit shoveler for the Divine Horse Stables, he quits Heaven and returns to the Monkey Kingdom. This is the role Wittman sees the Chinese stuck with happy to have a role in the American community, but sickeningly disappointed when they find out how small and degrading that role really is. When he returns to the department store, he impulsively mates a toy monkey with a Barbie doll, reflecting his opinion of Mattel...

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