An Exploration of Ha Jin’s Cultural and Literal Capital Reflected in Waiting

Abstract

Ha Jin is one of the most important contemporary Chinese-American writers in American literary circles. His diaporic identity, on one hand, offers him the priority to observe and retrospect the two cultures. On the other hand, it makes his composition imprinted with strong features: unique narrative mode and skillful design, through which he exposes thoroughly human nature and probes into the intricacies of the heart.This essay intends to analyze how Ha Jin’s cultural and literary capital has enhanced the theme of the novel Waiting. He is especially good at depicting everyday details in simple English with a Chinese flavor. By these detailed descriptions, he gives us insight into the lives of Kong Lin and Manna Wu which are mechanistic and dehumanizing. We can also see how an individual’s fate is determined by everyday life from everyday details of the characters in the novel.