Exploring Identity in Korean Diaspora Fiction
A Character Analysis of Henry Park in Chang-Rae Lee’s Native Speaker
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2025.13.sup.19-40Keywords:
Korean-American literature, identity and assimilation, pariah and parvenu, diaspora experience, cultural conflictAbstract
This study examines the complex identity issues faced by Henry Park, the protagonist of Chang-Rae Lee’s novel Native Speaker, through the lens of Hannah Arendt’s concepts of the pariah and parvenu. By examining Henry’s experiences as a 1.5-generation Korean-American immigrant, this analysis elucidates the tensions between cultural assimilation and heritage preservation. The study describes Henry as a “Lesser Stranger”, a nuanced identity state situated between complete alienation and full assimilation. Furthermore, the analysis draws parallels with Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks in order to gain further insight into Henry’s internal conflict and external societal pressures. In conclusion, this paper offers a comprehensive examination of the Korean-American experience, contributing to broader discussions on diaspora, identity, and cultural integration.
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