Themes

THEMES

Racism

          This book clearly portrays a great discrimination between Chinese immigrants and other races. Further underscoring this point was the formulation of the Chinese Exclusion Act and its effects on the Chinese. While this book includes some interracial relationships, the gist of the story provokes the attention of the reader to the issue of racism; the resulting murder in the formulation of the Chinese Exclusion Acts. I believe that Sky Lee has successfully brought new light to racism considering her context and time period. She passionately illustrates scenes so  poignantly I feel that she must have experienced it herself.

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Relationships

          Here, we explore the theme of relationships. This includes relationships within as well as outside the family. In fact, it is common knowledge that Chinese people are a closely-knit bunch; proven through their extensively big houses and terms of respect and endearment. Sky Lee explores relationships within the family; there are roles set for the husband and wife in a typical traditional Chinese household. Here, the husband and wife seldom talk to each other. This is also common since women were treated badly in that time period. There were stereotypical roles of the household; the husband was the breadwinner and the wife was the bearer of children, especially sons. I think that this provides insight to our world in Asia back then contrasting to the world right now. Today, there is the concept of feminism, women's rights, and the roles in the household are not cemented. For example, the wife in the family could be the breadwinner while the husband is a "stay-at-home" dad. Other relationships mentioned by Sky Lee are interracial relationships between the younger Chinese generation and their friends of different races. I think that it doesn't matter what's on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts.

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Identity

          In the book Disappearing Moon Cafe, Sky Lee also illustrates the concept of Identity. This can be in the form of the identity of early immigrants in Canada or the identity of the younger generation. Through her eloquent prose, she depicts a clash of identity as the early migrants kept close to their Chinese values and cultures. Being immersed in a totally different culture creates identity crisis for both parties; the Chinese migrants because their culture will soon disappear in future generations and the Natives/Europeans because their culture would soon evolve to multiculturalism through a dilution of their culture. Sky Lee also notes that the younger Chinese generation has immersed into the local Canadian society. Through this, there is a clash between the 2 generations in their outlook about life, values, and cultural practices. I think it doesn't matter what culture you are from, as long as you stay true to who you are.

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Loneliness 

      Somewhat connected to the theme of identity, the theme of loneliness comes into play. the Chinese migrants are isolated from the rest of the world, either voluntarily as they fear that their values and culture would be watered down. They are also stigmatized by the involuntary issue of racism. Isolation also exists from within the Chinese family. Usually, the wife is isolated from the husband, as the husband needs to work to support the family. However, through this mutual relationship, they seldom communicated. Back then, women were left alone most of the time and are isolated from the rest of the world. On the other hand,  the husband feels lonely too, even though they might have wives,  they seldom communicate. I think that just like in all bad relationships, loneliness is the product of  little or no communication. I think that communication is key here in resolving this issue of loneliness.