Brave Orchid's Character

In “At The Western Place,” Kingston recounts the story of Brave Orchid bringing her sister, Moon Orchid, to America. The inclusion of this section told in a different style and voice in interesting in that it illuminates many critical personality attributes of the narrator’s mother, Brave Orchid. The reader has already been introduced to Brave Orchid and her role in Chinese and American society. She has come from China where she was an established doctor, to America where she runs a Laundromat and is provided for by her husband. This change in status already hints to the reader at many motivations for Brave Orchid’s behavior.

            When Moon Orchid arrives, Brave Orchid behaves in a controlling and plotting manner. She tells Mood Orchid that she must march into her husband’s office and demand to take her rightful place as his wife. Although Brave Orchid is able to assimilate into American society, in this instance she is acting with Chinese societal standards in mind. This divide in behavior shows the reader the difficulty in retaining one’s original culture while assimilating into another. The boundaries between cultures become blurred and it becomes increasingly difficult to define one’s own identity.

            Throughout the beginning of Woman Warrior, Brave Orchid behaves harshly and seemingly without emotion. However, when Moon Orchid loses her mind and has to take residence in a mental asylum, Brave Orchid comforts her sister as the schoolchildren comforted Brave Orchid when she was young. This softness in Brave Orchid’s character is an important aspect that leads the reader to gain more sympathy towards her character.

            This increased sympathy towards Brave Orchid is interesting in the final section of the novel. When the narrator is able to find her voice and air her grievances towards Brave Orchid, she bursts with hurtful accusations. Brave Orchid responds telling the narrator that she never said anything of the sort and her intentions were merely misunderstood. Brave Orchid’s rounder character, as a result of interactions with her sister, shows the immaturity of the narrator when the verbal argument takes place.