David Henry Hwang explores for the first time the concept of identity as it relates to himself, this is the first play that his directly placed himself as the main character and in doing so DHH doesn’t receive any special treatment. DHH is best described as a self-serving, shallow, narcissistic and an online troller for sexual hook ups. Moreover, DHH doesn’t stand up for himself and rather prefers to opt out of challenging situations that he faces. I strongly feel that DHH is self-centered and he shows us this side by backing out of the Miss Saigon protest when the heat picked up leaving his anti-yellow position. Although he is being pushed by his community to support this motion he is more concerned about his Face, and doesn’t want to deface
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Dahlman who was mistaken for the Asian actor in the Japanese American fighting scene, DHH struggles to save Face after he carried out what he had initially criticized Cameron Mackintosh for doing. In order to save his Face, DHH self-preservation mode kicks in and instead of facing the music from the media, he opts to take the easy way out and lies. After realizing his mistake from hiring Marcus, he learns that he cannot fire him based on race. This angers him and ends up creating a fictional Asian identity for Marcus by eliminating his last name and turning his middle name to serve as his surname, Naming him Marcus Gee. Not only does he convert his name but he takes his Marcus Siberian side to substitute for his Asian ethnic identity, thus transforming him from a Caucasian to an Asian. Through Marcus newly found identity, his given DHH an entry to a whole new experience and culture, thus enabling him to discover his ethnic voice when he faces a panel of Asian student body. Ironically, DHH bestows upon Marcus a sense of connection between the Asian community that is missing in DHH’s life. I find that DHH’s creation of Marcus new Asian identity brings out a sense of connection between Asian and Asian American culture as the students confound around the isolation they have been experiencing in
Dahlman who was mistaken for the Asian actor in the Japanese American fighting scene, DHH struggles to save Face after he carried out what he had initially criticized Cameron Mackintosh for doing. In order to save his Face, DHH self-preservation mode kicks in and instead of facing the music from the media, he opts to take the easy way out and lies. After realizing his mistake from hiring Marcus, he learns that he cannot fire him based on race. This angers him and ends up creating a fictional Asian identity for Marcus by eliminating his last name and turning his middle name to serve as his surname, Naming him Marcus Gee. Not only does he convert his name but he takes his Marcus Siberian side to substitute for his Asian ethnic identity, thus transforming him from a Caucasian to an Asian. Through Marcus newly found identity, his given DHH an entry to a whole new experience and culture, thus enabling him to discover his ethnic voice when he faces a panel of Asian student body. Ironically, DHH bestows upon Marcus a sense of connection between the Asian community that is missing in DHH’s life. I find that DHH’s creation of Marcus new Asian identity brings out a sense of connection between Asian and Asian American culture as the students confound around the isolation they have been experiencing in