Study on Identity Construction in Eileen Chang’s “Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier” from the Perspective of Homi K. Bhabha’s Postcolonial Theory

Abstract

This paper delves into Eileen Chang’s novella “Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier” through the lens of Homi K. Bhabha’s postcolonial theory. Set in colonial Hong Kong, the story of Ge Weilong vividly portrays the complex identity issues under the colonial context. The hybridity of Hong Kong’s culture, as depicted in the novel through spatial descriptions, character identities, and lifestyle elements, reflects the profound influence of colonialism. Ge Weilong, the protagonist, experiences an identity construction failure. This is mainly attributed to the identity anxiety caused by cultural hybridity, the lack of self-identity and subjectivity, and the constraints and oppression of the colonial social environment. Bhabha’s concepts of “Third Space” and “Hybridity” offer theoretical support for analyzing Ge Weilong’s identity dilemma. Her tragic fate not only represents an individual’s misfortune but also mirrors the difficulties and helplessness of individuals in exploring identity in the specific era of colonial and semi-colonial intertwining and the collision of Eastern and Western cultures.