THE AMBIVALENCE OF IDENTITY AS A RESULT OF INTERGENERATIONAL CULTURAL CLASH IN PP WONG’S THE LIFE OF A BANANA

Abstract

This research aims to identify the intergenerational cultural clash and its effect into identity making process in PP Wong’s The Life of a Banana. The theory of post-colonialism specifically about ambivalence by Homi K. Bhabha is used to answer the objectives. The objectives are 1) to analyze intergenerational cultural clash that occur between the main character and the grandmother, 2) to reveal the cultural clash between the main character with her classmates, and 3) to identify how the clashes result into the character’s ambivalence identity. This research applied descriptive qualitative method using content analysis technique. The main data of this research was a novel by PP Wong entitled The Life of a Banana, published in 2014 by Mansoon Book. The data were some phrases, clauses, and sentences related to intergenerational cultural clash and ambivalence found in the novel. The key instrument of this research was the researcher himself. The researcher employed some steps during collecting the data, i.e. reading and rereading, classifying, interpreting, checking, and concluding. To obtain trustworthiness, the researcher used intra rater technique and peer debriefing method. The findings of this research showed that there are three aspects as intergenerational clash between the main character and her Chinese grandmother: education and career selection, rearing system, and cultural clash. He also found that there are three aspects of cultural clash between the main character and the classmates: stereotype, physical appearance and language. All those conflicts in the forms of clashes contribute into ambivalence of identity of the main character.

Keywords: post-colonialism theory, intergenerational clash, cultural clash, ambivalence.