AbstractsWomens Studies

The objective of this thesis is to explore the theme of transition through THE IMAGE OF THE EVOLVING WOMAN IN AMY TAN S SELECT NOVELS Transition may be described as change evolution or a movement from one form into another Transition may be physical when growing up and traveling from one place to another are discussed It may be mental or psychological when there is a shift in character manner tone or attitude When there is a shift in culture and values transition becomes cultural One s shift from ignorance to divine revelation may be termed spiritual transition The thesis also explains as to how each woman character in the novels blends according to the situations and circumstances at every stage of her life as a daughter as a wife and as a mother and also in understanding the cultural differences The first chapter discusses the history of Chinese American literature in relation to American history The second chapter explains about the brief summary of each novel The third chapter discusses the psychological transition in women in all the novels The fourth chapter brings out the cultural transition in the women in every novel The fifth chapter brings out the spiritual transition of women The sixth chapter forms the conclusion of the thesis which is more of a reinforcement of the characteristics of Amy Tan s works newline Advisors/Committee Members: Dr.R.Gowrishankar.