by Julie Wu
Introduction. The Third Son catapults readers into the midst of post-World War II Taiwan, a setting riddled with political unrest. Julie Wu, in her 2013 debut, crafts a narrative around Saburo, the marginalized third son in a family ensnared within the confines of societal and familial oppression.
Analysis. Wu unfolds Saburo’s life amidst the chaos of the 228 Massacre and the ensuing era of martial law, offering readers a character deeply impacted by these monumental events. Saburo, marginalized and neglected, experiences oppression not just from the political landscape but within the confines of his own home. Amidst the political unrest, he carries a forbidden love for a girl far beyond his reach, echoing the constrained and tumultuous setting of Taiwan. Saburo’s immigration to America for education encapsulates a vivid contrast, yet even in a land of perceived freedom, the shadows of his past and the ongoing political tensions of his homeland loom large. However, the portrayal of his journey, marked by predictable triumphs and an almost fairytale-like overcoming of oppressive forces, sometimes contrasts starkly with the grim realities of the KMT-dominated era for Taiwan.
Evaluation. Wu’s narrative grapples with the deep-seated familial and cultural norms rooted in Taiwan’s Confucian heritage. Saburo is embedded in a family structure where hierarchy and traditional roles are rigidly enforced, a dynamic accentuated by stark resource and affection allocations. His silent endurance of this ingrained inequity, mandated by a strict adherence to familial piety, forms a significant essence of his character. The novel’s pivot-point is Saburo’s internal and external journey from this constraining cultural hold to the relative liberality of the West. While this transformation is pivotal, it unveils a somber undertone. The escape, though liberating, also reflects a painful estrangement from deeply rooted cultural and familial bonds. This oscillation between the stringent confines of Eastern traditions and the expansive freedom of the West imbues the novel with an examination of the human spirit’s navigation through cultural paths.
Conclusion. The Third Son offers a glimpse into a tumultuous period of Taiwanese history through the lens of a personal narrative. While it is lauded for its historical insights, the novel’s narrative journey is marred by an overly optimistic tone and elements of predictability. For those seeking a foundational exploration into this era of Taiwanese history, Wu’s novel serves as a starting point, though it should be approached with awareness of its narrative and character development limitations.
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