I believe that a symbolic issue that was often raised in class was the idea of the "ghost" that is repeatedly utilized in Kingston's book "Woman Warrior". Many students in class had different ideas on what the metaphor of the "ghost" meant. The interpretations varied, and there probably is no solid explanation as to what the "ghost" element truly meant. However, as I stumbled upon the ghost analogy throughout the book, I tried to fathom a general idea of what Kingston meant when she used the idea of the "ghost".

Ghosts, are usually feared in society, viewed as paranormal beings who haunt the living. Some say that ghosts return to life because of unfinished business. For example, in the story Shaman in "Woman Warrior", one of the characters in the story described her great-grandfather coming back because "[they] needed to put bigger helpings and a Ford in front of his plaque. And when [they] did, the haunting stopped immediately". Alot of the times however, the women in the book were related to the ghosts somehow. In "No Name Woman", the character's aunt was described as being a ghost from under the well. In "Shaman", the character's mother's secret place resided in a haunted room, full of ghosts. My interpretation is that Kingston incorporated the idea of the ghost and related that to the women in the stories because she attempted to express the way women were perceived as during the 60's-70's. Before females were able to gain a more "respectable position" in society, they lacked a numerous amount of rights and were viewed as inferior towards men. The ghost analogy may be accurate in portraying such a metaphoric image of women. Being related to ghosts, women can be perceived as "invisible" beings who are ignored, feared, and loathed, a portrayal that Kingston herself may have experienced as she grew up.