《扶桑》中的克里斯形象还原了19世纪后半期美国白人社会对于第一代华人移民带有种族主义的"集体白日梦"。家庭环境、社会集体意识、民族文化都在他身上留下了明显的烙印。克里斯对扶桑的情感包含俄狄浦斯情结、东方主义迷恋以及骑士拯救幻想,同时他还受到了美国反华意识形态的影响。最终身为基督徒的他在不断的忏悔和反思中走向了成熟和理性。该形象重构了西方殖民文学中传统的白人男性角色,也表达了严歌苓希望东西方能摒弃偏见,以宽广的胸怀对待他国文化的愿景。
Chris,the hero in Fusang,revives the collective daydream which virtually reflects the racist attitude of the white American society towards the Chinese immigrants in the second half of 19th century.Family environment,social ideology,as well as European culture all leave their marks on him. His obsession with Fusang is mixed with his oedipal,orientalist longing and chivalrous fantasies of rescuing her.And he is also strongly influenced by the anti-Chinese hysteria that prevailed during that period. As a Christian,he becomes mentally rational and mature through constant confession and self-reflection.Thus, the traditional roles of white male characters in western colonial literature are reconstructed due to the characterization of Chris.By virtue of this,Yan expresses her hope that the East and the West need to get rid of the stereotypes and prejudices,and learn to treat different cultures with board mind.