Kingston proceeds to tell the tale about her aunt that she was forbidden to tell because she wants to give a voice to this "no name aunt" that she has.  Kingston recognizes that there are many secrets and "ghosts" in her family that prevent her from coming to terms with her own identity.  She knows that her aunt has been banished from the family, yet no one will acknowledge her existence.  So Kingston tells this possible story to give her aunt an identity.

Further, Kingston continues with the The Woman Warrior to wrestle with her own identity formation.  She feels that the story must be told to make it real, and once it is real, she can then begin to come to terms with her personal development and growth.