论文总字数：26853字

摘 要

1. Introduction 1

1.1 About the author 1

1.2 About the novel 1

2. Some Cultural Differences between China and America 3

2.1. Collectivism vs individualism 3

2.2. Modesty vs frankness 3

2.3. Arranged marriage vs love freedom 4

3. A cultural Study of The Joy Luck Club 6

3.1 Conflicts between mothers and daughters 6

3.1.1 Mothers’ collectivism vs daughters’ individualism 6

3.1.2. Mothers’ modesty vs daughters’ frankness 7

3.1.3. Mothers’ arranged marriage vs daughters’ love freedom 8

3.2. Reconciliation between mothers and daughters 8

3.2.1. Maternal love 9

3.2.2. Effective communication between mothers and daughters 10

4. Conclusion 12

Works Cited 14

Acknowledgments

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who have helped me in this thesis.

My sincere thanks and appreciations go first to my supervisor, Ms. Qiu Liping, for her constant encouragement and guidance. She has helped me through all the stages of this thesis. It has been a great privilege and joy to study under her guidance and supervision. Without her consistent and enlightening instruction, this thesis would not have reached its present form.

Then, I would like to express my gratitude to other professors and teachers at the department of English, who have instructed and helped me a lot in the past four years.

Above all, I am also extremely grateful to my friends, my roommates and my fellow classmates who offer me their helps and companionship in the course of preparing this paper.

In the end, I am very grateful to these teachers who watch my thesis in busy time and give me much advice. Thank you very much for what you have done for me!

Abstract

To a large extent, the conflicts between citizens of Chinese origin and Americans are caused by cultural differences. In The Joy Luck Club, the author Amy Tan describes the conflicts ---- collectivism vs individualism, modesty vs frankness, arranged marriage vs love freedom between the Chinese mothers and their American born daughters. In the end, the conflicts between Chinese mothers and their daughters are finally reconciled, mainly because the mothers’ inherent love and the effective communication. Nowadays, the globalization develops very fast so that people with different cultures have the more contacts. So the effective communication plays an important role in narrowing the gap between different cultures. In the thesis, through the study of The Joy Luck Club and analyzing what the conflicts are and why they have conflicts, the thesis focuses on the main reasons of cultural conflicts and find effective methods to solve them.

Key words: culture conflicts mothers’ inherent love effective communication

中文摘要

西方的中国移民与当地人之间的矛盾在很大程度上是由东西方文化的差异而造成的。在小说《喜福会》中，作者潭美恩描写了华裔母女间集体主义和个人主义的矛盾、谦虚和直白的矛盾以及包办婚姻和自由恋爱的矛盾。小说结尾处，华裔母女间的矛盾最终化解，而化解矛盾的主要原因是母亲与生俱来的母爱和母女间有效的沟通交流。现如今，由于全球化日益加速，不同文化背景的人之间的接触更加频繁，所以有效的沟通交流就会显得十分重要。通过对小说《喜福会》进行研究分析，例如：华裔母女的矛盾有哪些？产生矛盾的原因？这篇论文主要分析以上文化冲突并找到解决矛盾的有效方法。

关键词：文化 矛盾 母爱 有效的沟通

1. Introduction

1.1 About the author

Amy Tan (1952- ) is an American writer whose works explore mother-daughter relationships and the Chinese-American experience. Especially, her first novel The Joy Luck Club was very popular with a lot of people in 1989, which focused on the conflicts between four Chinese mothers and their daughters and wins the wide praise from both readers and critics. Amy Tan was born on February 19th, 1952, in Oakland, California. Her mother Daisy, who was forced to leave her three daughters from a previous marriage behind in Shanghai, arrived in America two years later and got married to John Tan. Amy’s father, John Tan came to America from China and worked as electrical engineer and Baptist minister in America. So Amy grew up with the influence from both Chinese and American cultures. At home, Amy was a typical Americanized teenager shouldered with her traditional Chinese parents’ expectations. While at school, she was always isolated as the only Chinese girl in the class so that she had few friends. When Tan was 15 years old, her father and older brother Peter both died of a brain tumor, her mother Daisy took her and her younger brother John Jr. to Switzerland, where Amy finished high school. Then Tan entered into San Jose City College in 1969 and got her Bachelor’s Degrees in 1973 and Master’s Degree in 1974. During this period in her life, Amy learned about her mother’s former marriage to an abusive man in China, of their four children and how her mother was forced to leave her children from previous marriage behind in Shanghai. This incident provided the basis for Amy’s first novel. In 1987, Amy went to China with her mother. The trip gave Tan a deeper and richer understanding of China and inspired her to complete and publish The Joy Luck Club.

1.2 About the novel

The Joy Luck Club which is divided into four parts including sixteen stories, Amy’s most popular novel, focuses on the conflicts and reconciliation of four pairs of Chinese Mothers and daughters who grew up in American. They are Suyuan Woo and Jing-Mei, Lindo Jong and Waverly, Ying-Ying St. Clair and Lena, An-Mei Hsu and Rose. The four mothers are the first immigrants, and the daughters are new generation born in America. The name of this novel originated from a club set by one of the four mothers, Suyuan and in this club, members played Chinese mahjong. This aimed at lifting their spirit and helping them to get through difficulties in their lives. The reason why the four mothers in the novel go to America to find a new life is that they can’t endure the inequity between male and female in China. But they never forget Chinese traditional culture so that their daughters can’t understand them. So the mothers have different opinions in values, education and marriage with their daughters, which caused many conflicts between them. However, the mothers seize every opportunity to tell their daughters their past painful experience and demonstrate their courage to challenge the feudal society. Besides, they never stop extending maternal love to their daughters. With time passing, maternal love and effective communications, the conflicts are reconciling.

2. Some Cultural Differences between China and America

2.1. Collectivism vs individualism

China is a country with an ancient civilization and is deeply influenced by Confucianism. Chinese traditional culture emphasizes that social members should be obedient to social groups and put “us” first. It also advocates that human beings are social beings and no one can exist alone in the society. As we all know, Confucianism focuses on family power that sharing happiness and difficulty together. When people were young, they were influenced by Confucianism. So people focus on the collective strength. Someone’s success not only shows his value, but also reflects the value of the group he belongs to. Besides that, Chinese people believe that a family should stand or fall together.

America is a typically individualistic country, whose core value is individualism. When young, children were inoculated with the equality. Except that, they have the right to seek for happiness and freedom. Americans think that everyone is a rational individual so they advocate Individualism and the development of self-esteem and self-awareness. Western parents foster children’s independence and respect children’s thoughts. Additionally, parents mainly foster children’s interests. Individual struggle is highly valued by American people. They think their success contributes to their hard work instead of their parents’ help.

2.2. Modesty vs frankness

Modesty is one of the traditional virtues in China. Chinese people are used to conceal their own achievements through modest words. If someone was spoken highly of, he always refuses the compliments politely. When we were young, we were influenced by what we heard and saw and gradually understand what others say quickly. Besides, teachers keep emphasizing that modesty leads to progress. So when communicating with others, we seldom express the meaning directly and the listener will understand quickly. To some extent, Chinese people seldom say “no” to others, they think it is a kind of politeness. If you ask someone “Do you like these shoes?” He won’t answer “Yes” or “No” directly. Instead he would say “not bad”. This is one kind of modesty in China. If you are modest, you won’t make others feel angry or unhappy. Otherwise, you will.

While in America, people tend to be frank. They would like to accept others’ praise and show appreciation because they think your praise is one kind of approval of their ability. So they are proud of their achievements. In other words, Americans prefer to express the meaning straightly, which is opposite to Chinese. Western people consider that if I hide my real thought, you won’t understand me. It is easy to misunderstand each other.

2.3. Arranged marriage vs love freedom

In Chinese tradition, love freedom and marriage freedom are not accepted in the feudal society because parents attach importance to the perfect match. In parents’ opinion, they think if their children are not perfect match, their marriage won’t be happy. In addition, children have no rights to get married without parents’ agreements. Otherwise, their marriage won’t get a blessing. As parents, they put much emphasis on perfect match and seldom consider other standards. While as children, they used to follow their parents’ advice. Their lives are given by their parents and they should be obedient to their parents. And they all knew that parents couldn’t do harm to them. So most children choose to make blind date with or get married with someone their parents are satisfied with.

While in America, people pursue individuality and freedom and they advocate the love freedom. Parents never get involved in children’s marriage, and what they do care is about their children’s happiness. Additionally, parents think that their child is a rational person and believe their children have right to pursue happiness. If children decide to get married, what parents do is to bless them. As children, they thank parents for giving birth to them, but it doesn’t mean that parents have right to control their life. Marriage is one of the most important things in life, so parents respect children’ choice. Apart from that, western people deem that the equal status in China is very ridiculous.

3. A cultural Study of The Joy Luck Club

3.1 Conflicts between mothers and daughters

Because of the differences of two cultures, the conflicts between Chinese mothers and American daughters become tenser, which are reflected in their life. But what are the main conflicts between them? As far as I am concerned, the followings can be responsible.

3.1.1 Mothers’ collectivism vs daughters’ individualism

Due to the deep influence of Chinese traditional culture, Chinese people believe collective strength. They believe that no one can live alone in the society. However, Americans treat themselves as a rational individual. They pursue individualism and freedom. Besides, they think parents should respect children.

Take Lindo Jong and her daughter Waverly as an example. Waverly was very interested in Chinese chess when she was young, but her mother, Lindo Jong, wanted to develop her daughter to be a great master of Chinese chess. With more rewards and great achievements Waverly got, Lindo Jong often showed them off to the outsiders and neighbors, because Lindo Jong thought that she helped Waverly get success. However, Waverly was very disgusted with what she did. So Waverly detested it and resisted: “Why do you have to use me to show off? If you what to show off, then why don’t you learn to play chess.” (The Joy Luck Club, 1989, p97) Lindo Jong kept teaching Waverly the Chinese tradition that obeying the parents and the elders without questions. Growing up in the society of advocating the values of individualism, Waverly had strong self-awareness and independence so that she couldn’t understand the filial respect in China. Waverly thought it impenetrable and complained too much when she was asked to obey her mother unconditionally. After a heated quarrel, their relation became tenser. They were not close any more. Waverly accepted American education and advocated individualism. Waverly thought her success attributed to her own hard work and parents didn’t help her. However, Lindo Jong who was affected by Chinese culture didn’t support Waverly’s thought, she thought without her help and encouragement, Waverly couldn’t get awards. At last, Waverly gave up chess because of her aversion with her mother.

In China, people pay attention to collective sense of honor, but Americans don’t. So the different culture causes the conflict of values between mothers of Chinese origin and daughters who accept American culture.

3.1.2. Mothers’ modesty vs daughters’ frankness

Chinese people are accustomed to conceal their own achievements through modest words. Beside that, people would like to show off their ability in a modest way from time to time. While in America, people treat others’ praise as an approval of their ability and show appreciation. In other words, Americans prefer to express the meaning straightly.

In The Joy Luck Club, in order to get her mother Lindo Jong’s support, Waverly took her boyfriend Rich home and wished that Rich made a good impression. Before dinner, Waverly told Rich to compliment dishes that her mother cooked, because she knew her mother liked showing off her ability through cooking. If someone complimented Lindo Jong’s cook, she would be very happy. When the family started having dinner, Lindo Jong tasted some dish which was one of her special dishes, and then she complained: “Ai! This dish is not salty enough, no flavor. It is too bad to eat.” The reason why Lindo Jong did it was that she wanted everyone to speak highly of the dish she cooked. Except Rich, all family ate some and proclaimed it the best she has ever made. Rich said: “You know, all it needs is a little soy sauce.” (The Joy Luck Club, 1989, p.186) Rich didn’t notice Lindo Jong’s horrified eyes, and he poured a lot of soy sauce on the dish, which makes all family embarrassed.

In China, it is common phenomenon that people often express their feelings in a modest way. But Americans can’t understand the way Chinese people express. So the difference made Lindo dissatisfied with Waverly’s boyfriend.

3.1.3. Mothers’ arranged marriage vs daughters’ love freedom

In China, parents have right to interfere with their kids’ marriage because they think what they do is always good for their kids. And they are seldom concerned about their children’s thoughts and feelings. While in America, parents don’t get involved in children’s marriage and advocate freedom of marriage. Additionally, they won’t interfere with kids’ private life.

As a Chinese person living in America, An Mei persisted in Chinese traditional culture and didn’t accept American culture. She only allowed her daughter Rose to date with the boy in the church who she thought was nice and great. However, Rose was born in America and accepted American education, she disliked these boys who her mother liked. An Mei said these boys she chose were responsible man and took care of family. However, Rose turned a deaf ear to her and listened to American suggestion which she preferred and got married with Ted, whom her mother regarded as a “Waigoren”. Unfortunately, when Rose’s marriage was in trouble, she talked to her psychiatrist, friends and others instead of her mother. Rose would rather see a psychiatrist than consult with her mother because she thought Chinese culture was not as good as American culture and her mother didn’t care about her. What she did really make her mother feel very depressed and sorrowful. And they had a heated quarrel on this issue.

In China, parents’ opinions do have a great influence in children’s marriage. While in America, they advocate love freedom. Mothers want their daughters to listen to their advice, while daughters can’t understand Chinese old tradition and want love freedom without mothers’ inference. So the difference leads to the conflict between Chinese mothers and daughters who grew up in America.

3.2. Reconciliation between mothers and daughters

Due to the maternal love and effective communication, mothers in The Joy Luck Club finally make their daughters understand them and the Chinese culture. Gradually, the conflicts between them reconcile.

3.2.1. Maternal love

Every mother loves her child. In The Joy Luck Club, four mothers were strict with their daughters. But the maternal love of Chinese mothers was not as the same expression as that of American mothers. American mothers liked kissing and hugging their daughters to express love and say “I love you”. In contrast, Chinese mothers loved and cared their kids in different ways, which matters a lot in bridging the gap between them. If it’s cold, mothers let children put on clothes. If they are hungry, mothers cook delicious food. If they are tired, mothers let them have a good rest. All these are Chinese mothers’ love and care.

In The Joy Luck Club, four mothers all love their daughters. When their daughters’ marriages got into trouble, they tried their best to help them and pull them out of marriage troubles. This is the main reason that reconciles the conflicts between mothers and daughters.

Rose had a sense of inferiority when faced with her husband. Rose always let her husband Ted to make a decision because she thought his decision was better than hers. She wasn’t confident. Gradually, her husband Ted thought she escaped from her responsibility and duty so that he had fewer contracts with her. Because Rose lost charms to him, Ted even proposed a divorce. Even though Rose contributed all faults to her mother, An Mei didn’t leave her alone and managed to help her out. An Mei encouraged Rose to stand up and confront the problem. “Why do you not speak up for yourself? Why can you not talk to your husband (The Joy Luck Cub, 1989, p.176)?” At last, Rose listened to her mother and took her suggestion. She talked to her husband and did speak up for herself, her marriage was saved. And Rose finally realized that her mother was more enthusiastic and helpful than an American psychiatrist in pulling her out of marriage problem. Besides, Rose started to change her view on her mother and want to get along with her mother very well.

Lena’s marriage has crisis too. Lena proposed a suggestion that she and her husband split the cost of family. However, with the time passing, Lena couldn’t bear what her husband Harold did. Lena desired for respect and love instead of self-centeredness and indifference. Lena’s mother Ying Ying also realized the problem and tried to help Lena deal with it. At first, Ying Ying showed her daughter what disastrous consequences would happen if she continued to ignore the imbalance between her and her husband. Then, she encouraged Lena to take immediate action to face and get rid of the imbalance in her marriage. Finally, Lena saved her marriage and got respect. She began to understand her mother.

The two daughters felt deep maternal love of their mothers through the assistance in marriage. In face, the maternal love of the four mothers exists everywhere. From mothers’ help in their marriage, they start to know their Chinese mothers’ love and care

请支付后下载全文，论文总字数：26853字