喜福会英文背景及人物赏析

TheJoyLuckClub(1989)isabest-sellingnovelwrittenbyAmyTan.ItfocusesonfourChineseAmericanimmigrantfamiliesinSanFrancisco,Californiawhostartaclubknownas"theJoyLuckClub,"playingtheChinesegameofmahjongformoneywhilefeastingonavarietyoffoods.Thebookisstructuredsomewhatlikeamahjonggame,withfourpartsdividedintofoursectionstocreatesixteenchapters.Thethreemothersandfourdaughters(onemother,SuyuanWoo,diesbeforethenovelopens)sharestoriesabouttheirlivesintheformofvignettes.Eachpartisprecededbyaparablerelatingtothegame.In1993,thenovelwasadaptedintoafeaturefilmdirectedbyWayneWangandstarringMing-Na,LaurenTom,TamlynTomita,FranceNguyen,RosalindChao,KieuChinh,TsaiChin,LisaLu,andVivianWu.ThescreenplaywaswrittenbytheauthorAmyTanalongwithRonaldBass.Thenovelwasalsoadaptedintoaplay,bySusanKim,whichpremieredatPanAsianRepertoryTheatreinNewYork.CharactersMothersSuyuanWooDuringtheSecondWorldWar,SuyuanlivesinChinawhileherhusbandatthetimeservedasanofficerinChungking(Chongqing).ShestartstheoriginalJoyLuckClubwithherthreefriendstocopewiththewar.Thereislittletoeat,buttheypretenditisafeast,andtalkabouttheirhopesforthefuture.OnthedayoftheJapaneseinvasion,Suyuanleavesherhousewithnothingbutabagofclothes,abagoffood,andhertwinbabydaughters.Duringthelongjourney,Suyuancontractssuchseveredysenterythatshefeelscertainshewilldie.Fearingthatadeadmotherwoulddoomherbabies'chancesofrescue,shereluctantlyandemotionallyleavesherdaughtersunderabarrentree,togetherwithallherbelongings,alongwithanoteaskinganyonewhomightfindthebabiestocareforthemandcontactthefather.Suyuanthendeparts,expectingtodie.However,sheisrescuedbyatruckandfindsoutherhusbandhasdied.Shelaterremarries,comestoAmerica,formsanewJoyLuckClubwiththreeotherChinesefemaleimmigrantsshemetatchurch,andgivesbirthtoanotherdaughter.Butherabandonmentofthetwingirlshauntsherfortherestofherlife.Aftermanyyears,Suyuanlearnsthatthetwinswereadopted,butdiesofabrainaneurysmbeforeshecanmeetthem.ItisherAmerican-borndaughterJing-meiwhofulfillsherlong-cherishedwishofreunitingwithhereldertwinhalf-sisters.AsSuyuandiesbeforethenovelbegins,herhistoryistoldbyJing-mei,basedonherknowledgeofhermother'sstories,anecdotesfromherfather,andwhattheothermembersoftheJoyLuckClubtellher.An-MeiHsuAn-MeiisraisedbyhergrandparentsandotherrelativesduringherearlyyearsinNingboafterherwidowedmothershocksthefamilybybecomingaconcubinetoamiddle-agedwealthymanafterherfirsthusband'sdeath.ThisbecomesasourceofconflictfortheyoungAn-Mei,asherauntsandunclesdeeplyresenthermotherforsuchadishonorableact.TheytrytoconvinceAn-Meithatitisnotfittingforhertolivewithherdisgracedmother,whoisnowforbiddentoenterthefamilyhome.An-Mei'smother,however,stillwishestobepartofherdaughter'slife.AfterAn-Mei'sgrandmotherdies,An-meimovesouttolivewithhermotherinthehomeofhermother'snewhusband,Wu-Tsing.An-MeilearnsthathermotherwascoercedintobeingWu-Tsing'sconcubinethroughthemanipulationsofhisSecondWife,thefavorite.ThiswomanarrangedforAn-Mei'smother,stillinmourningforheroriginalhusband,toberapedbyWu-Tsing.ThestigmaleftAn-Mei'smotherwithnochoicebuttomarryWu-TsingandbecomehisnewbutlowlyFourthWife.ShelaterlostherbabysontoSecondWife,whoclaimedtheboyasherownchildtoensureherplaceinthehousehold.SecondWifealsotriedtowinoverAn-meiuponherarrivalinWu-Tsing'smansion,givingheranecklacemadeof"pearls"thathermotherlaterrevealedwereactuallyglassbeadsbycrushingonewithherteacup.An-Mei'smotherre-knotsthenecklacetohidethemissingbead,butnowAn-MeiknowsthetruthaboutSecondWife'sseeminggenerosity.Wu-Tsingisahighlysuperstitiousman,andSecondWifetakesadvantageofthisweaknessbymakingfalsesuicideattemptsandthreateningtohaunthimasaghostifhedoesnotletherhaveherway.AccordingtoChinesetradition,aperson'ssoulcomesbackafterthreedaystosettlescoreswiththeliving.Wu-Tsing,therefore,isknowntobeafraidtofacetheghostofanangryorscornedwife.AfterSecondWifefakesasuicideattempttopreventAn-Meiandhermotherfromgettingtheirownsmallhouse,An-Mei'smothersuccessfullycommitssuicideherself,eatingtangyuanlacedwithlethalamountsofopium.Shetimesherdeathsothathersoulisduetoreturnonthefirstdayofthenewyear,adaywhenalldebtsmustbesettledlestthedebtorsuffergreatmisfortune.Withthisinmind,Wu-TsingpromisestotreathisFourthWife'schildren,includingAn-Mei,asiftheywerehisveryownfleshandbloodbyanhonoredFirstWife.WhenSecondWifeattemptstodisruptthis,An-MeicrushesthefakepearlnecklaceSecondWifegaveherbeneathherfeettoshowherawarenessofallSecondWife'sdeceptionandtosymbolizehernewpoweroverSecondWife,whonowfearsherandrealizesthebadkarmashehasbroughtuponherself.An-MeilaterimmigratestoAmerica,marries,andgivesbirthtosevenchildren(foursons,threedaughters).Theyoungest,asonnamedBing,drownsatagefour.LindoJongLindoisastrong-willedwoman,atraitthatherdaughterWaverlyattributestoherhavingbeenbornintheyearoftheHorse.WhenLindowasonlytwelve,shewasforcedtomoveinwithaneighbor'syoungson,HuangTyan-yu,throughthemachinationsofthevillagematchmaker.Aftersometrainingforhouseholddutiesthroughherin-laws,sheandTyan-yumarriedwhensheturnedsixteen.Shesoonrealizedthatherhusbandwasjustalittleboyatheartandhadnosexualinterestinher.Lindobegantocareforherhusbandasabrother,buthercruelmother-in-lawexpectedLindotoproduceagrandson.SherestrictedmostofLindo'sdailyactivities,eventuallyorderinghertoremainonbedrestuntilshecouldconceiveanddeliverachild.Determinedtoescapethisunfortunatesituation,Lindocarefullyobservedtheotherpeopleinthehouseholdandeventuallyformedacleverplantoescapehermarriagewithoutdishonoringherselforherfamily.Shemanagedtotrickheryounghusband'sfamilyintobelievingthathewasactuallyfatedtomarryanothergirlwhowasalreadypregnantwithhis"spiritualchild",andthathermarriagetoHuangTyanYuwouldonlybringbadlucktothefamily.Inreality,thegirlinquestionwasamereservantinthehouseholdandindeedpregnant,butabandonedbyherlover.Freedfromherfirstmarriage,LindodecidedtoemigratetoAmerica.ShemarriedaChinese-AmericanmannamedTinJongandhasthreechildren:sonsWinstonandVincent,anddaughterWaverly.LindoexperiencesregretoverlosingsomeofherChineseidentitybylivingsolonginAmerica(sheistreatedlikeatouristonavisittoChina);however,sheexpressesconcernthatWaverly'sAmericanupbringinghasformedabarrierbetweenthem.Ying-Ying"Betty"St.ClairFromayoungage,Ying-YingistoldbyherwealthyandconservativefamilythatChinesegirlsshouldbemeekandgentle.Thisisespeciallydifficultforher,shefeels,becausesheisaTigercharacter.ShebeginstodevelopapassivepersonalityandrepressherfeelingsasshegrowsupinWuxi.Ying-YingmarriesacharismaticmannamedLinXiao,notoutoflove,butbecauseshebelieveditwasherfate.Herhusbandisrevealedtobeabusiveandopenlyhasextramaritalrelationshipswithotherwomen.WhenYing-Yingdiscoverssheispregnant,shegetsanabortionandmakesthedecisiontolivewithherrelativesinasmallercityinChina.Aftertenyears,shemovestoShanghaiandworksinaclothingstore,whereshemeetsanAmericanmannamedCliffordSt.Clair.Hefallsinlovewithher,butYing-Yingcannotexpressanystrongemotionafterherfirstmarriage.HecourtsherforfouryearsbeforesheagreestomarryhimafterlearningthatLinXiaohaddied,whichshetakesasthepropersigntomoveon.SheallowsCliffordtocontrolmostaspectsofherlife,mistranslatingherwordsandactions,andevenchanginghernameto"Betty".Ying-Yinggivesbirthtoherdaughter,Lena,aftermovingtoSanFranciscowithSt.Clair.WhenLenaisaroundtenyearsold,Ying-Yingbecomespregnantathirdtime,butthebabyboyisanencephalicandsoondies.Ying-YingishorrifiedwhensherealizesthatLena,aTigerlikeherself,hasinheritedoremulatedherpassivebehaviorsandtrappedherselfinalovelessmarriagewithacontrollinghusband.ShefinallyresolvestocalluponthemoreassertivequalitiesofherTigernature,toappealtothosequalitiesinLena.ShewilltellLenaherstoryinthehopethatshewillbeabletobreakfreefromthesamepassivitythatruinedmostofheryounglifebackinChina.DaughtersJing-Mei"June"WooJing-Meihasneverfullyunderstoodhermotherandseemsdirectionlessinlife.DuringJune'schildhood,hermotherusedtotellherthatshecouldbeanythingshewants;however,sheparticularlywantedherdaughtertobegifted,achildstarwhoamazestheworld,likeGinnyTiu(seenbrieflyontelevision)orJune'srivalWaverly.Atthebeginningofthenovel,Juneischosentoreplacehermother'sseatintheJoyLuckClubafterhermother'sdeath.Attheendofthenovel,Juneisstilltryingtodealwithhermother'sdeath,andshevisitsChinatoseethetwinhalf-sisters(WangChwunYuandWangChwungHwa)whomhermotherhadbeenforcedtoabandonwhentheJapaneseattackedChina.Onecritic[who]hassuggested[1]thatthereasonforthecommunicationgapbetweenJing-Meiandhermother,andbetweentheotherdaughtersandtheirmothers—amajorthemeofthenovel—occursbecausethemotherscomefromahighcontextcultureandtheAmericanizeddaughtersfromalowcontextculture.Themothersbelievethatthedaughterswillintuitivelyunderstandtheircrypticutterances,butthedaughtersdon'tunderstandthematall.RoseHsuJordanRoseissomewhatpassiveandisabitofaperfectionist.Shehadanunsettlingchildhoodexperiencewhenheryoungestbrother,Bing,drownedwhileshewassupposedtobewatchinghim,andhisbodywasneverrecovered.Rosemarriesadoctor,TedJordan,wholovesherbutalsowantstospitehissnooty,racistmother.Afteramalpracticesuit,Tedhasamid-lifecrisisanddecidestoleaveRose.RoseconfidesinhermotherandAn-meitellsherthestoryofherownchildhood.WhenTedcomesforthedivorcepapers,Rosefindshervoiceandtellshimthathecan'tjustthrowheroutofhislife,comparingherselftohisgarden,oncesobeloved,nowunkemptandfullofweeds.An-MeitellsherthatTedhasbeencheatingonher,whichRosethinksisabsurd,butshelaterdiscoversthistobetrue.Shewantstohireagoodlawyerandfightforpossessionofthehouse,whichsheeventuallywins.WaverlyJongWaverlyisanindependent-mindedandintelligentwoman,butisannoyedbyhermother'sconstantcriticism.Wellintoheradultlife,shefindsherselfrestrainedbyhersubconsciousfearoflettinghermotherdown.Duringtheirchildhood,JuneandWaverlybecomechildhoodrivals;theirmothersconstantlycomparedtheirdaughter'sdevelopmentandaccomplishments.Waverlywasonceagiftedchesschampion,butquitafterfeelingthathermotherwasusingherdaughter'stalenttoshowoff,takingcreditforWaverly'swins.Shehasadaughter,Shoshana,fromherfirstmarriagewithMarvin,andiscurrentlyengagedtoherboyfriendRichShields.LenaSt.ClairThroughoutLena'schildhood,shegraduallybecomeshermother'svoiceandinterpretshermother'sChinesewordsforothers.LikeherfatherClifford,shetranslatesYing-ying'swordstosoundmorepleasantthanwhatYing-yingactuallysays.Ying-yinghastaughtLenatobewareofconsequences,totheextentthatLenavisualizesdisasterinthetakingofanyrisk.Lena'shusband,Harold,isalsoherboss.HetakesthecreditforLena'sbusinessanddesignideas.Hedemandsfinancial"equality"intheirmarriage.LenaisanassociatewhileHaroldisapartner,sohehasalargersalarythanshedoes.However,heinsiststhatallhouseholdexpensesbedividedequallybetweenthem.Haroldbelievesthatbymakingeverythingequal,theycanmaketheirloveequalaswell.Lenafeelsfrustratedandpowerless.TableofcontentsFeathersfromaThousandLiAway"TheJoyLuckClub,"Jing-mei"June"Woo"Scar,"An-MeiHsu"TheRedCandle,"LindoJong"TheMoonLady,"Ying-YingStClairTheTwenty-SixMalignantGates"RulesoftheGame,"WaverlyJong"TheVoicefromtheWall,"LenaSt.Clair"HalfandHalf,"RoseHsuJordan"TwoKinds,"Jing-mei"June"WooAmericanTranslation"RiceHusband,"LenaSt.Clair"FourDirections,"WaverlyJong"WithoutWood,"RoseHsuJordan"BestQuality,"Jing-mei"June"WooQueenMotheroftheWesternSkies"Magpies,"An-meiHsu"WaitingBetweentheTrees,"Ying-YingSt.Clair"DoubleFace,"LindoJong"APairofTickets,"Jing-mei"June"WooCriticismThoughAmyTan'sbookhasbeenwidelypraisedbycritics,ithasalsobeenallegedbyChinese-AmericanauthorFrankChinthatitperpetuatesraciststereotypes.[2][3][4]Chinese-AmericandirectorWayneWangwasimpressedwiththestoryandcreatedafilmversionofthenovel.[5]References^CUNYBrooklynarticle^ComeAllYeAsianAmericanWritersoftheRealandtheFake^TheJoyLuckClub^Review:TheJoyLuckClub^"Asianimagesinfilmspotlight-TheJoyLuckClub".TurnerClassicMovies.Retrieved3July2008.