英美文学选读：喜福会

英美文学选读：喜福会TheJoyLuckClub1.AmyTan----AnExplororBetweentheTwoWorldsThetripprovidedTanwithafreshperspectiveonhermother，anditservedasthekeyinspirationforherfirstbook，TheJoyLuckClub．Soonafteritspublicationin1989，TheJoyLuckClubearneredenthusiasticreviews(热情洋溢的评价)，remainingontheNewYorkTimesbest-sellerlist 纽约时报畅销书栏目formanymonths．ItwonboththeNationalBookAward（全美图书奖）andtheL.A.TimesBookAward(洛杉矶时代周刊图书奖)in1989．Tancontinuestopublishpopularworks（通俗作品）．Inresponsetothewidelyheldopinionthatshewriteswithasocialaim（其写作带有社会目的）----toportraytheChineseAmericanexperience（美籍华人的生存体验）--Tanoftenemphasizesthatshewritesfirstandforemostasanartist．Shearguesthatherbiculturalupbringing（双重文化背景）isherwork'ssourceofinspirationbutnotitsprimarysubject（并非作品的第一主题）．Throughherwriting，Tanapproachesissues（触及了多种观点）thatareuniversallyapplicabletoallgroupsofpeople（可普遍运用于所有人类群体）．Sheexploresthemesoffamilyandmemory，aswellastheconflictsofculturethatariseinsomanyAmericancommunities．2.PlotOverviewTheJoyLuckClubcontainssixteeninterwovenstories（相互交织的故事）aboutconflictsbetweenChineseimmigrantmothersandtheirAmerican-raiseddaughters．Thebookhingeson（以…为主线）Jing-mei'striptoChinatomeetherhalf-sisters，twinsChwunYuandChwunHwa（双胞胎春玉和春花）．Thehalf-sistersremainedbehindinChinabecauseJing-mei'smother，Suyuan（宿愿），wasforcedtoleavethemontheroadsideduringherdesperateflight（逃难途中）fromJapan’sinvasionofKweilin(桂林)duringWorldWarII．Jing-meiwasborntoadifferentfatheryearslater，inAmerica．SuyuanintendedtoreturntoChinaforherotherdaughters，butfailedtofindthembeforeherdeath．Jing-meihastakenhermother’splaceplayingmahjong（麻将牌）inaweeklygatheringhermotherhadorganizedinChinaandrevivedinSanFrancisco：theJoyLuckClub．Theclub’sothermembers----Lindo,Ying-ying，and An-mei ----arethreeofhermother’soldestfriendsandfellowimmigrants．TheytellJing-meithatjustbeforeSuyuandied，shehadfinallysucceededinlocating（找到）theaddressofherlostdaughters．ThethreewomenrepeatedlyurgeJing-meitotraveltoChinaandtellhersistersabouttheirmother’slife．ButJing-meiwonderswhethersheiscapableoftellinghermother'sstory，andthethreeolderwomenfearthatJing-mei'sdoubtsmaybejustified（也许真有道理）．Theyfearthattheirowndaughters，likeJing-mei，maynotknoworappreciatethestoriesoftheirmothers’lives．Thenoveliscomposedoffoursections，eachofwhichcontainsfourseparatenarratives．Inthefirstfourstoriesofthebook，themothers，speakinginturn，recallwithastonishingclaritytheirrelationshipswiththeirownmothers，andtheyworrythattheirdaughters’recollectionsofthemwillneverpossessthesameintensity． Inthesecondsection，thesedaughters--Waverly，Jing-mei，Lena，andRose--relatetheirrecollectionsoftheirchildhoodrelationshipswiththeirmothers；thegreatlucidityandforcewithwhichtheytelltheirstories（女儿们清晰而动人地叙述过去的事情）provestheirmothers’fearsatleastpartiallyunfounded（证明了母亲们认为女儿们会忘记她们的想法不是很有根据的）．Inthethirdgroupofstories，thefourdaughtersnarratetheiradultdilemmas—troublesinmarriageandwiththeircareers．Althoughtheybelievethattheirmothers’antiquatedideas（陈旧观念）donotpertainto（与…不相干）theirownveryAmericanlifestyles，theirsearchforsolutionsinevitablybringsthembacktotheirrelationshipswiththeoldergeneration．Inthefinalgroupofstories，themothersstruggletooffersolutionsandsupporttotheirdaughters，intheprocesslearningmoreaboutthemselves．LindorecognizesthroughherdaughterWaverlythatshehasbeenchangedirrevocably（不可逆转地）byAmericanculture．Ying-yingrealizesthatLenahasunwittingly（愚蠢地）followedherpassiveexampleinhermarriagetoHaroldLivotny．An-meirealizesthatRosehasnotcompletelyunderstoodthelessonssheintendedtoteachheraboutfaithandhope．AlthoughJing-meifearsthatshecannotadequatelyportrayhermother'slife，Suyuan’sstorypermeatesthenovel（贯穿了整部小说）viaJing-mei’svoice：shespeaksforSuyuaninthefirstandfourthsections，thetwo“mothers’sections，（涉及母亲们的两个部分）”ofthenovel．Suyuan'sstoryisrepresentativeofthestruggletomaintainthemother-daughterbondacrossculturalandgenerationalgaps；bytellingthisstoryashermother'sdaughter，Jing-meienactsandcementstheverybond（建立和巩固了…的纽带）thatisthesubjectofSuyuan’sstory．WhenJing-meifinallytravelstoChinaandhelpsherhalf-sisterstoknowamothertheycannotremember，sheforgestwoothermother-daughterbondsaswell．HerjourneyrepresentsareconciliationbetweenSuyuan’stwolives，betweentwoculturesandbetweenmotheranddaughter．ThisenablesJing-meitobringclosureandresolutiontohermother’sstory， butalsotoherown（晶妹的中国之行为母亲的和自己的故事找到圆满的结局）． Inaddition，thejourneybringshopetotheothermembersof TheJoyLuckClubthattheytoocanreconciletheoppositionsintheirlivesbetweenpastandpresent，betweencultures，andbetweengenerations．Themes:●Storytellingasameansofself-assertionandcommunication(叙述故事：保持自我和进行沟通的手段)●Theinescapabledualityofimmigrantidentity （移民身份中不可避免的两重性）●Controloverone’sowndestiny （把握自己的命运）●GenerationgapbwtweenmotheranddaughterSelectedReadings:(*Narrativepointofviewinthenovelshiftsfromnarratortonarrator. Eachnarratesinthefirstperson,andsometimesaseventisnarratedtwicesothatreadersgetmorethanoneperspective----frequentlyamother’sandadaughter’s. Thenarratorsarehighlysubjectiveandtendtofocusmostlyontheirfeelings.)1.“WhatwillIsay?WhatcanItellthemaboutmymother?Idon’tknowanything…” TheauntiesarelookingatmeasifIhadbecomecrazy rightbeforetheireyes…Andthenitoccurstome. Theyarefrightened. Inme,theyseetheirowndaughters,justasignorant… TheyseedaughterswhogrowimpatientwhentheirmotherstalkinChinese…whowillbeargrandchildrenbornwithoutanyconnectinghopepassedfromgenerationtogeneration.   ----Jing-meiWooTheabovequoteistakenfromtheendofthebook'sfirststory, "TheJoyLuckClub,." Itestablishessomeofthecentralthemesofthenovel.ThepassageportraysJing-meiWooasarepresentativeofthebook'syoungergeneration,theAmerican-borndaughterswhofeellargelyoutoftouchwiththeirChineseidentitiesandwiththeirChinesemothers.AsJing-meiacknowledgesthis,shealsoshowsadeepsympathywiththeoldergeneration. Sheunderstandstheirfearsabouttheirdaughters,theirdistressatthethoughtthattheirhopesanddreamsmaynotsurvivethem（希望和梦想破灭）inthesemodemAmericanwomenforwhomsomanyoftheoldvaluesnolongerhavemeaning.However, evenwhile Jing-mei perceives themother-daughtergapfrombothsides,thisdoubleperception（观察问题的双重视角）ultimatelyservesnottoaccentuatethegap（强调代沟）,buttobridgeit.Throughoutthenovel,Jing-meiprovidestheconnectingvoicebetweenthegenerations.ShetellsboththestoryofanAmerican-borndaughterlongingforindependenceandthestoryofhermother,whofoughthardtogiveherdaughtersthefreedomsthatsheneverhad.Thus,bythelastchapterofthenovel,Jing-meiwillcometorepresentafigureofhopeforbothgenerations,thattheymightunderstandeachotherbetterthantheyhadthought,thattheymightshareinadialogueof.lovethatoftentranscendslinguisticandculturalbarriers.2.I…lookedinthemirror…Iwasstrong. Iwaspure. Ihadgenuinethoughtsinsidethatnoonecouldsee,thatnoonecouldevertakeawayfromme. Iwaslikethewind,…andthenIdrapedthelargeembroideredredscarfovermyfaceandcoveredthesethoughtsup. ButunderneaththescarfIstillknewwhoIwas,Imadeapromisetomyself:Iwouldalwaysremembermyparents’wishes,butIwouldneverforgetmyself.----fromLindoJong'snarrative"TheRedCandle,"   Intheabovequotation,.Lindointroduceswhatwillbecomeanim-portantlinkbetweenherselfandherdaughterWaverly.Hereshenarrateshowshefirstcametorecognizeherinnerinvisiblestrength,astrengththatherdaughterwillinheritandcometouseinherchessmatches.ThisstrengthgivesLindothepowertoendurethehardshipsthatarestrictiveandpatriarchalsociety （充满父权束缚的社会）forcesuponher.Shestaresintothemirrorasshepreparesforherarrangedmarriagetoamanshedoesnotlove,knowingthattofleethemarriagewouldbetogobackonherparents'promisetoherhusband'sfamily（她自己逃婚就会使父母对夫家的承诺失信）.Yetshealsomakesapromisetoherself,whichshedeterminestohonorwithequaldevotion.（自己有同样的奉献精神）Lindo'slessoninbalancingdutytoone'sparentsanddutytooneselfalsolinkshertoherowndaughter,andtoallofthedaughtersinthenovel,whomustlearntoreveretheirheritageandtheirelders（尊重传统和长辈）withoutbecomingpassive, withoutgivinguptheirowndesiresandaspirations.Whilethestruggleforthisbalanceoftenalienates（疏离）mothersanddaughters,italsobringsthemclosertogether,forallofthemhavefacedthischallengeatsomepointintheirlives,whetherornotthemotherschoosetorecollectit.（回忆过去）Thecentraleventinthispassage--Lindo'srecognitionofhervalueandhersubsequentcoveringofitwithherscarf（而后又利用盖头把自己的强势掩盖起来）--symbolizesanotherlessoninbalance.Shelearnstolistentoherownheartandmaintainherstrengthevenasshehidestheseawaybeneaththescarf.Sheknowsthatsometimesthestrongestforceisahiddenone.Althoughthisgestureofconcealmentcanalsoeasilybecomeagestureofpassivity （消极被动的姿态）,LindoescapesthepassivitythatcharacterizessomanyoftheotherfemalefiguresinTheJoyLuckClubbecausesheknowswhentoexposewhatshehides.3.“Amotherisbest.Amotherknowswhatisinsideyou,”shesaid…“ Apsyche-atrickswillonlymakeyouhulihudu,makeyouseeheimongmong.”Backhome,Ithoughtaboutwhatshesaid…[These]warewordsIhadneverthoughtaboutinEnglishterms. Isupposetheclosestinmeaningwouldbe“confused”and“darkfog.” Butreally,thewordsmeanmuchmorethanthat. Maybetheycan’tbeeasilytranslatedbecausetheyrefertoasensationthatonlyChinesepeoplehave…----FromRoseHsuJordan'sstory"WithoutWood."RoseandhermotherAn-meisitinchurchandspeakaboutRose'svisitstothepsychiatrist.Challengingherdaughter'sadherenceto（信奉，崇拜）whatshefeelsisanoddWesternconvention,An-meiasksRosewhyshefeelsshemusttellapsychiatrist–acompletestranger--abouthermaritalwoes（婚姻方面的苦恼）,whensherefusestoconfideinhermotheraboutthem.LinguisticbarriersbetweenChineseandAmericanculturesareespeciallyprominent（突出）inthissectionofthenovel,"AmericanTranslation." Thepassagehighlightslinguisticdiscrepancy（语言方面的差异）twice. Inthefirstinstance,An-meiappearsunabletopronounce "psychiatrist." Yethermispronunciationmayalsobedeliberate:bycallingthedoctora"psyche-atricks,（心理巫术）"shemaybedeviouslydisparaginghim（隐晦地攻击他）assomeonewhoplaystricksonthepsyche--aquack（一个江湖骗子）nottobetrusted.ThesecondillustrationoflanguagebarriersarisesinRose'sownmeditationson（对…的思考）theChinesewordshermotherhasused. Shestrugglestoexplainthemandthenwonderswhethertheycanbe"translated"intoEnglishatall.Whileonemightfindsubstitutesfor（找出对应的词语）theminEnglish,shedoubtswhetherthetruefeelingtheyconnote（它们包含的确切含义）canbefeltbyanon-Chineseperson.ThequestionthenbecomeswhethertheseproblemsoftranslationinevitablyalienateimmigrantmothersfromtheirAmerican-borndaughters,leadingtothesituationthatAn-meicomplainsof:asituationinwhichmotheranddaughterareunabletoconfideineachother（诉说衷肠）ordiscusstheirinnerexperienceswithoneanother--inwhichtheymustgotostrangersforhelpandsupport.4.Herwisdomislikeabottomlesspond. Youthrowstonesinandtheysinkintothedarknessanddissolve. Heeyeslookingbackdonotreflectanything. IthinkthistomyselfeventhoughIlovemydaughter. SheandIhavesharedthesamebody….Butwhenshewasborn,shesprangfrommelikeaslipperyfish,andhasbeenswimmingawayeversince.Allherlife,Ihavewatchedherasthoughfromanothershore. AndnowImusttellhereverythingaboutmypast. Itistheonlywayto…pullhertowhereshecanbesaved.  ---- fromthebeginningofYing-yingSt.Clair'ssecondnarrative,"WaitingBetweentheTrees."SeeingherdaughterLenainapainfulmarriage,Ying-yingresentsherdaughter'sstubbornrefusaltolearnfromhertheChinesewaysofthinking,whichYing-yingregardsaswiserthantheAmericanways.Yetshealsoacknowledgestheextenttowhichherownpassivityhasledtoherdaughter'sfailuretostandupforherselfinadysfunctionalmarriage.Thus,sheknowsthattheonlywaytosaveherdaughteristotellherstory,thestoryofhowhersubmissiontofateandotherpeople'swills(屈从命运和别人的意志)ledtodiscontentandevenagony.Theimageryherecreatesanespeciallypotenteffect（震撼的效果）andresonates（引起反响）throughoutthenovel.AlthoughYing-yingthinksofherselfandherdaughterashavingsharedthesamebody,asbeingofthesameflesh,shealsoseesLenaashavingsprungawaylikeaslipperyfishthatnowexistsonadistantshore.Significantly,whilemanyofthemother-daughterpairsviewthemselvesasreflectionsofoneanother,Ying-yinglooksintoLena'seyesandseesnotherreflectionbuta"bottomlesspond."Whatjoinsthewomen（把母与女这两位女人联结起来）--theirmutualpassivity--isalsowhatdividesthem.Ying-ying'snotionthatthetellingofastorycan"save"herdaughterisnotuniqueinTheJoyLuckClub.Throughoutthenovel,themothersinsistontheimportanceofstoriesnotonlyinguidingtheirdaughtersandprotectingthemfrompain,butalsoinpreservingtheirownmemoriesandhopes,keepingtheirculturealive.Inthispassagefrom "DoubleFace,"Lindolongquestionsthefeasibilityofthemixedculturalidentitysheoncewishedforherdaughter.ShefearsthatChineseidentityhascometocon-stitutemerelyWaverly'sexterior, whileAmericanidentitydominatesherinteriorself.LindoblamesherselfforWaverly'slopsidedduality.Yet,fromWaverly'sownnarrative,weknowthatLindo'sfearsarenotentirelyjustified:WaverlyexhibitsadeeprespectandconcernforherChineseidentity.Waverlyattributesmuchofherearlytalentinchesstohermother'slessonsinhow"nottoshow [her]thoughts, andsheseemstohavecontinuedthisskillintoheradulthood.JustasLindo'sfearsareexaggerated,herdescriptionsoftheAmericanandChinesewaysoflifealsoappearidealized:sheseemstobelievesomewhatnaivelyinthe"AmericanDream,"thenotionofequalopportunityforall.Atthesametime,shedescribesChinesethinkingas"best"andspeaksoftheChinesevaluesofobedienceandmodestyasiftheywereuni-versallyascribedtoinChina.Thus,whenLindofearsthattheAmericanandChineseculturescannotmix,sheiscontemplatingthecombinationoftwoextremes.Inreality,eachidentityisitselfmixed:justastheAmericancultureisnotwhollyaboutautonomyandliberty,theChinesecultureisnotwhollyaboutpassivity,obedience,andself-restraint.Nonetheless,thechallengeoffindingawaytocombineaspectsofbothintoone'sownuniquepersonalityisachallengefacednotonlybyWaverly,butallofthenovel'sdaughtercharacters-even, tosomeextent,bythemothercharacters, astheybecomeincreasinglyaccustomedtotheirlivesintheUnitedStates.