Jing-mei Woo 'June'
In the final chapter of the book, June tells the story of going to China to meet her two half-sisters and tell the story of her mother's life. Before she left, June asked Lindo Jong to write to her sisters, Chwun Yu and Chwun Hwa, about their mother's death. When June and her father arrive, the marvel at the differences between America and China. At their hotel, the father tells June about her mother and sisters. When Suyuan could travel no more, she begged people to take her babies, so they would not die. Suyuan took her precious jewels and stuffed them into the shirt of one of the babies, and took a picture and wrote their names on the back of them. She walked away crying and soon fainted. When she woke up, she was with other people in the American Missionary. The babies were adopted by two Muslims who later took the children to address left by Suyuan. Arriving at the airport, June's sisters instantly recognize her because she had earlier sent them a picture. June says, "My sisters and I stand, arms around each other, laughing and wiping the rears from each other's eyes," (288). The imagery in this quote paints a beautiful picture of June getting the strength to tell her sisters the story of their mother. This story teaches that we need to have the strength to do what is right.
Monday, July 25, 2011
American Translation: Without Wood
Rose Hsu Jordan
In this chapter, Rose discovers that her husband, Ted, wants a divorce. One day, she went to check the mail and found divorce papers and a ten thousand dollar check from Ted. On the papers, there was a note that said, "Sign 4x where indicated enc: check, to tide you over until settlement," (190). This is such a tragedy to Rose that she takes multiple sleeping pills and stays in bed for three days. She is later awoken by the phone. Her mother, An-mei, asks her why she is not standing up for herself. Just moments later, she receives a phone call from Ted. He asks her why she has not signed the papers yet; he tells her that he already has plans to marry someone else. When Rose tells Ted to come pick up the papers, she tells him that she is not moving out of the house. This story teaches the lesson, that we need to stand up for ourselves, even if it is difficult.
In this chapter, Rose discovers that her husband, Ted, wants a divorce. One day, she went to check the mail and found divorce papers and a ten thousand dollar check from Ted. On the papers, there was a note that said, "Sign 4x where indicated enc: check, to tide you over until settlement," (190). This is such a tragedy to Rose that she takes multiple sleeping pills and stays in bed for three days. She is later awoken by the phone. Her mother, An-mei, asks her why she is not standing up for herself. Just moments later, she receives a phone call from Ted. He asks her why she has not signed the papers yet; he tells her that he already has plans to marry someone else. When Rose tells Ted to come pick up the papers, she tells him that she is not moving out of the house. This story teaches the lesson, that we need to stand up for ourselves, even if it is difficult.
American Translation: Four Directions
Waverly Jong
The chapter begins with Waverly wanting to tell her mother, Lindo, that she is engaged to a man named Rich. Waverly says, "I had taken my mother out to lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant in hopes of putting her in a good mood, but it was a disaster," (166). Waverly then continues her story she had earlier started - the story of her childhood chess matches. After Lindo's bragging, Waverly decided to stop playing chess for a little bit. She skipped an easily winnable tournament. To get Lindo to talk to her again, Waverly told her mother she wanted to start chess again. Lindo accepted her decision, but did not display her trophies or watch her practice anymore. After countless losses, Waverly had no motivation and gave up chess at age 14. Waverly then continues on about Rich. Waverly brings Rich to dinner at Lindo's house in hopes of breaking the news, but she never does. The next morning she goes to tell Lindo only to find her sleeping. When she wakes, Lindo says she knew about the engagement and that she likes Rich.
This story shows that it is very easy to misunderstand people.
The chapter begins with Waverly wanting to tell her mother, Lindo, that she is engaged to a man named Rich. Waverly says, "I had taken my mother out to lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant in hopes of putting her in a good mood, but it was a disaster," (166). Waverly then continues her story she had earlier started - the story of her childhood chess matches. After Lindo's bragging, Waverly decided to stop playing chess for a little bit. She skipped an easily winnable tournament. To get Lindo to talk to her again, Waverly told her mother she wanted to start chess again. Lindo accepted her decision, but did not display her trophies or watch her practice anymore. After countless losses, Waverly had no motivation and gave up chess at age 14. Waverly then continues on about Rich. Waverly brings Rich to dinner at Lindo's house in hopes of breaking the news, but she never does. The next morning she goes to tell Lindo only to find her sleeping. When she wakes, Lindo says she knew about the engagement and that she likes Rich.
This story shows that it is very easy to misunderstand people.
American Translation: Rice Husband
Lena St. Clair
The chapter begins by saying, "To this day, I believe my mother has the mysterious ability to see things before they happen," (149). This declarative sentence is how Lena tells us that her mother, Ying-ying, could always foresee evil things that would affect the family. Lena now wonders what her mother will think when she meets her husband in their new home together. Lena then remembers a time when her mother used her gift. When she was a child, Ying-ying told Lena that if she did not eat every grain of her rice, her husband would have "pock-marks" on his face for every grain she did not eat. Lena instantly thought of her 'pock-faced' neighbor, Arnold. Not wanting to marry Arnold, Lena began to wish for his death; she would always leave large amounts of food on her plate, later causing her to be anorexic. Later at the age of 17, Arnold died. Lena initially blamed herself, but then realized that she cannot do that. Lena then talks about her husband, Harold, and how much money they make. The chapter ends with Ying-ying breaking Harold's vase and Ying-ying saying she knew it would happen eventually.
This story shows that sometimes bad things happen, but we cannot blame ourselves.
The chapter begins by saying, "To this day, I believe my mother has the mysterious ability to see things before they happen," (149). This declarative sentence is how Lena tells us that her mother, Ying-ying, could always foresee evil things that would affect the family. Lena now wonders what her mother will think when she meets her husband in their new home together. Lena then remembers a time when her mother used her gift. When she was a child, Ying-ying told Lena that if she did not eat every grain of her rice, her husband would have "pock-marks" on his face for every grain she did not eat. Lena instantly thought of her 'pock-faced' neighbor, Arnold. Not wanting to marry Arnold, Lena began to wish for his death; she would always leave large amounts of food on her plate, later causing her to be anorexic. Later at the age of 17, Arnold died. Lena initially blamed herself, but then realized that she cannot do that. Lena then talks about her husband, Harold, and how much money they make. The chapter ends with Ying-ying breaking Harold's vase and Ying-ying saying she knew it would happen eventually.
This story shows that sometimes bad things happen, but we cannot blame ourselves.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates: Two Kinds
Jing-Mei Woo 'June'
In this chapter, June talks about her mother's expectations. She thought that she wasn't good enough for her mother. Her mother, Suyuan, wanted to make her a 'prodigy'. One day while watching The Ed Sullivan Show, Suyuan saw a young girl playing the piano. It said, "She seemed entranced by the music, a little frenzied piano piece with this mesmerizing quality, sory of quick passages and then teasing lilting ones before it returned to the quick playful parts," (135). Suyuan then made June take piano lessons from their neighbor Mr. Chong. June soon finds out that Mr. Chong is deaf and that she can get away with playing the wrong notes and not practice. June then participated in a talent show. When she went to play the piano, she was very unprepared, but felt confident.The performance was a complete disaster and Suyuan insisted that she continue with her lessons. June argued and said that she wished she were dead like her two sisters. Suyuan stopped asking about the piano until she gave it to June for her thirteenth birthday. After Suyuan died, June had the piano tuned. June is displayed as a round character in this chapter because she starts as a child and ends as an adult.
This chapter shows that sometimes, we have to do things to make others happy.
In this chapter, June talks about her mother's expectations. She thought that she wasn't good enough for her mother. Her mother, Suyuan, wanted to make her a 'prodigy'. One day while watching The Ed Sullivan Show, Suyuan saw a young girl playing the piano. It said, "She seemed entranced by the music, a little frenzied piano piece with this mesmerizing quality, sory of quick passages and then teasing lilting ones before it returned to the quick playful parts," (135). Suyuan then made June take piano lessons from their neighbor Mr. Chong. June soon finds out that Mr. Chong is deaf and that she can get away with playing the wrong notes and not practice. June then participated in a talent show. When she went to play the piano, she was very unprepared, but felt confident.The performance was a complete disaster and Suyuan insisted that she continue with her lessons. June argued and said that she wished she were dead like her two sisters. Suyuan stopped asking about the piano until she gave it to June for her thirteenth birthday. After Suyuan died, June had the piano tuned. June is displayed as a round character in this chapter because she starts as a child and ends as an adult.
This chapter shows that sometimes, we have to do things to make others happy.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates: Half and Half
Rose Hsu Jordan
Rose is the daughter of An-Mei. Rose begins by reminiscing the story of when she had to tell her mother that she was going to get a divorce from her husband, Ted. As Rose is thinking about this, she has a flashback about the time her family went to the beach. At the beach, Rose's older sisters were allowed to walk around, but Rose had to watch her three younger brothers. While her two brothers were playing in the sand, Rose watched her youngest brother, Bing. Bing was walking out on a ledge to go watch his father fish. All of a sudden, "Shouts erupt. Someone has thrown sand in Luke's face and he's jumped out of his sand grave and thrown himself on top of Mark, thrashing and kicking. My mother shouts for me to stop them," (125). Rose pulls the brothers off of one another and turns around to see Bing fall in the water. The family and rescue boats search for his body, but cannot find it. Rose thinks she is the one to blame. That night all members of the family sit together with heads down. An-Mei then says that she told Rose to take her eyes off of Bing The next day, An-Mei and Rose go out and search for the body. An-Mei does everything possible to find the body, but later gives up. This shows that families need each other to get through tough times.
Rose is the daughter of An-Mei. Rose begins by reminiscing the story of when she had to tell her mother that she was going to get a divorce from her husband, Ted. As Rose is thinking about this, she has a flashback about the time her family went to the beach. At the beach, Rose's older sisters were allowed to walk around, but Rose had to watch her three younger brothers. While her two brothers were playing in the sand, Rose watched her youngest brother, Bing. Bing was walking out on a ledge to go watch his father fish. All of a sudden, "Shouts erupt. Someone has thrown sand in Luke's face and he's jumped out of his sand grave and thrown himself on top of Mark, thrashing and kicking. My mother shouts for me to stop them," (125). Rose pulls the brothers off of one another and turns around to see Bing fall in the water. The family and rescue boats search for his body, but cannot find it. Rose thinks she is the one to blame. That night all members of the family sit together with heads down. An-Mei then says that she told Rose to take her eyes off of Bing The next day, An-Mei and Rose go out and search for the body. An-Mei does everything possible to find the body, but later gives up. This shows that families need each other to get through tough times.
The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates: The Voice From the Wall
Lena St. Clair
Lena is the daughter of Ying-Ying and she tells the story of her family. She begins by telling that her father, Clifford, saved her mother from bad things in China. Lena served as a translator from her mother to her father because they didn't speak much of the same language; even though, Clifford put words into Ying-Ying's mouth a lot. Clifford got a promotion at work and moved the family into an apartment. After moving in, they announced that Ying-Ying was with child.Ying-Ying constantly moved the furniture saying that things were unbalanced. Not long after, Ying-Ying said, "When something goes against your nature, you are not in balance," (108). The baby later died before being born. After Lena's bed was moved next to her wall, she often heard someone being beaten in the apartment next to them. When she saw the young girl she never saw signs of wounds on her. The story ends with Lena listening the young girl and her mother crying in the other room. This story demonstrates Clifford as a flat character.
Lena is the daughter of Ying-Ying and she tells the story of her family. She begins by telling that her father, Clifford, saved her mother from bad things in China. Lena served as a translator from her mother to her father because they didn't speak much of the same language; even though, Clifford put words into Ying-Ying's mouth a lot. Clifford got a promotion at work and moved the family into an apartment. After moving in, they announced that Ying-Ying was with child.Ying-Ying constantly moved the furniture saying that things were unbalanced. Not long after, Ying-Ying said, "When something goes against your nature, you are not in balance," (108). The baby later died before being born. After Lena's bed was moved next to her wall, she often heard someone being beaten in the apartment next to them. When she saw the young girl she never saw signs of wounds on her. The story ends with Lena listening the young girl and her mother crying in the other room. This story demonstrates Clifford as a flat character.
The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates: Rules of the Game
Waverly Jong
Waverly Jong is the daughter of Lindo Jong. The story Waverly tells is about her and her mother. She begins by telling us a maxim that her mother taught her. She taught her invisible strength which later helped her win her chess games. One year for Christmas, her brother got a chess board and she got lifesavers. Waverly wanted to learn to play chess, so she told her brother that they could use two of her lifesavers for the two missing pieces if she was allowed to play; the winner got to eat the two pieces of candy. Her brother agreed and taught her how to play. After her brothers no longer wanted to play, Waverly took the game to the park where she met an elderly man named Lau Po who agreed to play with her. They played so much that, "by the end of the summer, Lau Po had taught me all he knew, and I had become a better chess player," (96). Waverly entered into many tournaments and became so good that she was only 429 points away from grand master status. One day while in the market with her mother, Waverly becomes embarrassed of her mother's boasting of her. Her mother questions weather she is embarrassed of her family. Waverly becomes so irritated that she runs off, ignoring her mothers calls. She returns home later that evening with her family angry with her.
Waverly Jong is the daughter of Lindo Jong. The story Waverly tells is about her and her mother. She begins by telling us a maxim that her mother taught her. She taught her invisible strength which later helped her win her chess games. One year for Christmas, her brother got a chess board and she got lifesavers. Waverly wanted to learn to play chess, so she told her brother that they could use two of her lifesavers for the two missing pieces if she was allowed to play; the winner got to eat the two pieces of candy. Her brother agreed and taught her how to play. After her brothers no longer wanted to play, Waverly took the game to the park where she met an elderly man named Lau Po who agreed to play with her. They played so much that, "by the end of the summer, Lau Po had taught me all he knew, and I had become a better chess player," (96). Waverly entered into many tournaments and became so good that she was only 429 points away from grand master status. One day while in the market with her mother, Waverly becomes embarrassed of her mother's boasting of her. Her mother questions weather she is embarrassed of her family. Waverly becomes so irritated that she runs off, ignoring her mothers calls. She returns home later that evening with her family angry with her.
Feathers From a Thousand Li Away: The Moon Lady
Ying-Ying St. Clair
In this chapter, Ying-Ying tells her story of when she went to the Moon Festival in 1918. She begins with telling us that she was dressed by her nurse, Amah, in a "heavy yellow silk jacket and skirt outlined with black bands," (69). This shows how important the Moon Festival was. The feast took place on a boat where Ying-Ying later watched a man gut a fish that was to be for dinner. When the cook was finished, she looked down and saw her dress speckled with blood from the fish. Hoping to disguise the other blood, she found some turtle blood and smeared it on her clothes as well. When Amah saw this, she stripped Ying-Ying of her clothes, leaving her in her underclothes and slippers. Amah then proceeded to go to the part of the boat where the party was being held, leaving Ying-Ying alone. During the celebration, when the fireworks began, Ying-Ying was startled and fell off the boat. Luckily, she was caught by another fisherman and she asked him to take her to shore. She had been told a parable that the moon lady could answer one wish per person on this day. Ying- Ying was found later that night by her family, her wish had come true.
In this chapter, Ying-Ying tells her story of when she went to the Moon Festival in 1918. She begins with telling us that she was dressed by her nurse, Amah, in a "heavy yellow silk jacket and skirt outlined with black bands," (69). This shows how important the Moon Festival was. The feast took place on a boat where Ying-Ying later watched a man gut a fish that was to be for dinner. When the cook was finished, she looked down and saw her dress speckled with blood from the fish. Hoping to disguise the other blood, she found some turtle blood and smeared it on her clothes as well. When Amah saw this, she stripped Ying-Ying of her clothes, leaving her in her underclothes and slippers. Amah then proceeded to go to the part of the boat where the party was being held, leaving Ying-Ying alone. During the celebration, when the fireworks began, Ying-Ying was startled and fell off the boat. Luckily, she was caught by another fisherman and she asked him to take her to shore. She had been told a parable that the moon lady could answer one wish per person on this day. Ying- Ying was found later that night by her family, her wish had come true.
Feathers From a Thousand Li Away: The Red Candle
Lindo Jong
This story is told from Lindo's point of view. Lindo begins describing her relationship with her mother. When Lindo was two, she was promised to marry a man named Tyan-yu. Since that day, Lindo's mother would refer to her as Huang Taitai's daughter. Huang Taitai is Tyan-yu's mother. At the age of twelve, Lindo's house was severely damaged by a flood, causing her family to move to another village. Since Lindo was already promised to a man, she was forced to move in with her future husband and family. Before she moved, Lindo's mother said, "Obey your family. Do not disgrace us. Act happy when you arrive. Really, you're very lucky," (54). Lindo promised that she would do as she was told. When she moved in with her future family, she was treated as a servant. The other servants taught her how to treat Tyan-yu and to cook food the way he liked it. Eventually two ends of a red candle were lit and Tyan-yu and Lindo were married. Tyan-yu forced Lindo to sleep on the sofa and refused to touch her. Huang Taitai began to grow angry because she did not have any grandchildren. She blamed this on Lindo. In the end, Lindo convinced Huang Taitai that their ancestors had come to her in a dream saying that Tyan-yu would die if he stayed in the marriage. Huang Taitai agreed to have the marriage annulled and Lindo was able to emigrate to America. This story shows that we all must try our hardest to honor our father and mother.
This story is told from Lindo's point of view. Lindo begins describing her relationship with her mother. When Lindo was two, she was promised to marry a man named Tyan-yu. Since that day, Lindo's mother would refer to her as Huang Taitai's daughter. Huang Taitai is Tyan-yu's mother. At the age of twelve, Lindo's house was severely damaged by a flood, causing her family to move to another village. Since Lindo was already promised to a man, she was forced to move in with her future husband and family. Before she moved, Lindo's mother said, "Obey your family. Do not disgrace us. Act happy when you arrive. Really, you're very lucky," (54). Lindo promised that she would do as she was told. When she moved in with her future family, she was treated as a servant. The other servants taught her how to treat Tyan-yu and to cook food the way he liked it. Eventually two ends of a red candle were lit and Tyan-yu and Lindo were married. Tyan-yu forced Lindo to sleep on the sofa and refused to touch her. Huang Taitai began to grow angry because she did not have any grandchildren. She blamed this on Lindo. In the end, Lindo convinced Huang Taitai that their ancestors had come to her in a dream saying that Tyan-yu would die if he stayed in the marriage. Huang Taitai agreed to have the marriage annulled and Lindo was able to emigrate to America. This story shows that we all must try our hardest to honor our father and mother.
Feathers From a Thousand Li Away: Scar
An-Mei Hsu
An-Mei Hsu tells the story of how her mother becomes one of the wives of man named Wu-Tsing. At the age of four, An-Mei and her younger brother are sent off to live with their grandmother. She talks of how her mother never used to visit and how her grandmother would say horrible things about her mother. Her grandmother, Popo, once said to the brother, "You are the son of a mother who has so little respect she has become ni, a traitor to our ancestors. She is so beneath others that even the devil must look down to see her," (44). Popo uses the adage, ni to describe how horrible of a person their mother is. Popo soon becomes very ill. Later, the mother returns after hearing news of Popo and begs for her daughter back. When An-Mei tries to go to her mother, a bowl of boiling soup spills on her neck, leaving a scar. The chapter ends with An-Mei's mother experiencing the same pain that Popo once did. This chapter is very easy to relate to because, everyone has scars from where others have once hurt them.
An-Mei Hsu tells the story of how her mother becomes one of the wives of man named Wu-Tsing. At the age of four, An-Mei and her younger brother are sent off to live with their grandmother. She talks of how her mother never used to visit and how her grandmother would say horrible things about her mother. Her grandmother, Popo, once said to the brother, "You are the son of a mother who has so little respect she has become ni, a traitor to our ancestors. She is so beneath others that even the devil must look down to see her," (44). Popo uses the adage, ni to describe how horrible of a person their mother is. Popo soon becomes very ill. Later, the mother returns after hearing news of Popo and begs for her daughter back. When An-Mei tries to go to her mother, a bowl of boiling soup spills on her neck, leaving a scar. The chapter ends with An-Mei's mother experiencing the same pain that Popo once did. This chapter is very easy to relate to because, everyone has scars from where others have once hurt them.
Feathers From a Thousand Li Away: The Joy Luck Club
Jing-Mei Woo
The Joy Luck Club is about a group of women who share their personal stories with one another. The narrators in this story are four Chinese women and their four daughters. The story begins with a woman named Jing-Mei 'June' Woo. She is telling us about how her mother, Suyuan, has just passed away and she is being asked to replace her mother at the mah jong table. As June sits at the table, she remembers her mother's story of how the club started. Her mother always said, "What fine food we treated ourselves to with our meager allowances! We didn't notice that the dumplings were stuffed mostly with string squash and that the oranges were spitted with wormy holes," (23). Through out the evening the other women tell June their favorite stories of her mother. June soon learns that she has two half sisters in China. Her mother had just located their address a few weeks before she died. The Joy Luck Club members give June money because they want her to go visit her sisters and tell them about their mother.
The Joy Luck Club is about a group of women who share their personal stories with one another. The narrators in this story are four Chinese women and their four daughters. The story begins with a woman named Jing-Mei 'June' Woo. She is telling us about how her mother, Suyuan, has just passed away and she is being asked to replace her mother at the mah jong table. As June sits at the table, she remembers her mother's story of how the club started. Her mother always said, "What fine food we treated ourselves to with our meager allowances! We didn't notice that the dumplings were stuffed mostly with string squash and that the oranges were spitted with wormy holes," (23). Through out the evening the other women tell June their favorite stories of her mother. June soon learns that she has two half sisters in China. Her mother had just located their address a few weeks before she died. The Joy Luck Club members give June money because they want her to go visit her sisters and tell them about their mother.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
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