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.
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