Amy Tan s The Joy Luck Club Essay - 805 Words

Rebecca Nemmers American Minority Writers Professor Czer September 12, 2016 Mother Knows Best Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club is a well-known novel that discusses the difficulties that Chinese American immigrants face especially in the second generation. This novel specifically focuses in on the stories of the mothers and their daughters, their sufferings and triumphs. Due to both the generational and cultural differences between the mothers and daughters are extreme and these differences cause their relationship to be strained. I think that one of the critical themes from the book comes from Jing-mei’s chapter. â€Å"Only two kinds of daughters. . . those who are obedient and those who follow their own mind!†(Tan 1989 142) Ying-ying and Lena St. Clair - both the relationship and the stories of these two women are rather confusing. It seems that Ying-ying and Lena are both slightly more superstitious than the rest of the women. Their stories typically center around visions or signs. Lena seems to be the daughter whose relationship is most st rained. Lena tends to believe that everything happens for a reason but refuses to listen to her mother when she suggests that Lena’s choices will lead to bad things. The result of her defiance is her unhappiness in her marriage to Harold. Her mother can see that her life is not balanced, but Lena does not have the courage to change the way she lives. Waverly Jong quickly began to resent her mother once she realized her potential as a childShow MoreRelatedAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1097 Words   |  5 PagesCulture defines humanity. Culture makes humans different than any other living organism ever known. Culture is what makes humans unique, and yet culture is easily the most misunderstood characteristic of individuals. In Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan develops the theme of incomplete cultural understanding leads to an inability to communicate one’s true intentions through juxtaposition and conflict between mothers and daughters and their cultures. The conflicting Chinese culture of the mothers’Read MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club890 Words   |  4 PagesLena and Ying-Ying from Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club both face injustice in their patriarchal relationships, just as Mariam and Laila from A Thousand Splendid Suns, however on very different terms. Lena, like Amir and Laila, struggles with confrontation and complete deference of others. However, under the influence of her mother, Lena realizes the problematic recurrences in relationship with her husband. Ying-Ying, aware of her daughters submissiveness, must lead Lena to intervention to confront herselfRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1385 Words   |  6 Pages Amy Tan s The Joy Luck Club Mona A. M. Ahmed Zagazig University, Egypt The purpose of this paper is to investigate pluralism, acculturation and assimilation in Amy Tan s novel The Joy Luck Club (1989), a finalist for the National Award, and a recipient of the 1990 Bay Area Book Reviewers award for fiction. Amy Tan (1952- ) is a Chinese American novelist; she is the daughter of John Tan, a Chinese electricalRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1023 Words   |  5 Pagesand other scholars’ articles, a diasporic and often considered as postcolonial discourses- Amy Tan’s debut novel The Joy Luck Club comes to my mind. Amy Tan, as one of the renowned contemporary Chinese American writers, and also as one of the daughters of the immigrants herself, writes several novels revealing situations and reflecting problems faced by the Chinese diaspora in America. Although The Joy Luck Club has been published for more than two decades, the stories inside are still going on in ChineseRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club Essay1567 Words   |  7 PagesAmy Tan’s â€Å"The Joy Luck Club† is a novel written in various short stories between four immigrant Chinese mothers and their four Chinese-American born daughters. The mother’s represent their heritage, tradition, culture, and native tongue. Their daughters; however embody America and its culture, along with language. Each mother and daughter share the emotional feeling of cultural separation between themselves and their relationship with each other. With their cross-cultural relationship, the daughtersRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1028 Words   |  5 PagesIn Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, Waverly Jong is a dynamic character who shows her arrogance, selfishness and insecurities as the story progresses. On the first letter of Waverly’s name, W, sits a Mink, which symbolizes her desire for her mother’s approval. Throughout the novel, Waverly avoids Lindo’s criticism and fears her mother will not agree with her choices. T his is evident in â€Å"Four Directions† when Waverly shows her mother the mink coat Rich bought her and Lindo responds, â€Å"This is no good†¦Read MoreAnalysis Of Amy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1637 Words   |  7 Pagessame time† (Goreski). Amy Tan, an author of numerous novels, understands the battle of relationships, especially between culturally diverse mothers and daughters. In one of Tan’s novels, The Joy Luck Club, she writes to get the point across of how difficult it is for contrasting cultures to communicate with one another, â€Å"...out of an intense concern with the individual artistic choices she was making at every level and at every moment† (Evans 3). The passionate message Tan stresses in the novelRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1210 Words   |  5 PagesThe Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan tells the story of four Chinese mothers and their American daughters. Throughout the book, Tan talks about the mothers and the life they had in chin a, the relationship between their mothers, and why they moved to America. She also writes about the daughters who were born and raised in America and their relationship with their mothers. In addition, she talks about the cultural differences between the Chinese mothers and the Chinese-American daughters. Joy Luck Club is oneRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club986 Words   |  4 Pageshope. How to laugh forever†, Amy Tan wrote in The Joy Luck Club. This powerful quote not only exhibits the mindset that Amy has formed over the years, but also how various lessons has shaped her inner-being. Overcoming a past were all the odds were against her, even her mother, leaves Tan’s story worth being heard. Amy’s mixed heritage made adapting to the free life of America from an authoritarian Chinese parenting style difficult. The pivotal moment that altered Amy Tan’s life the most was breakingRead MoreAnalysis Of Amy Tan s The Joy Luck Club Essay1664 Words   |   7 PagesLauren Lee 11 September 2016 English 203H 1st Period 3 paragraphs â€Å"The Joy Luck Club† Journey of the Swan In Amy Tan’s story â€Å"The Joy Luck Club,† Jing-mei recalls the struggles she is burdened by in not understanding the extensive sacrifices her mother made and the guilt she carries of never living to be her mother’s swan. For the majority of her life, June has battled with the tedious thoughts of why her mother never seemed content with her. â€Å"Auntie Lin and my mother were both best friends and

Essay on Reading Moby-Dick as Ethnic Allegory - 2752 Words

Reading Moby-Dick as Ethnic Allegory At a time when images of the white settler conquering the savage frontier were prevalent in antebellum America, depictions of racial polarization and, alternately, co-existence among different ethnic groups had already begun to find expression in various artistic mediums, from painting to literature. Today more than ever, such works continue to elicit critical re-examinations where race relations, colonization, and literary representation are concerned. While many literary and cultural critics have proposed allegorical readings of political and religious natures, Herman Melvilles Moby-Dick can also be read relatedly as an ethnic allegory, where particular scenes and images representing death or†¦show more content†¦Cultural critic Robert Berkhofer hints at this idea in characterizing a prevailing attitute among many white Americans at this time: The quest for American cultural identity, the role of the United States in history, faith in the future greatness of the nation, an d the fate of the Indian and the frontier in general were all seen as connected by the White Americans of the period. (Berkhofer, 92) In this search for identity issues of racial inequality and white encroachment and themes of death and destruction are necessarily implicated. This is no surprise considering the mid-nineteeth century social and political circumstances framing the writing and reception of Moby-Dick , particularly the Mexican War of 1848, the increase in American expansionism, and the divisions between slave and free states (Brodhead, 9). Although no doubt Melville was well-aware of these realities and of culturally-recurring images of ethnic peoples as Noble, romantic, or enlightened savages (Berkhofer, 78), his unconventional depiction of Queequeg seems to defy neat compartmentalization into such existing categories. Queequeg is introduced in the first fourth of the novel by Ishmael, whose initial fascination with his seemingly cryptic actions and mannerisms soon develops into feelings of an ambiguously sexual/fraternal nature. We, too, are captivated by Queequegs implied homosexual orientation but no less by his unfamiliar cultural customs:Show MoreRelatedAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagestested by a seductive male Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · patriotism grows instills pride creates common agreement about issues shows differences between Americans and Europeans Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · tells readers how to interpret what they are reading to encourage Revolutionary War support instructive in values American Renaissance/Romanticism period of American Literature - 18001855 Content: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · writing that can be interpreted 2 ways, on the surface for common folk or in depth

Conflict Is A Natural Part Of Any Human Interaction

Conflict is a natural part of any human interaction. In the workplace, conflict is necessary. Judge and Robbins define conflict as, â€Å"a process that begins when one party perceives that another party has negatively affected, or is about to negatively affect something that the first party cares about† (2009). One could imply that a workplace without conflict is staffed with people who must not care about anything. Two important components of conflict are the Interactionist View of Conflict and Conflict Management Techniques. ïÆ' ¼Good introductory paragraph helps follow the discussion The Interactionist View of Conflict Regardless of the type of organization, conflict between people in that organization is expected (Fischer, n.d). The Interactionist View of Conflict is the ideal type of conflict in the workplace. Robbins and Judge define the interactionist view of conflict as, â€Å"the belief that conflict is not only a positive force in a group but that it is also an absolute necessity for a group to perform effectively† (2009). Although conflict is necessary and inevitable, not all types of conflict is positive. There are two forms of conflict that fall under the interactionist view of conflict which are. The desired type of conflict, however, is one that is functional rather than dysfunctional. Functional conflict is characterized by positive relationships and people disputing ideas for the betterment of the organization and each other (Fischer, n.d). WithinShow MoreRelatedSymbolic Interactionist Perspective In Sociology1543 Words   |  7 Page swork as sociologist’s lenses in which they look through; they can either clear up or distort the â€Å"image.† Sociologists employ three primary theoretical perspectives: the symbolic interactionist perspective, the functionalist perspective, and the conflict perspective. (Crossman, 2017) Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Also known as symbolic interactionism, the symbolic interactionist perspective directs sociologists into considering symbols and details found in the everyday life of peopleRead MoreSolutions for Poor Contries in Bottom Billion by Paul Collier725 Words   |  3 Pagesproblems in developing nations are: conflict, natural resources, bad neighbors, and bad governments. The conflicts are usually civil wars which have huge costs and the situation just becomes worse the longer the conflicts drag on. Collier states that countries rich in natural resources are often worse off than countries that are not, he attributes this problem to several different factors. One of the factors is that the resources open the possibility for conflict over the resources. Another factorRead MoreThree Theoretical Approaches Essay784 Words   |  4 PagesSocial-conflict approach * Sees society as an arena of inequality * Generates conflict and change * Macro-level orientation * Highlights how class, race, ethnicity, gender, and age are linked to inequality in terms of money, power, education, and social prestige. * Reduce inequality * Conflict analysis * Gender-conflict approach * Feminism * Race-conflict approach 3. Symbolic-interaction approach * Sees society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals Read MoreAn Analysis of the Current Conflict in Syria1253 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿An analysis of the current conflict in Syria Introduction The modern Syria obtained its self-rule from France, it colony, in 1946. However, the country has experienced political instability periods compelled through the clashing interests of religious and ethnic groups. Between 1958 and 1961 Syria united with Nassers Egypt, but independence was restored through an army coup that took place before a renaissance led by the Baath party that controlled of Syria in 1963 (Diamond Plattner, 2012)Read MoreSocial Stratification: Through the eyes of Tà ¶nnies and Park1638 Words   |  7 PagesIn any study of urban sociology one is bound to encounter few scholars that have contributed as greatly to our current understanding of the structure and evolution of society as have Ferdinand Tà ¶nnies and Robert Park. Both born in the late nineteenth century and living well into the first part of the 20th century, affording each an opportunity to experience radical industrial growth, political and economic upheaval, and the first great international war. Despite these similarities, each theoristRead MoreHuman Involvement And Human Intervention1225 Words   |  5 Pagesto time, unfortunate living conditions or a particular disease wipes out an area, calling for humans to get involved. Also, humans sometimes lead to the extinction of species, through poaching or the killing of a certain species. This may also occur when individuals cut down trees and destroy ecosystems. However, occasionally, human involvement can greatly benefit a certain species of animal or plant. Human intervention can lead to the growth of a certain species and allow them to thrive and reproduceRead MoreThe Theory Of Social Life1581 Words   |  7 Pagesof social research should be only to advance the understanding of human behavior or to investigate/reform harmful social arrangements. The first theory I will cover is symbolic interactionism. The symbolic interaction perspective, also called symbolic interactionism, is a major framework of the sociological theory. This perspective relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction. Although symbolic interactionism traces its origins to Max WeberRead MoreThe Theory Of Human Actions, Decisions, Behavior, And Other External Elements Essay967 Words   |  4 PagesMeade, Charles Horton Cooley, Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Karl Marx-- established the framework of symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and conflict theory. Each played key roles in establishing the levels and focuses of analysis that are used in applying the three theoretical perspectives to the study of human actions, decisions, behavior, and other external elements, which can be explained not only by analyzing the individual scenario, but also by analyzing the context inRead MoreInterpersonal Communication On A Daily Base983 Words   |  4 PagesSociety sees interpersonal communication on a daily base. The question might be what is interpersonal communication, is there conflict, and where we experience it. Communication skills are developed to enhance or improve with the increased knowledge and practice. Today’s world with various forms of communication is ideal to have a superb interpersonal skill. Tough Interpersonal communication is an exchange of information between two or more people. Furthermore, the uncertainty theory comes fromRead MoreThe Theory Of Human Actions, Decisions, Behavior, And External Elements875 Words   |  4 Pagesfoundational theories, --George Herbert Meade, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Karl Marx-- established the framework of symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and conflict theory. Each played key roles in establishing the levels and focuses on analysis that are used in applying the three theoretical perspectives to the study of human actions, decisions, behavior, and other external elements, which can be explained not only by analyzing the individual scenario, but also by analyzing the context in

the Fame - Fame Monster by Lady Gaga free essay sample

With her crazy unique styles and voice, Lady Gaga has risen to the top of the music charts. Most people either lover her or hate her style or music (or both), but it’s obvious that people are liking her because she’s selling cds and has made a name for herself. With the advent of her new album The Fame Monster her popularity seems to just keep growing. She cites her music (especially her first album) as a reflection of pop culture today and I would agree whole-heartedly with her statement. With songs like â€Å"Paparazzi† and â€Å"Just Dance† her music from the first album The Fame reflects how celebrities are looked up to. â€Å"Just Dance† is an awesome song that basically says that no matter what problems you have you can work threw them in the end and to just be optimistic. Most people only know her from her songs in the mainstream media but if they picked up her album they would see that she has many different songs and she has a wide range of vocal talents. We will write a custom essay sample on the Fame Fame Monster by Lady Gaga or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page My favorite song she sings is the song â€Å"Vanity† probably because some of the lyrics and everything besides the beats that she uses in the song speak to me. Her lyrics may not make sense all the time but they are exquisitely chosen to go specifically with the beats that she creates. Her sense of style is just as unique as her music. For one thing she loves weird old fashioned sunglasses and it’s rare to see her without a pair. She loses some every so often during concerts and such and she eventually gets them returned to her but instead of keeping them she signs them and gives them right back (by the way these sunglasses usually are in the thousand dollar price range). She loves the styles from the 70’s and 60’s and loves to support her fellow artists, so she wears the fashions of new and up and coming designers to help them get their names out there. She also notoriously hates wearing pants and almost never wears them (aside from the â€Å"Love Game† music video). Many of her outfits were designed to go with her performances on stage during her concerts which she thinks of as burlesque and theatrical. She wrote the full first album with performing it on stage in mind and she even went as far to giving each song a color theme for the outfits it’s performed in. Many people and the media think of Lady Gaga as a psycho freak who is trying to imitate Madonna and who can’t sing. I believe that she does have a good voice but all everyone ever hears from her are those really pop songs she writes because that’s all the radios will play from her and that her album has songs that better demonstrate her vocal talents . Everyone was ok with her when she wrote songs for their favorite singers like Britney spears and Beyonce. In regards to her fashion sense she received the Stylemaker award for being unique and elegant with her styles. Personally I believe that everyone who doesn’t like her music just writes her off. I used to hate every time someone mentioned her name because everyone was talking about her everywhere. One night though I listened to her â€Å"Poker Face† song while playing basketball at a friend’s house when I realized that whoever was singing actually did have talent and the song was catchy. I asked my friend who sung this and he responded â€Å"Lady Gaga.† I was like’ whoa seriously? After that I did some musical â€Å"research† and looked up her music and found out more about her and once I grew an understanding of her I liked her and her music. If everyone would just be open-minded or do a little research instead of letting the media tell them what to think they would possibly come to like her like I did. Despite everyone’s supposed dislike for her they still like watching her when she performs on stage at awards ceremonies like the AMA’s where she performed â€Å"Bad Romance† and â€Å"Speechless†. Everyone was speechless when she broke the glass to get to her piano and then began playing it as it lit on fire, while she proceeded to break glass over it. They were just as astounded at the MTV awards when she started to bleed and she hung on a cord at the end of her â€Å"Paparazzi† performance. They like her performances because they’re out there and unique and never been done quite the way she does her performances. She’s a great performer even if she is a bit queer and has talent even if no one will give her the credit she deserves.