Sacrifices For Love
Olivia Aasheim
Feathers From a Thousand Li Away
The parable, Feathers From a Thousand Li Away, was my favorite because of the symbolic and meaningful way it showed the sacrifices made by a mother for the betterment of her child's life and future. The woman described her journey coming to America with the purpose of giving her daughter a better life, comparing her to the swan saying, "She will know my meaning, because I will give her this swan-- a creature that became more than what was hoped for"(Tan 17). This quote reveals the mother's selflessness in the way she's willing to risk everything in order to give her daughter a chance at a more successful life.
Changing Identities
The Hsu's
Having already read the Woo section in this book, I would've also liked to have read the section describing the deep connection between An-mei Hsu and her mother. Early on in the section, An-mei's mother is described as having carved a chunk of flesh in an attempt to save her grandmother and she also killed herself in order to give An-mei a better life. And although that may seem very extreme, the main message trying to be passed is that family is worth sacrificing and maybe even dying for, something that is obviously expressed greatly in the Hsu household, with their strong and corporeal family relationships.
Meaningful Quote
Listening to quotes from the other sections in the book, there was one in particular that stood out to meet the most. The quote I found the most meaningful was the one describing the moment Ying-Ying saw who the Moon Lady really was, " So I walked closer yet, until I could see the face of the Moon Lady: shrunken cheeks, a broad oily nose, large glaring teeth, and red-stained eyes. A face so tired as she wearily pulled off her hair, her long gown fell from her shoulders. And as the secret wish fell from my lips, the Moon Lady looked at me and became a man"(Tan 82). This quote proves the point that not everything is as it seems, and that some things in life may not actually be what they appear to be at the surface.
Thematic Statement
An overruling theme in The Joy Luck Club is that of the loss of one's identity. All of the mothers, who came to America originally from China, continuously share their struggle in trying to give their americanized children a Chinese identity saying, "I wanted my children to have the best combination: American circumstances and Chinese character. How could I know these these do not mix?" (Tan 254). And although their struggles may seem under appreciated, their daughters soon realize just how many sacrifices were made to get them in their current position. Their appreciation was described saying"Even thing i was young, i could see the pain of flesh and the worth of the pain"(Tan 48). Even though America is all the girls have ever known, towards the end of the book they are eventually able to connect back with their Chinese roots and find their true identities, even though they may have seemed Americanized beyond repair.