论《喜福会》女性主义的显现

ii摘要随着女性主义文学的不断发展，研究观点层出不穷。我们在文学批判的领域里可以发现，有关文学作品中女性主义的研究已成为了女权倡议者关注的焦点。而《喜福会》正是这方面的代表作之一。本文基于谭恩美这部小说，尝试分析母女两代人的奋斗历程和相互的影响,从而体现女性主义的内涵。无论是母亲还是女儿，经历了作为传统女性的社会角色所带来的痛苦后，她们以各自的方式找到了自我，不能消极等待，而是要打破传统，寻找自我的命运出路。作为华裔美国女性，首先，她们是欧美世界中的中国人；其次，她们是东方男性世界中的女性；再次，她们还是西方世界中的中国女性。深受三重身份压迫之苦的女性争得发言权，描述中美文化差异所造成的母女之间迥异的奋斗之路。关键字：《喜福会》；母女；命运论；女性觉醒；奋斗TableofContentsTOC\o"1-3"\f\h\zAbstract .Introduction1.1IntroductionofAmyTanAmyTanwasborninOakland,California,in1952,whoseworksexploremother-daughterrelationships.Herparents,bothareChineseimmigrants,eventuallysettlinginSantaClara.WhenTanwasinherearlyteens,herfatherandoneofherbrothersdiedofabraintumorwithinmonthsofeachother.Duringthisperiod,TanlearnedthathermotherhadbeenmarriedbeforeinChina.Tan'smotherhaddivorcedherfirsthusband,whohadbeenabusive,andhadfledChinain1949.Sheleftbehindthreedaughters,whomshewouldnotseeagainfornearlyfortyyears.Afterlosingherhusbandandson,Tan'smothermovedherfamilytoSwitzerland,whereTanfinishedhighschool.Duringthreeyears,motheranddaughterarguedaboutTan'scollegeandcareerplans.TaneventuallyfollowedherboyfriendtoSanJoseCityCollege,wheresheearnedabachelor'sandamaster'sdegreeinEnglishandlinguistics,despitehermother'swishthatshestudymedicine.AfterTanmarriedherboyfriend,LouisDeMattei,shebegantopursueaPh.D.inlinguistics.Shelaterabandonedtheprograminordertoworkwithdevelopmentallydisabledchildren.Thenshebecameafreelancebusinesswriter.Althoughshewassuccessful,shefoundwritingforcorporateexecutivesdissatisfied.Shebegantowritefictionasacreativerelease.Meanwhile,Tan'smotherwassufferingfromaseriousillness,andTanresolvedtotakeatriptoChinawithhermotherifsherecovered.In1987,afterhermotherreturnedtohealth,theytraveledtoChina,whereTan'smotherwasreunitedwithherdaughtersandmetherhalf-sisters.ThetripprovidedTanwithafreshperspectiveonhermother,anditservedasthekeyinspirationforherfirstbook,TheJoyLuckClub.Soonafteritspublicationin1989,TheJoyLuckClubgarneredenthusiasticreviews,remainingontheNewYorkTimesbest-sellerlistformanymonths.ItwonboththeNationalBookAwardandtheL.A.TimesBookAwardin1989.Tanhaswrittenseveralotherbestsellingnovels,includingTheKitchenGod'sWife,TheHundredSecretSenses,TheBonesetter'sDaughterandSavingFishFromDrowning.Shealsowroteacollectionofnon-fictionessaysentitledTheOppositeofFate:ABookofMusings.AndhermostrecentnovelSavingFishFromDrowning.Inadditiontothese,Tanhaswrittentwochildren'sbooks:TheMoonLady(1992)andSagwa,theChineseSiameseCat(1994),whichwasturnedintoananimatedseriesairingonPBS.ShealsoappearedonPBSinashortspotencouragingchildrentowrite.1.2OverviewofTheJoyLuckClubAndthethemeofTheJoyLuckClubfocusesonthemanifestationoffeminism.HowtheChinese-Americanwomanstrugglefortheirliveswithaverycomplexidentities?Firstly,theyareChineseinthewesterncountry;then,theyarethewomenofeasternmaleworld;furthermore,theyareChinesewomeninthewesternworld.Describingthestruggleofthewomeneventhoughthemothersanddaughterseffectedbydifferentculture.TheJoyLuckClubisaChineseAmericanwriterAmyTan'sfirstnovel,isalsofamousforher,thatispublishedsuccess,thenhadconsecutivetopeight"NewYorkTimes"bestsellerlistsandsoonadaptedintofilmsbythesamename,far-reachinginfluence.ThisbookistheUnitedStatesin1989,oneofthefourbestsellingbooks,haswonnumerousawards.TheJoyLuckClubcontainssixteeninterconnectedstoriesaboutconflictsbetweenChineseimmigrantmothersandtheirAmerican-raiseddaughters.In1949,thefourimmigrantsmetattheFirstChineseBaptistChurchinSanFranciscoandagreedtocontinuetomeettoplayMahjong.TheycalledtheirMahjonggroup—TheJoyluckClub,formedinChinabyoneofthemothers—SuyuanWoo,inordertoliftherfriends'spiritsanddistractthemfromtheirproblemsduringtheJapaneseinvasion.Andthenoveliscomposedoffoursections,eachofwhichcontainsfourseparatenarratives.Inthefirstfourstoriesofthebook,themothers,speakingonebyone,recalltheirexperienceinChinaandtheirrelationshipswiththeirownmothers.Inthesecondsection,thesedaughters—Waverly,Jing-mei,Lena,andRose—relatetheirrecollectionsoftheirchildhoodrelationshipswiththeirmothers.Inthethirdgroupofstories,thefourdaughtersnarratetheiradultdilemmas—troublesinmarriageandwiththeircareers.Althoughtheybelievethattheirmothers'antiquatedideasdonotrelevanttotheirownveryAmericanlifestyles,theirsearchforsolutionsinevitablybringsthembacktotheirrelationshipswiththeoldergeneration.Inthefinalgroupofstories,themothersstruggletooffersolutionsandsupporttotheirdaughters,intheprocesslearningmoreaboutthemselves.ThenovelendsthescenethattheprotagonistJingmeiWoofindshereldersistersinShanghaiwhomhermotherlostinChinawhensheleftforAmericain1949andthentheyallmurmurtheirdeadmother"Mama,Mama."Underthissituation,theauthordescribes"IlookattheirfacesagainandIseenotraceofmymotherinthem.Yettheystilllookfamiliar.AndnowIseewhatpartofmeisChinese.Itissoobvious.Itismyfamily.Itisinourblood."(Tan,1989:287)1.3LiteratureReviewIn1989,ChineseAmericanwriterAmyTanpublishedherfirstnovelTheJoyLuckClub,boththereadingpublicandcriticslovedTheJoyLuckClub,andshewonanumberofnationalawards.In1994,TheJoyLuckClubwassuccessfullyadaptedtomovie,andhasbeentranslatedinto20languagesincludingChinese,andwidelycirculated.Inthepasttwodecades,becamefamousathomeandabroad,therearemanyresearchresults,mixed.AftersortingoutcanfindthatWesternacademicsareconcentratedontheinterpretationoftheirrace,gender,identity,class,nationalismandotheraspectsofmeaning.TheJoyLuckClubacclaimingforhighlypraise,mostlyconcentratedontheanalysisofthethemesandcontent.ItisthemainattitudeofChineseandforeignacademics.In1989,manybrilliantreviewsbegantoappearinTime,Newsweek,NewYork,NewYorkTimesBookReview,LosAngelesTimes,WashingtonPostandothermajorU.S.media.ThisfullyshowsthatmanywhiteAmericancriticsimpressedbytheobscure,bizarre,mysteriousofChinaandtheChinesepeopledescribinginTheJoyLuckClub,thenovelhasgainedtheAmericanmainstreamwhitesociety'sconcernandacceptance.Afterthe1990s,AmyLing(1990),MarinaHeung(1993),WalterShear(1993),BenXu(1994),StephenSouris(1994),ZenobinMistri(1998),PatriciaL.Hamilton(1999),AlisonGee(2001)andZengLi(2002),CuiWansheng(1997),Xiaohong(1998),LuWei(2000),TingtingChen(2006),andmanyUnitedStatescommentatorshaveyetapprovinglycommentTheJoyLuckClub.TheyconsideredthatAmyTaninheritanceandcarryforwardtheChinese-Americanliterarytraditionabouttheancient,familyrelationshipsandculturalconflict,atthesametime,shealsorejectedtheoldstereotypesabouttheimageofChinesewomen,developingtheblendofChineseandwesternthought.Thedomesticresearchfocusedontext-basedanalysisofconflictandidentityissues,tendingtotheworksofculturalandpoliticalcriticisminsteadofaestheticcriticism.ChineseacademiccommunitybegantostudyTheJoyLuckClubin1994.Researchpaperofculturalexplorationcanbedividedintotwotypes:traditionalChineseculture,suchasReadingAmyTan(TheJoyLuckClub)intheChinesemahjong"(RuihuaZhang,2001),anddiscussionaboutculturalconflict,culturalintegration,suchasSino-USConflictandFusion:(TheJoyLuckClub)CulturalInterpretation(AiminCheng,RuihuaZhang,2001);politicalcriticismoftheresearchcanbedividedintopost-colonialculturalidentitycriticismsuchasEdgeoftheCultureandtheTheJoyLuckClub(KeKe,1999)andtheperspectiveoffeministconsciousness,suchasFromthepost-colonialandfeministliterarycriticismperspectivewithAmyTan(TheJoyLuckClub)(SunGang,2008).Thisthesisisbasedontheoriginalstudyoffeministperspective,combiningwiththethemeofculturalconflictandintegration.StudytheconflictandfusionofthefeminisminTheJoyLuckClubunderdifferentculturalbackground,focusingonstruggleofwomen,feministawakening,analysingthetirelesseffortsandstruggleofthetwogenerationsinordertochangetheirfate.ThoughthefeministinterpretationofTheJoyLuckClub,Ihopereaderscangetainsightintothedifficultiesandsetbacksofwomen,especiallyforChinese-AmericanwomenintheprocessofintegrationintomainstreamAmericansociety.Aboveall,arouseawarenessonwomenissues,sothatwomennolongerbesilent,havingthecouragetofightfortheirrights,theirvoicescanbeheardbymorepeople.2.FemaleStrugglingexperienceinTheJoyLuckClub2.1IntroductionofFeminismFeminismreferstomovementsaimedatestablishinganddefendingequalpolitical,economic,andsocialrightsandequalopportunitiesforwomen.Itsconceptsoverlapwiththoseofwomen'srights.Feminismisbothanintellectualcommitmentandapoliticalmovementthatseeksjusticeforwomenandtheendofsexisminallforms.However,therearemanydifferentkindsoffeminism.Feministsdisagreeaboutwhatsexismconsistsin,andwhatexactlyoughttobedoneaboutit;theydisagreeaboutwhatitmeanstobeawomanoramanandwhatsocialandpoliticalimplicationsgenderhasorshouldhave.Inotherwords,Feminismcanbeconsideredasaspiritthatwomanfightfortheirlifeandstruggleagainstfatality.2.2Mothersexperience2.2.1SuyuanWoo'sstorySuyuanWooisastrongandrestivewomanwhorefusestofocusonherhardships.Indeed,shestrugglestocreatehappinessandmanagetosuccesswhatshefindsitlacking.AssheusedtoexplaintoJing-meiabouttheoriginalJoyLuckClub:It'snotthatwehadnoheartoreyesforpain.Wewereallafraid.Weallhadourmiseries.Buttodespairwastowishbackforsomethingalreadylost.Ortoprolongwhatwasalreadyunbearable.Howmuchcanyouwishforafavoritewarmcoatthathangsintheclosetofahousethatburneddownwithyourmotherandfatherinsideofit?Howlongcanyouseeinyourmindarmsandlegshangingfromtelephonewiresandstarvingdogsrunningdownthestreetswithhalf-chewedhandsdanglingfromtheirjaws?Whatwasworse,weaskedamongourselves,tositandwaitforourowndeathswithpropersomberfaces?Ortochooseourownhappiness?(Tan,1989:24)ItiswiththismentalitythatshefoundtheoriginalJoyLuckClubwhileawaitingtheJapaneseinvasionofChinainKweilin.SuyuancreatestheJoyLuckClubinKweilinbecauseshewantedtohave,orcreate,asenseofgladness,belonging,andorder,eveninthemidstofcompleteuncertaintyandturmoil.InAmerica,theclubhasservedasimilarpurpose,andalsohelpsSuyuanandtheothermembersfeelasenseofcontinuitybetweentheiroldandnewcultures.ForSuyuan,theclubisasymbolofhopeandofstrength,andameansofholdingherownduringthechange.2.2.2An-meiHsu'sstoryAtanearlyage,An-meiHsulearnslessonsinstoicfromhergrandmother,Popo,andfromhermother.Hermotheralsoteacheshertoswallowhertears,toconcealherpain,andtodistrustothers.An-mei'smotherwasforcedtomarryasthefourthconcubine.Shewantedtouseherphysicalbeautytospendtherestofherlife.Otherwise,shehadtocommitsuicideintheeveoftheLunarNewYear.However,themotherofAn-meididnotwanttomakeherowndestinyinthesametoherdaughter,shewantedtogivethestrengthtoherdaughterusingherdeath.Afterthat,An-meiisawareofheridentitycrisis,shebegintoshoutinordertoprotestagainstthefate.An-mei'smotherplanningherownsuicidetoexpresstheyearningforfreedomandtheright.Soberanalysisofherdaughter’sfuture,shecommittedsuicidetoprotecther.Finally,thebravemotherandheroicactsofdespairoftheirownweaknesscompletelynegatetheoldsystem,thefateofcontemptandopenlyprotestinjustice,butalsosetfiretoprotectherdaughter'sspirit,sothatherdaughterlearnstospeakagainsttheinjustice.Onthatday,An-meishowssecondwifethefakepearlnecklaceshehasgivenherandcrushesitunderherfoot."Iknowhowitistoliveyourlifelikeadream.Tolistenandwatch,towakeupandtrytounderstandwhathasalreadyhappened."(Tan,1989:240)2.2.3Lindo'sstoryLindofeelsconflictedabouthermarriage:desperately,shedosenotwanttobesubmissivesheknowstheweddingwillbring,yetshecannotgoagainstthepromisesherparentsmadetoherhusband'sfamily.Inordertofreeherselffromthedilemma,shesecretlyblowsoutherhusband'sendofthecandle.Aservantrelightsit,butLindolaterrevealstohemother-in-lawthattheflamegoesout,implyingthatitdoessowithouthumanintervention.Thecandle'soriginalsymbolismasasignoftraditionandculture,foritisbyplayinguponthetraditionalbeliefsandsuperstitionsthatLindoconvinceshermother-in-lawtoannulthemarriage.Byblowingouttheflame,Lindotakescontrolofherownfate,eventuallyextricatingherselffromanunhappymarriage.Shecontrolsoverherownlife.Beforeherwedding,Lindomadeasecondpromise,apromisetoherself:Iwipedmyeyesandlookedinthemirror.IwassurprisedatwhatIsaw.Ihadonabeautifulreddress,butwhatIsawwasevenmorevaluable.Iwasstrong.Iwaspure.Ihadgenuinethoughtsinsidethatnoonecouldsee,thatnoonecouldevertakeawayfromme.Iwaslikethewind.Ithrewmyheadbackandsmiledproudlytomyself.AndthenIdrapedthelargeembroideredredscarfovermyfaceandcoveredthesethoughtsup.ButunderneaththescarfIstillknewwhoIwas.Imadeapromisetomyself:Iwouldalwaysremembermyparents'wishes,butIwouldneverforgetmyself.(Tan,1989:58)Finally,shedid.Lindoescapesasituationofmiserywithoutsufferingpunishment.2.2.4Ying-ying'sstoryYing-ying'sprofoundbeliefinfateandherpersonaldestinyleadstoapolicyofpassivityandevenlistlessnessatanearlyage.Alwayslisteningtoomensandsigns,sheneverpaysattentiontoherinnerfeelings.Becauseshebelievesthatsheis"destined"tomarryavulgarfamilyfriend,shedonothingtoseriouslypreventthemarriage,andevencometoloveherhusband,asifagainstherwill.Inordertorevengeherhusband'sbetray,shedrownsherownson,withitshehatesherselfallofherwholelife.Whenherhusbanddied,sheallowstheAmericanCliffordSt.Clairtomarryherbecauseshesensesthatheisherdestinyaswell.However,afterYing-yingrealizesthatshehaspassedonherpassivityandfatalismtoherdaughterLena,shetakesanyinitiativetochange.Seeingherdaughterinanunhappymarriage,sheurgeshertotakecontrol.ShetellsLenaherstoryforthefirsttime,hopingthatshemightlearnfromherownfailuretotakeinitiative.Ying-yinghopesthatherdaughtercanliveuptotheircommonhoroscopeinawaythatsheherselffailedtodo.Asshetellsherself:SothisiswhatIwilldo.Iwillgathertogethermypastandlook.Iwillseeathingthathasalreadyhappened.Thepainthatcutmyspiritloose.Iwillholdthatpaininmyhanduntilitbecomeshardandshiny,moreclear.Andthenmyfiercenesscancomeback,mygoldenside,myblackside.Iwillusethissharppaintopenetratemydaughter'stoughskinandcuthertigerspiritloose.Shewillfightme,becausethisisthenatureoftwotigers.ButIwillwinandgivehermyspirit,becausethisisthewayamotherlovesherdaughter.(Tan,1989:252)2.3Daughtersexperience2.3.1Jing-meiWooJing-meiisarepresentativepersoninTheJoyLuckClub.Jing-mei'sperspectiveechoesthoseofherpeers,theotherdaughtersoftheJoyLuckClubmembers.TheyhavealwaysidentifiedwithAmericans.ButwhenshetravelstoChina,shediscoverstheChineseessencewithinherself,thusrealizingadeepconnectiontohermotherthatshehasalwaysignored.ShealsobringsSuyuan'sstorytoherlong-losttwindaughters,and,oncereuniteswithherhalf-sisters,gainsanevenmoreprofoundunderstandingofwhohermotheris.Atfirst,Shebelievesthathermother'sconstantcriticismshowsalackofaffection,wheninfacthermother'sseverityandhighexpectationsareexpressionsofloveandfaithinherdaughter.2.3.2RoseHsuJordanRoseHsuJordanfindsherselfunabletoassertheropinion,tostandupforherself,ortomakedecisions.Althoughsheoncedisplayedacertainstrength,beingillustratedbyherinsistenceonmarryingherhusband,Ted,despitehermother'sobjectionsandhermother-in-law'spoorlyconcealedracism,shehasbecamethe"victim"ofTed's"hero,"lettinghimmakeallofthedecisionsintheirlifetogether.Whenshefindingdivorcepapersandaten-thousand-dollarcheckfromherhusbandinhermail-box,paralysedwithshockandpain,sherefusestofaceallofthis.Withthehelpofhermother,An-mei,"Becauseyoumust,"shesays."Thisisnothope.Notreason.Thisisyourfate.Thisisyourlife,whatyoumustdo."(Tan,1989:130)hermothertoldheropinions,Roseultimatelybelievesthatthe"powerofthemother'swords,"andtheaccumulationofsufficientcouragetofightbackheroverbearinghusband:"Youcan'tjustpullmeoutofyourlifeandthrowmeaway."(Tan,1989:196)Roseexpressesherresistance,andshewalkoutthedestinyofthegrandmother'stragicfate.Sheisnolongerafraidofherhusbandnotdidsheremainsilent:"Ifinallyseethatall1wanttosee:hispuzzledexpression,hiseyesfulloffear,hehulihudu(confused)."Rosefinallyspeaksherfeelingsandideas,breakingthesilenceformanyyears,whichshowstheemotionalandpsychologicalmaturity,andself-seekingandwell-beingofthefuture.Self-examinationconsciousnessistheconditionoffeminineconsciousness.Onlywhenthefemalerealizethattheyareundertheunfairsocietyconditiondidtheyhavethedemandofchange.Atthesametime,womenleantoself-deceit,usuallythathappenswhentheynegatetheirpotentialasafreeandcreativeindividualbutacceptruledbyothers.Thisself-deceitsubmergethefemalesubjectinsomeextent,whichcausesthedamageinthelayofspiritual.2.3.3LenaSt.ClairLenaiscaughtinanunhappymarriagetoHaroldLivotny.Haroldinsiststhatthecouplekeepseparatebankaccountsanduseabalancesheettodetailtheirmonetarydebtstooneanother.Althoughhebelievesthatthispolicywillkeepmoneyoutoftherelationship,itinfactaccomplishestheopposite,makingmoneyandobligationcentraltoLenaandHarold'sconjugallife.LenahasinheritedhermotherYing-ying'sbeliefinsuperstitionanddeemsherselfincapablereversingwhatis"fated"tohappen.Lena'smother,Yingying,alwayskeepssilenceaboutherpast.ButwhenherdaughterLenaencountersthemarriageproblems,shedeterminestobreakthesilenceandtellsherdaughterallofherexperienceinChina.Shehasbeenawaredwhyshewassoagitatedanddisturbed,andshedecidestotakeaction,"Idon'tknow…Idon'tknow.Everything…thewayweaccountforeverything.Whatweshare.Whatwedon'tshare.I'msotiredofit,addingthingsup,subtracting,makingitcomeouteven.I'msickofit."(Tan,1989:164)Shetalkstoherhusband,"Weneedtothinkaboutwhatourmarriageisreallybasedon…notthisbalancesheet,whooweswhowhat."(Tan,1989:165)3.TheReasonandEmbodimentsofFemaleStruggling3.1TheMainReasonfortheDifferentExperienceofStruggleBothmothersanddaughters,theydiscovertheirsenseofself-worthbytheirdifferentwaysaftersufferingthepainastheyareinthesocialroleoftraditionalfemale,theyshouldbreakwithtradition,andseekthewaytotheirfateinsteadofpassivewaiting.However,whatleadtothedifferencesoftheirexperienceaboutstrugglingagainstfatality?DifferentCulturalIdentitiesofFemaleRoleEachofthemajorcharactersexpressesanxietyoverherinabilitytoreconcileherChineseheritagewithherAmericansurroundings.WhilethedaughtersinthenovelaregeneticallyChinese(exceptforLenawhoishalfChinese)andhavebeenraisedinmostlyChinesehouseholds,theyalsoidentifywiththefeelathomeinmodernAmericanculture.Wavely,Rose,andLenaallhavewhiteboyfriendsorhusbands,andtheyregardmanyoftheirmothers'customsandtastesasold-fashionedorevenridiculous.MostofthemhavespenttheirchildhoodstryingtoescapetheirChineseidentities:LenawouldwalkaroundthehousewithhereyesopenedasfaraspossiblesoastomakethemlookEuropean.Jing-meideniedduringadolescencethatshehadanyinternalChineseaspects,insistingthatherChineseidentitywaslimitedonlytoherexternalfeatures.LindomeditatesthatWaverlywouldhaveclappedherhandsforjoyduringherteenyearsifhermotherhadtoldherthatshedidnotlookChinese.However,astheyaremature,thedaughtersbegintosensethattheiridentitiesareincompleteandbecomeinterestedintheirChineseheritage.Becausewhentheyareintrouble,theyarealwayshelpedbytheirmothersinChineseheritage.WaverlyspeakswishfullyaboutblendinginChinaandbecomesangrywhenLindonotesthatshewillberecognizedinstantlyasatourist.OneofJing-mei'sgreatestfearsabouthertriptoChinaisnotthatotherswillrecognizeherasAmerican,butthatsheherselfwillfailtorecognizeanyChineseelementswithinherself.Andofthefourmothers,Lindoexpressesthemostanxietyoverherculturalidentity.HavingbeenrecognizedasatouristduringherrecenttriptoChina,shewondershowAmericahaschangedher.Shehasalwaysbelievedinherabilitytoshiftbetweenhertrueselfandherpublicself,butshebeginstowonderwhetherher"true"selfisnot,infact,herAmericanone.EvenwhileyounggirlinChina,LindoshowsthatshedoesnotcompletelyagreewithChinesecustom.Sheagonizesoverhowtoextricateherselffromamiserablemarriagewithoutdishonoringherparents'promisetoherhusband'sfamily.WhileherconcernforherparentsshowsthatLindodoesnotwishtoopenlyrebelagainsthertradition,Lindomakeasecretpromisetoherselftoremaintruetoherowndesires.Thispromiseshowsthevaluesheplacesonautonomyandpersonalhappiness,twoqualitiesthatLindoassociateswithAmerican.Allthechangesofthemisthesymbolofcultureidentityfusion.Andthatisthesignificantelementwhythemothersanddaughtershaveasharpcontraststruggleexperience.3.2DifferentEmbodimentsofStruggle3.2.1FamilyConceptTheancientChinesecivilizationbeingeffectedbygeographicalfactorsandConfucianism,itisarelativelyclosedsystemofinward-lookingculturalcircle,andgraduallyformedthe"polymerization"behaviormodelwhichfocusonfamilyethics,strongfamilyvalues.ThemothersinTheJoyLuckClublikeclustering,withstrongfamilyvalues,enclosingthemselvesintheChineseworld,fearingoftheoutsideworld,evenrefuseAmericanculturebyinstinct.Chinesepeoplebelievethattheirparentsgivethembirth,andthegrowthofeachstepsaturatedwithparentalupbringing,sochildrenshouldobeytheirparents,treatingtheirparentswithfilialpiety.However,inthewesternworld,"maritimecivilization"and"nomadiccivilization"hasdeterminedthatheadingfortheoutsideworldistheonlyroadtosurvive,andgraduallyformeda"discrete"patternsofbehavior.Childrenleavetheirparentsautomaticallytoassumetheirresponsibilitiesandobligations,preferringtobealone,thus,Americansareindifferenttofamilyvalues,upholdingpersonalindependencestruggle,thedevelopmentandsuccess.EthicsoftheUnitedStatesemphasizestheequalitybetweenpeople,therelationshipbetweenchildrenandparentsisequality,andfamilymembershavetheinviolablerightsofindividuals,othermembershavenorighttointerfere.Suyuan-Wooplansvariousgeniustrainingprogramforherdaughter,evenasacleanerforapianoteacherinexchangeforteachingherdaughter,expectingherdaughtertobecomealeadingpianist.WhileJing-meiregardsherselfasaAmerican,longingforAmericanwaysofliving,justbeinganormalperson.WhenJing-meidoesn'twanttotakeordersfromhermother,SyuanshoutsinChinese,"Onlytwokindsofdaughters.Thosewhoareobedientandthosewhofollowtheirownmind!Onlyonekindofdaughtercanliveinthishouse.Obedientdaughter!"(Tan,1989:142)"ThenIwishIwasn'tyourdaughter.Iwishyouweren'tmymother."(Tan,1989:142)Jing-meitalkbacktohermother.Shethough:"Iwasn'therslave.Thiswasn'tChina."(Tan,1989:141)Expressherstrongsenseofindependenceandtheautonomyideas.WhatthemothersaidpointoutthedistinctionoffamilyinAmericaandChina.3.2.2ValuesInthetraditionalChineseculture,theabilityofanindividualoftenrepresentsthegroupvalueshebelongsratherthanhisindividualvalue.Thus,apersonwhodoesbadthingswouldstainshisfamilyhonor,bycontrast,apersonwhomakesachievementswouldhonourtohisfamily.Chinesepeopleupholdthat"Friendshipmultipliesjoysanddividesgriefs",anditshouldbeinterdependencebetweenparentsandchildren.WhileemphasizeindependenceandencourageindividualstruggleinAmericanculture.Americanpeopleprefertofightinisolation,andenjoysuccessaloneorsufferthefailuresolely.Theconflictofmother—Lindaanddaughter—WaverlyisthemanifestationofdifferentvaluebetweenChinaandAmerica.Motherhopesthatherdaughtercan