Amy Tan is an Asian-American writer who incorporates much of her personal life into the novels she writes. The most prominent similarity is her struggle between the American life that she has grown up to know and the Chinese tradition that her mother wants her to uphold. This characteristic of her life is clearly seen in the first chapter "Jing-Mei Woo: The Joy Luck Club." Jing-Mei, or June, says that her mother seemed always to be displeased with her. This however had several contributing reasons. When Amy Tan was younger, her parents wanted her to become a neurosurgeon, but she had longed to become a fiction writer. Even though this did occur, the struggle still existed. In her story, June states that her mother was extremely disappointed in her career choice. June's mother had wanted her to become a concert pianist, or even the pianist for the church youth choir. When this did not become reality, June's mother grew ashamed for she could not boast of her daughter's success as could her Joy Luck Club companions. In the future, June attended college, but later dropped out. This was obviously due to the unhappiness in her life. Like her character June, Amy Tan also grew unhappy with the way her life was going. Although she eventually gained fame from her fiction writing, she started out first as working as a technical writer. After having her creativity stunted for so long, Tan decided to alleviate her stress by cutting back on her working hours and focusing more on fictional writing. Although this novel only contains some characteristics of Tan's personal life, there are several more throughout this novel and others as well.
There are a large amount of correlations between Amy Tan's life and the lives of the daughters in the Joy Luck Club. This is most likely because, before any of the Chinese mysticism and superstition, it is a very realistic book. And in order for one to write a truly realistic reading experience, the author should most likely incorporate memories and details that they themselves remember. The one daughter that has the most similarities to Amy Tan is Jing-mei "June" Woo. June's mother was a strong woman who an idea of where she wanted her daughter to go in life. Amy Tan's mother wanted her to become a neurosurgeon, which was exactly the opposite of what Tan wished to accomplish with her life. Both June and Tan figured out their mother's had two daughters with their first husbands in China. And both June and Amy Tan were trying to figure out where they fit in society. Were they Chinese, as their parents were even though they had never even been there? Or were they American, as they had been their entire lives, and most likely would be for the rest of it? Both The Joy Luck Club and Amy Tan’s life juxtapose the struggles of Chinese immigrants and the struggles of American-born children of immigrants, as they both try to fit in to their new surroundings and still maintain their identities. However, through the generational and cultural struggles between parents and children, a feeling of love and hope still permeate in both stories. The mothers of June and Tan just want to be the best that they can be, and have greater success in life than they did. And both June and Tan want to honor their parents and yet still be their own person.
Jing-mei Woo: “The Joy Luck Club” contains many similarities to its author’s life. Amy Tan was born to an Asian woman who immigrated to the United States, much like June’s mother in the novel. The comparison is so strong that even the locations of their births are located just a few hours from each other. Amy Tan was born in Oakland, California, whereas her character, June was born in San Fransisco. Both mothers immigrated to America in hopes of having their daughters be “Americanized” and have ample opportunity but still maintain the traditional Chinese values as well. However, they find this a challenge, as Amy Tan’s mother wanted her to become a neurosurgeon and June’s mother wanted her to become either a concert pianist or a church choir pianist. Amy Tan found disappointment in her life and turned to fiction writing and when June did not become a pianist she went to college but dropped out due to her own disappointment in her life. Another similarity is the family situation. Amy Tan lost her father at an early age just like June loses her mother. Also, Amy Tan was informed that she has two long-lost siblings in China and June finds out she has two long-lost siblings as well. Coincidences? I think not.
I believe both Jordyn and Allie bring up good points. I think it is indeed true that when an author draws from his or her own experiences in life, the story becomes more like a memory. This "memory" makes us feel as if these thoughts and feelings really were felt and thought by an Chinese-American woman. I think that Allie's point of the author and the character not living in close proximity to each other plays into these non-coincidental similarities as well.
I feel that Darian made a good point about how June and Amy Tan initially felt unfulfilled when they went against their parent's wishes, and had to take some time to figure out what they truly wanted with their lives. I believe that it is also true what Allie said about both people losing someone important to them before their time.
I feel that both Darian and Jordyn make valid points. I, along with Jordyn, feel that Darian makes a good point when she demonstrates how both June and Amy feel dissatisfied when they first go against their parents wishes. I also think Jordyn makes a good point when she makes the comparison about how Amy and June were both trying to figure out their place in society.
Amy Tan is an Asian-American writer who incorporates much of her personal life into the novels she writes. The most prominent similarity is her struggle between the American life that she has grown up to know and the Chinese tradition that her mother wants her to uphold. This characteristic of her life is clearly seen in the first chapter "Jing-Mei Woo: The Joy Luck Club." Jing-Mei, or June, says that her mother seemed always to be displeased with her. This however had several contributing reasons.
ReplyDeleteWhen Amy Tan was younger, her parents wanted her to become a neurosurgeon, but she had longed to become a fiction writer. Even though this did occur, the struggle still existed. In her story, June states that her mother was extremely disappointed in her career choice. June's mother had wanted her to become a concert pianist, or even the pianist for the church youth choir. When this did not become reality, June's mother grew ashamed for she could not boast of her daughter's success as could her Joy Luck Club companions.
In the future, June attended college, but later dropped out. This was obviously due to the unhappiness in her life. Like her character June, Amy Tan also grew unhappy with the way her life was going. Although she eventually gained fame from her fiction writing, she started out first as working as a technical writer. After having her creativity stunted for so long, Tan decided to alleviate her stress by cutting back on her working hours and focusing more on fictional writing.
Although this novel only contains some characteristics of Tan's personal life, there are several more throughout this novel and others as well.
There are a large amount of correlations between Amy Tan's life and the lives of the daughters in the Joy Luck Club. This is most likely because, before any of the Chinese mysticism and superstition, it is a very realistic book. And in order for one to write a truly realistic reading experience, the author should most likely incorporate memories and details that they themselves remember.
ReplyDeleteThe one daughter that has the most similarities to Amy Tan is Jing-mei "June" Woo. June's mother was a strong woman who an idea of where she wanted her daughter to go in life. Amy Tan's mother wanted her to become a neurosurgeon, which was exactly the opposite of what Tan wished to accomplish with her life. Both June and Tan figured out their mother's had two daughters with their first husbands in China. And both June and Amy Tan were trying to figure out where they fit in society. Were they Chinese, as their parents were even though they had never even been there? Or were they American, as they had been their entire lives, and most likely would be for the rest of it? Both The Joy Luck Club and Amy Tan’s life juxtapose the struggles of Chinese immigrants and the struggles of American-born children of immigrants, as they both try to fit in to their new surroundings and still maintain their identities. However, through the generational and cultural struggles between parents and children, a feeling of love and hope still permeate in both stories. The mothers of June and Tan just want to be the best that they can be, and have greater success in life than they did. And both June and Tan want to honor their parents and yet still be their own person.
Jing-mei Woo: “The Joy Luck Club” contains many similarities to its author’s life. Amy Tan was born to an Asian woman who immigrated to the United States, much like June’s mother in the novel. The comparison is so strong that even the locations of their births are located just a few hours from each other. Amy Tan was born in Oakland, California, whereas her character, June was born in San Fransisco. Both mothers immigrated to America in hopes of having their daughters be “Americanized” and have ample opportunity but still maintain the traditional Chinese values as well. However, they find this a challenge, as Amy Tan’s mother wanted her to become a neurosurgeon and June’s mother wanted her to become either a concert pianist or a church choir pianist. Amy Tan found disappointment in her life and turned to fiction writing and when June did not become a pianist she went to college but dropped out due to her own disappointment in her life.
ReplyDeleteAnother similarity is the family situation. Amy Tan lost her father at an early age just like June loses her mother. Also, Amy Tan was informed that she has two long-lost siblings in China and June finds out she has two long-lost siblings as well.
Coincidences? I think not.
I believe both Jordyn and Allie bring up good points. I think it is indeed true that when an author draws from his or her own experiences in life, the story becomes more like a memory. This "memory" makes us feel as if these thoughts and feelings really were felt and thought by an Chinese-American woman. I think that Allie's point of the author and the character not living in close proximity to each other plays into these non-coincidental similarities as well.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Darian made a good point about how June and Amy Tan initially felt unfulfilled when they went against their parent's wishes, and had to take some time to figure out what they truly wanted with their lives. I believe that it is also true what Allie said about both people losing someone important to them before their time.
ReplyDeleteI feel that both Darian and Jordyn make valid points. I, along with Jordyn, feel that Darian makes a good point when she demonstrates how both June and Amy feel dissatisfied when they first go against their parents wishes. I also think Jordyn makes a good point when she makes the comparison about how Amy and June were both trying to figure out their place in society.
ReplyDelete