The Comparation of Cultural differences Between China and America Based on The Joy Luck Club
Abstract：The Joy Luck club is a moving film which reflects the theme of love and conflicts between four pairs of mothers and daughters. The relationship of love between mothers and daughters runs through the whole film. However , the conflicts of cultural differences between mothers and daughters also arise very frequently. Because the four mothers are Chinese and they were born and grew up in China . After suffering a lot in China, they immgrated to the Amercia in the early time and started their new life. Even they have been living in America for a life-long time, they continue to cling to the Chinese culture. Althought their daughters were born and raised up in America, mothers still use Chinese ways to educate their born-in-America daughters. Thus, many conflicts of differnent cultures between China and America are showed in this film. Finally their daughters understand the differences and recognize the enternal love with their mother.
Key words:love,conflicts,cultural differences
Introduction：
In the film “The Joy Luck Club” describes all kinds of life experiences of four pairs of mothers and daughters. The names of mothers are Suyuan, Lindo, Ying Ying and An Mei. Their daughters’ names are June, Waverly, Lena and Rose. The four mothers both suffer a lot of misfortunes in China and they come to America. The Joy Luck Club is a place where they can meet together and gather to talk and play Majiang. They laugh and play and want to forget past wrong. The most important thing is that they hope to be lucky. Because of their unluckiness, they put all their hope onto their daughters. They use their inherent and traditional Chinese way to cultivate daughters and hope them to be those women like them.However ,the daughters are born in America and they don’t understand their mothers’ culture,their ways of thinking,even their ways of education. So the conflicts between them arise frequently on the aspects of education,marriage and freedom of life. What’s more, there are some cultural differences in this film. Accoding to all of these,there are aspects to compare between Chinese and American culture.
1. The different table manners between China and America
In this film, Waverly takes her Amercian boyfriend Rich to attend her mother’s dinner party. Although Waverly has taught some Chinese manners to Rich,there are many different table manners between China and America from Rich’s behaviours.Firstly , Rich drink over the first cup of wine when others just have an inch of taste,and he even drink over the second one. He should drink another cup after others have drunk over in China.Secondly,he takes most of his favoriate shrimps into his own plate by himself. Actually ,he should take before everyone has taste it. The worst thing happens later that is about Waverly’ mother, Lindo’specialty dish. When Lindo takes her specialty dish on the table and says “this dish not salty enough. No flavor,too bad to eat,but please try”. Rich can’t wait to tasting it and then says the dish should be put some soy on it. His behaviour astonishes all the guest,let alone Lindo. There is no doubt that his behaviour offend Waverly’ mother. In China, people will belittle their specialty at first in order to be modest. Surely ,they are willing to be complimented by their guests. On the contrary, people in America will tell the guests directly that this is his or her specialty. And they will compliment it if it is really delicious.
In Chinese culture,guests should be treated by the host. They can have drink after host’s welcome. The guests should not help himself to the dishes before others have taste it. Obviously ,Rich’ s table behaviour is not polite in China.
2. The different educational way between China and America
As for the educational problem,the story between June and her mother Suyuan and between Waverly and her mother Lindo are very impressive.Suyuan have to discard her twin daughters in China because of war and her illness. After she immgrates to America,she still use Chinese way to teach her third daughter-June. Like other Chinese parents,she places all the hope onto June and hope that she can be a prodigy. She forces June to continue to play piano thought June has failed in a performance. June says “I’m not gonna play any more,why should i?I am not your slave,it isn’t in China,you can’t make me”.In China,children are always listening to their parents and they follow what their parents tell them to do. They nearly dare to fight against their parents’thoughts. It is kind of filial piety dating back to the ancient times. However , American children are independent and free,they can do what they like to do. Parents are not willing to put their opinions to children and will not interfere into children’s private life. They hope their children to think and live independently. Another is about Waverly and Lindo,their conflicts on education is very common in China. Waverly are very good at playing chess and she even becomes the chess champion. Lindo is very proud of her daughter’s performance and show it to others. There is a scene that Lindo tells everyone she meets in the street that her daughter Waverly is a chess champion. This behaviour makes Waverly very unhappy and she says “Embrassing,why do you want to show me off? If you wanna to show off, why don’t you learn chess ?” In China, parents often use their children’s success to show off because they put all their hope to their children. And children’s success is the best return to their pay. In America, they don’t compare their children to others. They attach great importance on their children’s individual hobbies. They respect their children’s choice and won’t force them to do what they don’t like.
3. The different traditional ideology between China and America
Traditional ideology has rooted deeply in the Chinese culture and the mothers are still following .Lena’s mother Ying Ying suffers a lot in China and she never knows how to comfort her mother. Still
unfortunately, Lena is married to a man who is self-centred. Their life expense is going dutch except personal expenses. Day by day,Lena can’t stand her husband’s behaviour. In Chinese tradition, women take hold of the economic power and husband should give the money to their wife. In America,people like to go dutch and want to be fair to each other. Actually ,Lena is not willing to accept this lifestyle. Another example is the marriage of An Mei’s daughter Rose. Rose falls in love with a rich guy Ted and they marry finally no matter Ted’s mother’s disagreement. As an American born Chinese, Rose tries her best to devote herself to her huaband. Rose does everything she can to take care of and support Ted like most Chinese wives. She even give up her further study in order to support him. She thinks it is a way of devotion of love. For example,when Rose says “you have a hard day. I don’t really care. I just want you to be happy.” This is a traditional thought of Chinese wives. They place their husband to the first place. However ,Ted is not satisfied about these. He hopes his wife to be thoughtful and independent. He says “ I like to hear your voice.” Ted wants to hear her own opinions and express her ideas rather than follow him. This is traditional cultural difference between China and America.
Conclusion:
After watching over this film , i feel the enternal love given by their mother. Althought mothers and daughters have different cultural views and thoughts and have many conflicts, they still love each other. And their love fianlly get over all the differences.
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