Thank you all for participating and moving my discussion along quickly. Everyone had something relevant and insightful to add. The answers that were given, I took out of class to further my understanding of the passage I chose. So thank you again. Below are the two questions discussed in class, along with the answers that I received during my seminar.
1. From reading Suyuan Woo's story of her day in Kweilin, and comprehending the tone given, do you feel her experiences there had a major effect on her life later on? How about her death?
As a class, we all agreed that Suyuan’s experience in Kweilin tremendously affect her life later, which was clearly expressed through her parenting. Another indication that Kweilin affected Suyuan Woo was through her storytelling. Included in Suyuan’s story, was the abandonment of her first two children. We discussed that the particular incident impacted her so immensely, that her concern for Jing-Mei was a direct result. Although the medical reasons for Suyuan’s death are ambiguous, we did infer a possible cause of death. Because it is stated that she died of her thoughts, perhaps the grief over her children was a major cause of her death.
2. Experiences in life affect who you are, and shape you as a person. Perhaps one feels that Suyuan Woo raised her daughter in a unique way due to her understanding of life. Do you feel that Jing-Mei Woo harbors resentment torwards her mother's understanding of life --> methods of parenting?
The class, as a whole, did not feel that Jing-Mei felt any resentment towards her mother’s way of raising her, instead come confusion. Jing –Mei was not truly sure who her mother was, but she did know her of past – whish affected Jing-Mei. Jing-Mei also says that Her mother stories casted shadows into her life as well, but there is no indication of resentment.
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I wonder if those of us who have ever felt "resentment" towards a parent were really feeling that same confusion. I feel as though anger or sadness based on confusion may be masked as resentment in our minds. I know that in the times when I have been displeased with my parents' decisions but took the time to find out why they made those decuisions, I was not resentful because I avoided that confusion. It is important for a child to know where his or her parent comes from and why he or she has certail beliefs and biases.
"From reading Suyuan Woo's story of her day in Kweilin, and comprehending the tone given, do you feel her experiences there had a major effect on her life later on? How about her death?"
I think that it did have a very large effect on her life. I feel that for her parenting, she tried to be very cautious and careful with her daughter, Jing-mei. Perhaps she wanted her to be able to have a great life, almost as if she was making up for when she abandoned her two babies. As well, this plays out in the chapter where Jing-mei is playing the piano. Her mother wants her to be able to have the best life possible, so she pushes Jing-mei. mei. Her mother wants her to have what she did not have as well as her two children.
As well, I believe that when she states that Jing-mei can always do better, she is also doing it for her children back in Kweilin. Maybe when she states this, she is actually referring to herself. She left her babies so feels like she is a bad mother. Maybe by telling Jing-mei this, she is really saying what she feels about herself, that she should have and can do better.
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