Jing-Mei Woo: Joy Luck Club (Lisa's Seminar)

The first story of Joy Luck Club is an interesting introduction and in my seminar I focused a lot on the cultural barrier that blocked Jing-Mei Woo and her mother, Suyuan, and made them so distant from each other. The passage I chose magnifies the communication barrier and cultural gap between mother and daughter. The passage tells how Suyuan spoke Chinese to her daughter, amplifying the translation struggle between the two. The link between the languages that each woman spoke brought up some good points, and I thought that a lot of people had really good contributions to the first "Woo" seminar. Liz said that because both women "speak different languages," figuratively and literally, it makes it really difficult for them to understand one another. Also, Charlie added that Jing-Mei would speak to her mother in English but Suyuan would answer in Chinese, which shows a lot about each character and their "failed translations."

I also asked if beginning the book from the perception of one of the Americanized daughters, rather then a mother, was effective in presenting theme and introducing the meaning of the book. Personally, I thought that Amy Tan did a great job of introducing the themes of cultural barrier and power of dreams and expectations. Like Shawn said, it shows the impact of the mother's stories and struggles on their daughters. Amy Tan tells Suyuan's story through Jing-Mei and presents an account of regrets and lost dreams. I thought it served as a really powerful opening, serving as almost a "story within a story" as Ms. Wrede said. I agree with Alyson, that this introduction was subtle and relateable and allowed for an easy transition into the book. Also, the first story shows a lot about the characters, their cultures, and wishes. I thought Kelsey had a good point, she said that Suyuan and Jing-Mei's expectations show that they're actually very similar. Then, Nikki made some effective comments, comparing Jing-Mei and Suyuan's expectations to Pip in Great Expectations.

There were so many other good comments and contributions in the seminar, so I'm really sorry if I missed you. I really liked this introduction into Joy Luck Club, I thought it was effective in introducing theme, characters, symbols, and the plot. Comment, to tell me what you thought of it =]

Joy Luck Club Jong Seminar (chris's seminar)

I would like to start by thanking you all for participating and keeping it going... I was more then a little nervous my seminar would move slowly...is probably the most politically correct terminolgy. There were a few points I would like to mention that really stuck to me and I think they stuck with the class as a whole, or were large points of contoversy.


At the beginning of the passage Lindo says she kept her promise, from earlier we know the promise to be obeying her new family, and being a faithful wife who doesn’t disgrace her old family, and does she really, fully keep this promise? (keep in mind the Huangs asked her not to tell anyone about her doomed marriage…one that she doomed herself)
Question One: It surprised me slightly we all agreed she kept her promise, but the points brought up truely supported it: Lindo never did tell anyone about why she takes ff the bracelets on the Festival of Pure Light, the day she had her "vision". Furthermore it was brought up she kept it more then was meant to in that she was a good wife while living with the family, but she also knew her husband wouldn't have children and thus found him someone already with a child. The braceltets turned out to be a big discussion point: we mentioned how the bracelets not only were metaphors for her freedom but also for her past that wasnt free.

Lindo says that she later heard the servant girl that replaced her was so struck with this miracle of marrying Tyan-yu, do you believe Lindo believed it was a miracle? Does the servant girl really believe it’s a miracle?

Question Two: We all believed the servant girl did see this as a miracle, or at least not a curse: It was brought up that in this time period an illigitamate child probably would not be too well off in society, and that this is protection for the child in a stable,rich family, and no one calling him a "bastard" However on the other hand it was said that we have no idea if the delieverary man would have recognized the son and married. The servant girl may have wanted to live a struggling life with someone she clearly loved as compared to someone who she took as an option to keep the child safe.

These are just the strongest points that I could note, and I believe them all to have merit and logic, so feel free to add on or argue these points out.

Walter wants...

In A Raisin in the Sun, each character has a plan for the $10,000 insurance check. Whose desire or dream do you feel will best benefit the family?

satire

Britney Spears was spotted on Rodeo Drive yesterday shopping for wedding gowns. Persons who were close enough to see said that there was no engagement ring on the pop tarts finger and were not sure who the dress was for.

Rumors did circulate that she could have been purchasing a wedding gown for her sister, but she was not seen shopping for the maternity versions (younger sister Jamie Lynn has a bun in the oven).

It can be proven, however, that the wedding gown was probably not for Britney herself, or her friend Paris, as she bought a white one.

Las Vegas oddsmakers plan on opening book tomorrow on the identity of the recipient of the mystery wedding gown. Early favorites include Paris Hilton's teacup chihuahua and other members of her kennel.

LASREVER

HEHE :-0

INCONGRUITY

This is truly an incongruity...