Abstract

The Joy Luck Club was written by Amy Tan in 1989, a distinguished Chinese American writer. In the novel, Amy Tan presents the process of misunderstanding, estrangement and mutual understanding between the Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-raised daughters. With the rapid development of globalization, cultural exchange and conflicts become more frequent and Chinese traditional culture is facing stern challenges. The paper intends to analyze the conflicts and integration between mothers and daughters from the perspective of their relationship and to interpret the cultural implications: the conflicts and the reconciliation between the mothers and daughters reflect the conflicts and the reconciliation between Chinese culture and American culture. It reveals an inexorable trend that Chinese and American culture will finally achieve harmonious co-existance. Under the globalization age, every country ought to take right attitudes when fostering cultural exchanges. Only by respecting other cultures and seeking common points while reserving differences, can we ensure the prosperity and advancement of human civilization.

Keywords: The Joy Luck Club; mother-daughter relationship; Chinese and American culture; cultural clash; cultural integration

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction1

2.Literature Review2

3.Sino-US cultural differences in The Joy Luck Club.3

3.1 China’s high-context culture and American low-context culture.3

3.2 “Three cardinal guides and five constant virtues” in China and “freedom and equality” in America 4

3.3 Chinese collectivism and American individualism.5

3.4 Chinese-style modesty and American-style straightforward7

4.The Reasons of Sino-US Cultural Integration in The Joy Luck Club.7

4.1 Daughters’ understanding and respect of their mothers8

4.2 Mothers’ acceptance of American culture.8

5. Exploring the Methods of the Harmonious Coexistance of Sino-US Culture in The Joy Luck Club9

5.1 Understanding and respect of foreign culture.9

5.2 Seeking common points while reserving difference.10

5.3 Enhancing Sino-US cultural integration while promoting political and commercial exchanges.10

6. Conclusion.11

Works Cited.12