Similar to Tan's first novel The Joy Luck Club, one of the themes in The Kitchen God's Wife addresses the cultural clash between a Chinese immigrant mother (Winnie) and her American-born daughter (Pearl). Tan continues from her previous novel in "exploring the effects of generation conflicts and culture clashes as well as the amalgam of occidentalism and orientalism that invades the relationships among first- and second-generation immigrants" (Wagner). The cultural clash between Chinese-born Winnie and American-born Pearl make their mother-daughter relationship "strained, uneasy, characterized by a rift that slowly is widening in a process that neither woman seems able to halt" (Huntley 82). Although they do love each other, the root of their distant relationship derives from the fact that they do not understand each other, and because of the lack of communication between them, they have kept deep secrets from each other. No longer having the desire to keep in these secrets, Winnie's good friend, Helen, encourages both Winnie and Pearl to confess their secrets to each other. With Helen acting as a bridge between Winnie and Pearl, it allows both women to confess to each other what they have kept from each other for so long, thus allowing them to finally understand each other and diminish the gap between them. .
As an American-born daughter of a Chinese mother, Winnie Louie, and a Chinese-American father, Jimmy Louie, the opening narrator of the novel, Pearl, was .
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raised in an oblivion of two worlds. At the beginning of the novel, Pearl makes it evident that she has a problematic relationship with her mother, Winnie Louie. Growing up in a bicultural world, Pearl feels more comfortable with the American culture than her own heritage, having an American husband and two American children. She has very little knowledge of the Chinese customs such as her lack of understanding the rituals at Auntie Du's Buddhist funeral.
The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan The novel, The Kitchen God's Wife is a true-life story told in flashbacks, by a mother (Winnie) to her daughter (Pearl). ... Winnie's challenging spirit or her determination to fight against all odds is the main theme. ...
Both authors of "A Christmas Memory" and "Pancakes" utilize similar literary techniques, but the authors convey different themes by doing so. ... In "A Christmas Memory," the depiction of mood can be seen in the beginning excerpts, "The kitchen is growing dark. ... In "A Christmas Memory", an example of imagery can be seen in the excerpt "Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. ... Truman Capote places this part of the story in the beginning to give the reader an insight of how days was during his time and age by placing the...
Though different parts of the world have different beliefs, mostly all myths share similar themes. Themes seen often include do not disrespect/challenge the Gods, violence is very prominent, and hospitality code must be obeyed. The Greek Gods are never to be disrespected and or challenged or the wrath of the Gods would be smitten upon you. ... Winter Greek myths all tell a different story and no two are the same, yet most share such common themes. ... Stories such as Hercules, the Odyssey, Trojan War, and so many others share themes like Gods are superior, violence, and hospitality. ...
It is evident that she is eager to gain freedom without manipulation when she says the following: Thou shouldest saye, "Wif, go where thee leste. ... I nil leve no tales: I knowe you for a trewe wif, dame Alis." ... God help me so, I was to him as kinde As any wif from Denmark unto Inde, And also trewe and so was he to me. (828-31) She thinks that she has achieved mutual power and respect. ...
Many times in order to understand the moral or theme of the story, you need to be able to recognize irony. ... In "By the Waters of Babylon-, a quote is "All the same, when I came to the Place of the Gods, I was afraid, afraid."" ... This shows that he believes that he is going to the Place if the Gods, while he is really only going to New York, the city of regular Americans. New York is the main location of this story, and the entire tribe believes that New York is the Place of the Gods. In "Lamb to the Slaughter-, "There was a great deal of hesitation among the four policemen, but they we...
The themes, ideas and messages in the poem are timeless and appeal to every generation of readers. ... Clever as Odysseus is, he is still subject to the supremacy of the Gods. ... The Gods obviously possess absolute power. ... Portraying the wisdom of the Gods as definite and absolute in the mortal world. ... Cunning, disguise and the enduring presence of the Gods are the most prominent themes in the Odyssey. ...
To begin, let's go about the first theme. ... It can be concluded that the first theme is blind faithfulness and unrequited love. Secondly, here comes the second theme: solitude and burning need to be loved. ... Last but not least, I'll round off this analysis with the third theme: stoicism. ... At the end of the story, the theme of acceptance and resignation has been portrayed. ...
Grandma's kitchen was a place I could go to eat her delicious homemade food. ... Each time I walked into her kitchen, I was reminded of a 1960's kitchen. ... Grandma's kitchen had smells that lingered throughout the house. ... Grandma's kitchen was a place I could call home. ... Grandma's kitchen will always hold a special place in my heart....
As I smell the aroma of well-made food, feel a warm sensation; I realize I am in my kitchen. ... There have been countless good memories while being in my most favorite place, my kitchen. ... I have had many water fights in my kitchen while using the sink. ... It is well worth it to be in the presence of my wonderful kitchen. ... I know that there are other kitchens out there that might resemble my lovely kitchen, but I know that no other kitchen will be as profound as mine. ...
