从喜福会透视中美文化冲突与融合

　　Abstract
　　TheJoyLuckClubisthefirstnovelofAmyTan，afamousChineseAmericanwriter。InthenovelshemainlydescribestherelationshipbetweentheJoyLuckClubmothersandtheirdaughtersandculturalconflicts。ThenovelissetintheageofglobalizationandinthemulticulturalAmericansociety；itrepresentstheprocessofmisunderstanding，conflicts，understandingandblendingbetweenthemothersandthedaughters。GlobalizationnotonlybringsmanychancestochinabutalsobringsculturalchallengestoChina。Asthedegreeofglobalizationisgettingdeeper，Chineseculturefacesthedangerofbeingintegratedandchangedbyothercultures。ThroughcontextualanalysisoftheJoyLuckClubandtheculturalconflictsandblendingembodiedinit，thispaperdemonstratesthatintheageofglobalizationabalanceshouldbekeptamongdifferentcultures，andarightattitudetowardsculturalconflictsshouldbetaken，anditsuggeststhatthenativecultureshouldnotbethrownawaywhenlearningfromothers，andinstead，itshouldbetransmittedtoothers。
　　KeyWords
　　TheJoyLuckClub；conflict；understanding；culturalblending
　　摘要
　　《喜福会》是著名美国籍华裔女作家谭恩美的处女作，作者在小说中主要描述了四对移民母女的关系和她们之间由于文化的差异而引起的冲突，小说以全球化时代和美国多元文化社会为背景，呈现了4对母女由误会，冲突到理解的过程。在全球化环境下中国面临很多发展的机遇，但更多的是文化的挑战。随着全球化的加剧，中国文化面临一种被融化，被改变的危险。本文通过对《喜福会》文本及其所透视出的文化冲突与融合的分析，说明在全球化环境中，应该在不同文化中找到一个平衡点，并以正确的态度来对待文化冲突，同时不要轻易否定母文化，在向全世界学习其他优秀文化的时候，也要向他们传播中国传统文化。
　　关键词
　　《喜福会》；冲突；理解；文化融合
　　Introduction
　　InthenovelTheJoyLuckClub，AmyTanexplorestherelationshipbetweenmothersanddaughters。Thereare4motherdaughterpairsinthenovel，mothersarethefirstgenerationimmigrants，andthedaughtersareborninAmerica。TheJoyLuckClubmotherscomefromtheChinesetraditionalfamilieswhenthedictatorialChinesepowerisdestroyedbytheJapaneseinsurgentsinthe1940s。TheyescapefromthepoliticalupheavalofChina，buttheydontforgettheirChinesetraditionalculture，whiletheirdaughtersareborninAmerica，theyarethesecondgenerationimmigrants，andtheydontunderstandtheirmothersChineseculture，andtheirwayofthinking，sothereareoftenmisunderstandingsbetweenthemothersandthedaughters。InordertomaketheirdaughtersknowthemandtheChineseculture，theJoyLuckClubmothershavemadepaintakingeffortstoremovetheirdifferences。Theyseizeeveryopportunitytotelltheirdaughterstheirpastexperiences，demonstratetheircouragetochallengethefeudalsocietyandneverstopextendingmaternallovetotheirdaughters。Thankstotheirgreatefforts，theirdaughtersgraduallyunderstandthemandtheChineseculture。Therefore，culturalunderstandingandblendingbetweenthemothersanddaughtersareachieved。
　　Inthecontextofglobalization，Chinafacesmanychancestodevelopitseconomicpower；meanwhileitfacesmorechallengestoitstraditionalculture。WiththedevelopmentofChinaseconomicpower，Chinaplaysamoreimportantroleintheworld。ThecommunicationwithothercountriesandareaswhoseculturalbackgroundsaretotallydifferentfromChinasisincreasingrapidly。Thispaper，throughtheexplorationofTheJoyLuckClub，mainlydiscussestheculturalconflicts，understandingandintegrationbetweenthemothersandthedaughters，andmetaphoricallybetweenChinesecultureandAmericanculture。
　　IAmyTanandHerNovelTheJoyLuckClub
　　AmyTanwasborninOakland，California。BothofherparentswereChineseimmigrants。Herfather，JohnTan，wasanelectricalengineerandBaptistminister。InChina，hermotherDaisyhadporcedanabusivehusbandbutlostcustodyofherthreedaughters。ShewasforcedtoleavethembehindwhensheescapedonthelastboattoleaveShanghaiin1949。HermarriagetoJohnTanproducedthreechildren，Amyandhertwobrothers。AmyTan’sfamilyisatypicalimmigrantfamily，herparentsarethefirstgenerationimmigrants，andsheisthesecondgenerationimmigrant。
　　Shehasexperiencedthesamekindofconflictswhichsheportrayedinthenovel。SheandhermotherwereinconstantconflictwhenshefinishedthehighschoolinSwitzerland。Sheandhermotherdidn’tspeakforsixmothsafterAmyTanlefttheBaptistCollegehermotherchoseforhertofollowherboyfriendtoSanJoseCityCollege。TanfurtherdefiedhermotherbyabandoningthepremedcoursehermotherhadurgedhertopursuethestudyofEnglishandlinguistics。
　　Inthenovel，JingMeiabandonedstudyingpianohermotherhopedhertostudy，becauseshewasallergictohermother’sarrangementforher。AmyTanandthedaughtersinthenovelhavesomethingincommon。Theyarethesecondgenerationimmigrants。Butthemothers，asthefirstgenerationimmigrants，theydon’ttotallyintegrateintheAmericanculture。TheycannotspeakEnglishwithfluency。TheyneverdiscardthetraditionandneverforgettheirlivesinChina。
　　Theyshowtheirlovefortheirdaughtersbyplanningthedaughters’futureandinterferingintheiractivities。Tothemothers，theyhavethecompulsoryandresponsibilitytotraintheirdaughterstobecomeperfectpersons。TheywanttomaketheirdaughterscombinetheAmericanContextwithChinesePersonalityperfectly。Theirdaughters，however，areoftenbornandgrowupinAmerica，andaredeeplyaffectedbytheAmericanmoralstandardandactingprinciples。Theycherishtheirindependentspiritsandcharacters，andtheyarenotwillingtobeinterferedandcontrolledbyothers。Theirnarrativesjustifythepuzzle，andtheconflictsbetweentwogenerationstheyface，whentheyspanthedifferentcultures。Theyviewtheirmothersasthefossilsoftheoldsociety，becausetheyfearandhatetheirmothers’interferenceandnegationontheiractivities。WhentheirmotherstelltheirstoriesinChinatheyexpresstheirdetestationonit，whentheirmotherswanttopasstheirChineseculturaltraditiontothem，theyareagainstitfirmly。Withtheclashofdifferentcultures，thetwogenerationshavedifficultiesincommunicatingandunderstandingeachother。
　　Butthenoveldoesn’tendwiththeconflicts；instead，intheprocessofgrowinguptheyunderstandtheirmothers’loveandtheculturalreasonsoftheconflictsbetweenthemselvesandtheirmothersinadeeperlevel。Therefore，attheendofthenovel，thereconciliationbetweenmothersanddaughtersformsnaturally。JingMeitakeshermother’splacetotravelbacktoChinawhichprovestheunderstandingbetweenthetwogenerations。
　　WhenAmyTanembarkedonhernewcareerhermotherwasill，shepromisedherselfthatifhermotherrecovered，shewouldtakehermothertoChina，toseethedaughterswhohavebeenleftbehindalmostfortyyearsago，Mrs。TanrecoveredandtheydepartedforChinain1987。ThetripwasarevelationforTan，anditgaveheranewperspectiveofheroftendifficultrelationshipwithhermother。
　　。TheConflictsBetweenAmericanandChineseCultures
　　EmbodiedintheNovel
　　TheJoyLuckClubpresentsmanyconflictsinthemotherdaughterrelationship。Theconflictsareembodiedin3aspects。First，themothersandthedaughtersareindifferentculturalbackgrounds，andthedaughterscannotunderstandtheirmothers。Atthebeginning，JingMeifearsthatshecannottellhermother’sstorytoherhalfsisters，which，infact，reflectsthefearofotherdaughtersoftheJoyLuckClubmembers。TheyhaveidentifiedthemselveswithAmericans。JingMei’sfearalsoreflectsthemothers’commonfeelings。TheyofferthechancetogotoAmericatotheirdaughters，andmakethemselfsufficient；theywonderwhethertheyhavetheirdaughtersawayfromtradition。SointhestoryTheJoyLuckClubJingMeifeelspuzzled，WhatwillIsay？WhatcanItellthemaboutmymother？Idon’tknowanything。（Tan26）Thewayinwhichthemothersexpresstheirlovecannotbeacceptedbythedaughters。JingMeibelievesthathermother’sconstantblameistheembodimentoflackingofaffection。However，infact，themother’sseverityandhighexpectationsareexpressionsofloveandfaithinherdaughter。Othermotherdaughterpairsexperiencethesamemisunderstanding。Insomeways，thismisunderstandingcomesfromculturaldifferences。TheChinesetraditionalconceptssuchasfilialobedience，criticismenvelopedexpressionoflovearealldifferentfromtheAmericanconceptssuchastheinpidualism，freedom，selfesteemanddirectexpression。
　　ThemothersintheTheJoyLuckClubhopethattheirdaughterscangetclosetothemastheyweresoclosetotheirownmothersinChina。Forinstance，Ammei’sPopotellsherthathermotherisaghosttomakeAmmeiforgethermother。AlthoughAmmeihasn’tseenhermotherforyears，shegetstolovehermotherwhenhermothercombsherhair，andallthesethingstheydoareasnaturalastheydothemeveryday。AndAmmeisays，Thisishowadaughterloveshermother。Itissodeepitisinyourbones。（Tan41）whenshehasseenhermothercuttingherfleshtocooksoupforherPopo。
　　ButinAmerica，childrenalwaysdonotfollowallthattheirparentstellthemandbehavewhattheywantto。Theyemphasestheirinpidualityanddonotthinktheyhavesodeeprelationshipwiththeirmothers。SowhenLindoasksherdaughterWaverlytofinishhercoffee，Waverlysays：Don’tbesooldfashioned，Ma。I’mmyownperson。（Tan227）However，Lindothinkssheisalwaysbesideherdaughter，andshenevergivesherdaughterup。
　　PerhapsLindoexperiencesthelargestcrisisofculturalidentityamongthecharacters。SheregretshavinggivenWaverlytheAmericancontext，atthesametime，givenherChinesecharacter，butthetwocanneverbecombined。InthestoryofDoubleFace，Lindosays：
　　Iwantedmychildrentohavethebestcombination：AmericancircumstanceandChinesecharacter。HowcouldIknowthesetwothingsdonotmix？Itaught〔mydaughter〕howAmericancircumstancework：Ifyouarebornpoorhere，it’snolastingshameInAmerica，nobodysaysyouhavetokeepthecircumstancessomebodyelsegivesyou。Shelearntthesethings，butIcouldn’tteachheraboutChinesecharacterHownottoshowyourownthoughts，toputyourfeelingsbehindyourfacesoyoucantakeadvantageofhiddenopportunitiesWhyChinesethinkingisbest。（Tan227）
　　ShethinkssinceshegivesherdaughtertheAmericanname（thenameoftheroadtheylivein），sheletsherdaughterbetooAmerican，andthisbecomesthebarrierbetweenthem。Butatthesametime，sherealizestheAmericancharacterinherself。SheknowsthatsheisnolongerChinese。WhenshetravelstoChina，theChinesetreatherasanoverseatraveler。Sheisverysad，andshewonders，intheprocessofchangingherself，whatshehaslost。HerstrategiesofconcealinginnerpowersislikewhatWaverlysaysthatitisrelatedwithherabilitytomaintaintwoaspectsofcharacterAmericanandChinese。
　　Second，inthenovel，thecommunicationproblemsalsoarisebecausethemothersarefromChina，whiledaughtersarebornintheUnitedStates，theirculturalbackgroundsaredifferent，andalsobecausetheyspeakdifferentlanguages。Forexample，Junesays，MymotherandIneverreallyunderstoodoneanother。Wetranslatedeachother’smeaningandIseemedtohearlessthanwassaid，whilemymotherheardmore。（Tan27）Junelooksformeaningsinwhatisstatedanddoesnotunderstandthathermotheromitsimportantinformationbecauseshethinksthatherdaughterknowsit；Suyuan，ontheotherhand，looksformeaningsinwhathasnotbeenstatedandaddsmanythingstowhathasbeenstatedandcomesupwithmeaningsthatsurpriseherdaughterJune。
　　Third，themothersandthedaughtershavetotallydifferentexperiences。ThemothershavebeentoAmericaduringtheWorldWar，whenChinawasintrudedbyJapanesearmy。TheycometoAmericawiththeirAmericandream。TheyhavesufferedalotbeforearrivingAmerica，andtheycometoAmericatosearchabetterlifeputtingalltheirhopeinAmerica，butafterlivinginAmericaformanyyears，theyfeelthattheylosesomeoftheirChinesetraditionandtheytrytoholdfastoftheChinesetraditionandpassittotheirdaughters。ThedaughtersareborninAmerica，theydon’tappreciatetheChinesetraditionandviewtheirChinesehistoryasabarriertotheirdreams，theyresenttheirmotherpouringtheChinesetraditiontothemandtheirChinesewayoflove，sotheydothingsoppositetowhattheirmothertoldthemtodotodisappointtheirmothers。InthestoryTwoKindsJingMeisays，
　　Itwasnottheonlydisappointmentmymotherfeltinme。Intheyearsthatfollowed，Ifailedhersomanytimes，eachtimeassertingmyownwill，myrighttofallshortofexpectations。Ididn’tgetstraightAs。Ididn’tbecomeclasspresident。Ididn’tgetintoStanford。Idropedoutofcollege。（Tan124）
　　。TheCulturalUnderstandingandBlending
　　AlthoughAmyTanmainlydescribestheculturalclashesinhernovel，herrealaimistoexploreabalanceofculturalconflicts。Animportantthemeofthenovelisthereconciliationofthemulticulturalclashes。Fromthebeginningofthenovel，JingMeiviewsthegapbetweenherandhermotherfromtwoaspects，andthisdoublepointofviewdoesn’temphasizethegenerationgap，butinstead，itworksasthebridgeofthecommunicationbetweenthetwogenerations。Inthethirdpartofthenovel，thefourdaughtersnarratetheirdilemmasaftertheygrewup，problemsintheirmarriageandintheircareers。Althoughtheythinktheirmothers’ideasareoutofdate，whentheysearchforthesolutions，theyinevitablycomebacktotherelationshipwiththeoldergeneration。Atlast，mothersoffersolutionsandsupporttotheirdaughters，forexample，RoseHsuJordanfindsherselfunabletopersistinherideas，toprotectherselfortomakeanydecisions。AlthoughsheexpressesherideasbydisobeyinghermothertomarryTed，shestillmakesherselfthevictimtoTed。Athome，Teddecideseverything。Atlast，sheneedshermother’sinterventiontorealizethattorefusetomakedecisionisitselfadecision。Thelasttwogroupsofstoriesdemonstratethattheculturalunderstandingandblendingareformed。
　　AlthoughJingMeifearsthatshecannottellthewholestoryofhermother，SuyuanrunsthroughthenovelwithJingMei’svoice，andJingMeispeaksforhermotherinthefirstandfourthsections。Suyuan’sstoryrepresentsthestruggletomaintainthemotherdaughterbondsthroughculturalandgeneralgaps。JingMei’striptoChinanotonlymakesreconciliationbetweenSuyuan’stwodifferentlifestyles，butalsothereconciliationbetweenculturesandmotherdaughterrelationship。Inaddition，thejourneybringshopetoothermotherdaughterpairs。Sotheycanreconciletheoppositionsinthelivesbetweenpastandpresent，betweencultures，andbetweengenerations。
　　Theunderstandingandreconciliationbetweenmothersanddaughtersareshapedgradually。Asinthelastpartofthenovel，JingMeiandherfathergotoChinatolookforJingMei’shalfsisters。WhentheyarriveinGuangDongandseeherfather’saunty，shestillcan’tunderstandhermother’swordsofhowtorebuildJingMei’sgenometoletherbeaChineseagain。AfterJingMei’sfathertellsherSuyuan’sstoryaftersherunsawayfromGuiLin，sheknowswhyhermotherleavesthetwinsontheroad。Atthattime，shefeelsshejustknowsalittleabouthermotherwhohasgoneawayforever。WhensheseeshersisterssherealizestheChinesequalitywhichishiddeninherbodyandtotallyunderstandshermother。
　　Inthismulticulturalnovel，theauthormakesusunderstandthegenerationalandculturaldisparity。Thedaughtersoncethinkthattheirmothers’Chineseculturalbackgroundisthebarrierofcommunication。Theycannotunderstandtheirmothers’beliefandtheirwaysoflove。Butwhentheymeetsomedifficultiesintheirlife，theyturntotheirmothertofindhelp，andfromtheirmothers’stories，theyfinallyunderstandtheirmothers。YingYingbeginstochangeherselfonlywhensherealizesthatshehaspassedherpassivityandfatalismtoherdaughterLena。Sheseesthesadnessofherdaughter’smarriage，andurgesherdaughtertotakeanactiveposition。InthestoryWaitingbetweentheTrees，YingYingsays：
　　Herwisdomislikeabottomlesspond。Youthrowstonesinandtheysinkintothedarknessanddissolve。Hereyeslookingbackdonotreflectanything。IthinkthistomyselfeventhoughIlovemydaughter。SheandIsharethesamebodythereisapartofhermindthatispartofmine。Butwhenshewasborn，shesprangfrommelikeafish，andhasbeenswimmingawayeversince。Allherlife，Ihavewatchedherasthoughfromanothershore。AndnowImusttellhereverythingaboutmypast。Itistheonlywaytopenetrateherskinandpullhertowhereshecanbesaved。（Tan216）
　　AmyTanshowsusthatapersoncanremainselectiveofherculturewithoutgivinguptheheritageofhertradition。Atthebeginningofthenovel，JuneWoosays，MymotherandIspoketwodifferentlanguagesItalkedtoherEnglish，sheansweredbackinChinese。（Tan20）butafterhertriptoChina，shesays：Mymotherwasright，IambecomingaChinese。（Tan239）ThelastpartofthenovelQueenMotheroftheWesternSkiesrepresentsthetheme。Themothersarequeenmother，whosewisdomthedaughtersshouldlistento。Themotherswhosufferedalotneverlosehopeforthedaughtersandtheirrelationshipwiththeirmothers；finally，Junevisitsherhalfsisterstofulfillhermother’swish。
　　。ACorrectAttitudeTowardsCulture
　　AnunprecedenteddevelopmenthappenedinAmericaduringthe20thcentury。Thisrapiddevelopmentoneconomyhasacceleratedtheworldwideimmigration。TherearemoreandmorepeoplewhoputthemselvesintothetotallynewAmericancontextwhileleavingtheirhomeland，beingseparatedfromthehistoricalandculturalbackgroundtheyusedtoliveinforpolitical，economic，scientificandculturalreasons。Asthelivingenvironmentisgraduallychanging，theseChineseimmigrantshassomethingchangedintheirmind，inotherwords，theyfeelthattheirhistoryisgraduallyfadingaway，especiallytheiroffspring，losetherelationtotheirnativeculture。Thesecondandthirdgenerationimmigrantsdon’tkeeptheirfamilytreeanymore。Theycancelthememoryoftheirelderfamilymembers，andtheyalwayscan’tunderstandthewordsoftheirparentsandthelegendarystoriesoftheirancestry。Theylosethememoryoftheirownnation’shistoryandtheculturalsymbolwhichmatchwiththeirfiguresandstation。Thesepeople，suchasAmyTanandotherChineseAmericanwritersaswellasthedaughtersinTheJoyLuckClub，arebornandgrowupinAmerica，sotheydon’trealizethemeaningoftheiryellowskinanddarkhair。TheyfeelconfusedandembarrassedtolosetherelationshipwithhistoryonlywhentheyareconsideredasChinesebyothers，buttheyknownothingabouttheirnativeculture。
　　AlthoughChinesepeoplearedeeplyaffectedbythewesternculture，especiallyAmericanculture，intheprocessofglobalization，moreandmorepeoplerealizethatChineseculturehasitsownvalue，anditcannotbeeliminated。Chineseculturecanabsorbothercultures’essenceandcankeeppacewiththeworld’sdevelopmentdespitethebackwardaspectofit。
　　Cultureshouldbetreatedseriously，andanythingthatbelongstoculturecan’tbediscardedeasily，suchasthedragonsymbol。DragoninChineseculturesymbolizesthestubbornnessandtheChinesenation，butinwesternculture，itsymbolizestheevil，sosomeonearguestocancelthedragonsymbol。Morepeople，however，arguethatthedragonsymbolcouldnotbecancelled，foritistherootandthemostimportantthinginChineseculture。IfitwerecancelledmanyChineseidiomsandexpressionswouldlosetheirroot，suchaslongtenghuyueandlongmajingshen。ChinesepeopleshouldhaveconfidenceonChineseculturewhilelearningtheexcellentculturesfromothercountries；ourowncultureshouldbetransmittedtootherssothattherewillbelessdifficultiesintheprocessofcommunication。
　　ThewesternersviewChinaasaclosedcountryandthepeopleareconservative，lackingofcreativity，soacorrectattitudetoourcultureshouldbeheld。Attheendofthenovel，theunderstandingandreconciliationnotonlyshowstheauthor’sinheritanceofChinesetraditionalnovels，butmoreimportant，embodiesacorrectattitudetowardsculture，thatis，toinheritthemothercultureandtoabsorbthenewcultureandtofindbalancebetweencultures。Today，inthemulticulturalcontext，ifthetraditionalChinesecultureisgivenup，therewouldbenobridgebetweentraditionandnewcultures，butifonlythenativecultureistakenseriouslyandthedifferencesbetweenculturesisexaggerated，theconflictsbetweencultureswillbemoreintense，andthen，therewillbenohopeofpeace，commondevelopmentandprosperity。
　　Conclusion
　　InthenoveltheJoyLuckClub，AmyTandescribestheconflictsbetweenthemothersandthedaughters。Themisunderstandingsbetweenthemothersandthedaughtersinthenovelarecausedbythedifferentculturalbackgroundsandexperiences。Fortunately，throughpainfulefforts，themothersandthedaughtersbegintounderstandandcommunicateeachotherattheendofthestory，whichmetaphoricallydemonstratesthetransitionoftherelationshipbetweenChineseandAmericanculturefromconflictstoblending。
　　AstoourChineseculture，itfacesmanychallengesinthecontextofglobalization。Althoughlearningnewtechnologiesfromothercountriesandabsorbingtheessenceofotherculturesarenecessary，Chinesecultureshouldbeprotected。Historyandpresentinteractseachother，andtheyinheriteachother。Theresnocountryintheworldwhichcanignorethepastwithtoday’sprosperity。Ifanyoneforgetshispast，andloseshishistory，hewillbecomeapersonwithouthistoryandtradition，andhecannotreallylocatehimselfinthemulticulturalsociety，andhewilllosethebaseofdevelopment。TheChinesenationhasalongandoldhistory；theChineseAmericanshistorywhichisbestowedbytheirnatureshouldntbeignored，andthisistherealreasonforthemotherstotrytocombinetheirhistorywiththeirlivesinAmericanandpassthemontotheirdaughters。Inthissense，theaimofrecallingthehistoryistograspthepresentandthefuturebetter。
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