An Analysis of the Cultural Conflict and Integration from Mother-daughter Relationship in The Joy Luck Club_英语论文

摘要

20世纪70年代, 不少优秀的华裔文学作家借其优秀的华裔文学作品在美国文坛中不断涌现。谭恩美，作为具有代表性的著名美籍华裔女作家之一，于1989年出版的《喜福会》在美国文学享有盛誉。小说不仅侧重于母女冲突的主题，还侧重于文化交织背景下两代人的不断冲突与最终融合，进而体现了中美文化的冲突与交融必然存在。

因此，本文将从跨文化交际的视角，着重分析《喜福会》作品中四对中国移民母亲及深受美国文化观念影响的女儿之间的矛盾与冲突，深入了解其冲突的根源所在。以四对母女在小说中为例，探讨中西方文化对于婚姻、家庭、教育之间的观念不同，从文化差异中寻找两国文化的共同归属，从而体现小说的另一“融合”主题，并探讨中文文化交融的重要性与必要性，体现国与国之间文化共存应采取的相互沟通、理解及交融。

关键词: 喜福会 中美文化 冲突 交融

Abstract

A number of outstanding Chinese American writers have emerged in the American literary world by right of their excellent Chinese literary works since 1970s. Amy Tan is one of the most famous Chinese American writer, her book the Joy Luck Club which was published in 1989 enjoys a reputation in American literature. Not only does the novel put emphasis on conflicts between mothers and daughters but also on two different generations whose cultural backgrounds were interwoven with two great yet different cultures, embodying the inevitable conflicts and integration when it comes to the exchanges and communications between Chinese and American Culture.

This research will mainly focus on the analysis of the contradictions and conflicts between the Chinese immigrant mothers and American-born daughters influenced greatly by American cultures, and then proceeding to further exploration for the causes of those conflicts. The four pairs of mother-daughter relations will be taken as examples to discuss the differences between Chinese and American values on marriage, family and education and try to find the mutual part of the two cultures which could reflect another theme of the novel —— "integration". Then the importance and necessity of the integration between Chinese Culture and American Culture will be carried on discussing as well as the mutual communication and understanding required.

Key words: the Joy Luck Club; Chinese and American culture; Conflict; Integration

Contents

1.  Introduction 4

1.1 Amy Tan and The Joy Luck Club 4

1.2 Literature Review 6

2.  Conflicts between Mothers and Daughters 8

2.1 Conflicts of Languages and Expressions 8

2.2 Conflicts of Values on Education 10

2.3 Conflicts of Values on Marriage and Family 11

3.  Conflicts between Two Cultures 13

3.1.Mothers’ Chinese Traditional Social and Cultural Background 13

3.2 American-born Daughters’ Cultural Identities 15

4.  The Integration between Two Generations Reflecting Two Cultures 17

4.1 Mutual Understanding and Compromising between Mothers and  Daughters 17

4.2  Cultural Integration and Coexistence in The Joy Luck Club 19

4.3 Significance of Cultural Integration 20

5.  Conclusion 22

Bibliography 24

Acknowledgments 22