SUMMARY:
This last part of the story was really sad. Min felt as she was nobody in the house. Tian and Ruth argue daily and their hatred just builds up. When Tian need back up, he will bring Min into their arguement. Min knows that her comments/opinions doesn't matter to them. She knew that Ruth didn't like her and they never bonded close enough. One day, Tian and Ruth had a heated arguement. Ruth yelled to Tian saying she never liked playing the violin and she swear to not touch/pick up a violin as long as she lives. Tian got so mad, with tears in his eyes, yelled back at her saying if she meant that then she will no longer be her father. Ruth took that to heart, she packed her things and got ready to leave. Before she left, Min gave her some money. Ruth was only 17, after months, Tian still was looking for Ruth. He called the police but there wasn't any news on her.
Tian died one day due to heart faliure. The last words he said was about him and his goals and dreams. He admitted how Ruth was the one he saw with super talent but her personality was just selfish. He called her a little whore and said he never tried teaching them. Min personally wanted to tell Tian how she realy felt but she didn't. All she said was that he treated Anna and her well. Tian said that's not important. All he carED about was Ruth, and only Ruth.
When Tian died surprisingly, Min felt relief. Seem like she had one less to worry about to hide her feelings from. Anna was by her mom's side since the start. It's just that Min never really accepted her.
One day, when Min came home, she found Ruth in the house. She changed, now she smokes and she just came back to take a shower then leave. She told Min that the house isn't her home, she said she is leaving to get married. Min had no comment what-so-ever. When Ruth left, Anna and her mom got a little closer. Anna expressed her feelings about the family and about Ruth. She said how she thinks both Tian and Min love Ruth more and when she moved out, she felt relief. Now Anna just want to be friends with Ruth because she never got the chance to talk to them
Anna graduated from college and she earned her PhD. Min discovered that she got cancer. She didn't want to hold Anna back. Anna didn't leave but Min knew she wanted to. That day when Min knew she was about to die, Anna called her Mama, and told Min not to leave her alone. Min stuck through and stayed aloive. At the end, Min think that their family is meant to be full of sorrow, never could get rid of it.
QUOTE:
"It was once traditional in Chinese culture for a daughter to leave the house of her birth and move in with her husband's family. For this reason, Chinese mothers must seel themselves to part with their daughters. In U.S., I knew, this part was not neccessary," (Chang 87).
REACTION:
This ending part of the novella made me feel bad for Min. Her life had been pretty much screwed up since the start. She didn't feel like she belonged in the U.S.. She never was able to tell her husband her true feelings about him, how she thinks he's a stranger. This might be part of Chinese tradition, where a woman should say anything about her husband. Once she's married, then she's married. The quote above shows the struggle that immigrants may have when they come to U.S.. In Chinese tradition, women who get married to a man, have to move into his family. There are little situation that the man will move in with the woman. If they do, they are usually looked down on, people will think the man is useless. In U.S., it's different. You can pretty much do whatever you want. You can keep your last name if you want, but in Chinese culture, the woman will change her last name to follow her husband's, same with their children especially having a son.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Hunger By Lan Samantha Chang (Page 39-76)
SUMMARY:
Min and her mom were separated when she moved to New York and her mom stayed in Taiwan. They usually talk on the phone and about their lives, but Min's mom passed away. Tian wanted Anna to take after his passion for music. He will train her to play the violin. Anna just didn't seem to have what it takes to play the violin. She can't tell which note is which. Tian and Anna weren't close at all, except when they shared an interest in playing the violin. When Ruth was born, Min noticed that Ruth looked exactly like Tian. Tian grew closer to Ruth more than anything. He trained her to play the violin, and it seemed like she was gifted. Ruth got her way with everything she does. Tian never said no to her but when it came to playing the violin, he was th boss. He trained Ruth day and night for long hours. Ruth would cry and whin to stop but all he said was to yell at her and say she can't stop no matter what.
Years later, when both girls grew up and Anna went off to college, Min, Tian and Ruth didn't get along. Ruth was competing and performing with her violin. Once when she performed, Tian's old collegue's found her talented and wanted her to join them. Tian refused to let her train with thm because he knew all they want to do is say they discovered Ruth and her passion for the violin. Ruth got mad and wanted to be independent. Tian was becoming like another person that Min secretly doesn't remember. Ruth told Tian that he can't tell her what to do. This is when everything went down hill.
QUOTE:
"You cry! But-play! One, two, and-three-one, two, and-three-and Save your bow! Save your bow!" (Chang 59).
REACTION:
So far this novella semonstrated how Asian families can be. Min and Tian were immigrants that tried to make a living in New York. The struggle with everything because they were both limited in talking in Engish. It was hard for them to communicate with other people, especially their daughters. Min had a harder time, when she talks to her daughters, she wanted to say so much but she doesn't know how. Anna and Ruth both adopted American culture and talked mainly in English. They didnt know much Mandarin so there weren't many conversation.
The quote above is when Tian was training Ruth to play the violin. Even though this is a novella, consisting fake stories, it's true in some cases. Majority of Asian families will force their son/daughter to do something "talented". Either get straight A's, play music, play sports, etc... Tian forces Ruth to play when she's tired and really don't want to. This brings back to one thing I am greatful to, which is what my dad said. I was jokinh around with him saying I don't have any talent, I can't do anything like other kids can. He told me how some were forced to create the "talent" they have. Some kids don't even like what they do, he said he wanted me to choose what I want to do. He said if I want to learn to dance, sing, play instruments etc...he would support me. He doesn't think putting pressure llike Tian did on Ruth is a good way to teach children.
Min and her mom were separated when she moved to New York and her mom stayed in Taiwan. They usually talk on the phone and about their lives, but Min's mom passed away. Tian wanted Anna to take after his passion for music. He will train her to play the violin. Anna just didn't seem to have what it takes to play the violin. She can't tell which note is which. Tian and Anna weren't close at all, except when they shared an interest in playing the violin. When Ruth was born, Min noticed that Ruth looked exactly like Tian. Tian grew closer to Ruth more than anything. He trained her to play the violin, and it seemed like she was gifted. Ruth got her way with everything she does. Tian never said no to her but when it came to playing the violin, he was th boss. He trained Ruth day and night for long hours. Ruth would cry and whin to stop but all he said was to yell at her and say she can't stop no matter what.
Years later, when both girls grew up and Anna went off to college, Min, Tian and Ruth didn't get along. Ruth was competing and performing with her violin. Once when she performed, Tian's old collegue's found her talented and wanted her to join them. Tian refused to let her train with thm because he knew all they want to do is say they discovered Ruth and her passion for the violin. Ruth got mad and wanted to be independent. Tian was becoming like another person that Min secretly doesn't remember. Ruth told Tian that he can't tell her what to do. This is when everything went down hill.
QUOTE:
"You cry! But-play! One, two, and-three-one, two, and-three-and Save your bow! Save your bow!" (Chang 59).
REACTION:
So far this novella semonstrated how Asian families can be. Min and Tian were immigrants that tried to make a living in New York. The struggle with everything because they were both limited in talking in Engish. It was hard for them to communicate with other people, especially their daughters. Min had a harder time, when she talks to her daughters, she wanted to say so much but she doesn't know how. Anna and Ruth both adopted American culture and talked mainly in English. They didnt know much Mandarin so there weren't many conversation.
The quote above is when Tian was training Ruth to play the violin. Even though this is a novella, consisting fake stories, it's true in some cases. Majority of Asian families will force their son/daughter to do something "talented". Either get straight A's, play music, play sports, etc... Tian forces Ruth to play when she's tired and really don't want to. This brings back to one thing I am greatful to, which is what my dad said. I was jokinh around with him saying I don't have any talent, I can't do anything like other kids can. He told me how some were forced to create the "talent" they have. Some kids don't even like what they do, he said he wanted me to choose what I want to do. He said if I want to learn to dance, sing, play instruments etc...he would support me. He doesn't think putting pressure llike Tian did on Ruth is a good way to teach children.
Hunger by Lan Samantha Chang (Page 1-38)
SUMMARY:
A woman named Min moved to New York from China because living conditions were bad in China and there was a war going on. She escaped to China alone and she felt like she didn't fit in. Her mom told her to learn English because she needs to know it to communicate with people. Min didn't feel like she belong in New York until she met a man named Tian. When Min and Tian got married, they moved to Brooklyn. There life was picture perfect because Tian was a musician. He didn't make much money but he had a strong passion for playing the violin. When Min was pregnant with their first child, Tian wasn't happy about it. He was more into his career more than anything. Min wanted to give birth to a son because it was Chinese tradition. Having a son will help carry on the family's name. Her first child was named Anna, but Min really wanted a son for her husband but Tian said "No son". He didnt think it's time to have another child because of their condition. Min felt like she doesn't know Tian on a deeper level. She felt like he was a stranger sometimes but she only kept that to herself.
QUOTES:
"It is yuanfen," (Chang 17).
"It means: that apportionment of love which is destined for you in this world," (Chang 17).
REACTION:
I think this book is a great book to read. It really explain the struggles that Chinese women may have when they first come to the United States. Many Chinese people want to learn English when they come to live here, but it's not as easy as it seem. In this novella, Min tried but something is holding her back. She doesn't want to loose her Asian culture in a way.
This book also demonstrates the struggles that Chinese may have. Because they are not educated to speak proper English so they had a hard time tofind a job. Tian is a musician, he gave up his family to move to Brooklyn to persuade his dreams. When he got laid off on his job, he didn't have money to support the family. Min in a way had different goals, she wanted to have a son. A son that can carry on their family name. Many Asian cultures think having sons are better than daughters because they are thought to be smarter and more useful. This novella so far demonstrated the beliefs of asian cultures and the life some Asians may have when they move away from China.
A woman named Min moved to New York from China because living conditions were bad in China and there was a war going on. She escaped to China alone and she felt like she didn't fit in. Her mom told her to learn English because she needs to know it to communicate with people. Min didn't feel like she belong in New York until she met a man named Tian. When Min and Tian got married, they moved to Brooklyn. There life was picture perfect because Tian was a musician. He didn't make much money but he had a strong passion for playing the violin. When Min was pregnant with their first child, Tian wasn't happy about it. He was more into his career more than anything. Min wanted to give birth to a son because it was Chinese tradition. Having a son will help carry on the family's name. Her first child was named Anna, but Min really wanted a son for her husband but Tian said "No son". He didnt think it's time to have another child because of their condition. Min felt like she doesn't know Tian on a deeper level. She felt like he was a stranger sometimes but she only kept that to herself.
QUOTES:
"It is yuanfen," (Chang 17).
"It means: that apportionment of love which is destined for you in this world," (Chang 17).
REACTION:
I think this book is a great book to read. It really explain the struggles that Chinese women may have when they first come to the United States. Many Chinese people want to learn English when they come to live here, but it's not as easy as it seem. In this novella, Min tried but something is holding her back. She doesn't want to loose her Asian culture in a way.
This book also demonstrates the struggles that Chinese may have. Because they are not educated to speak proper English so they had a hard time tofind a job. Tian is a musician, he gave up his family to move to Brooklyn to persuade his dreams. When he got laid off on his job, he didn't have money to support the family. Min in a way had different goals, she wanted to have a son. A son that can carry on their family name. Many Asian cultures think having sons are better than daughters because they are thought to be smarter and more useful. This novella so far demonstrated the beliefs of asian cultures and the life some Asians may have when they move away from China.
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