Sorry to say I'll be relating “Seventeen Syllables” to
the movie of "The Joy Luck Club" and not the book.
The
movie is about first generation mothers telling second generation daughters of
their experiences back in China to help them in their current lives. This shows
a separation between second generation, Nisei, and first generation, Issei, as
Yamamoto would describe in her text. Throughout the book and the film, the mothers
teach their daughters about love and life even though there is a cultural
barrier between them.
In “The Joy Luck Club”, I will talk more closely of Ying Ying St. Clair’s story as she is the character that mostly portrayed Tome Hayashi
in “Seventeen Syllables”. Ying Ying and Tome are shown as submissive to their
husbands. Although Tome husband is not physically abusive to her, both Ying
Ying and Tome husbands are degrading to their wives. Ying Ying would have to deal
with her husband’s abusive words and actions even though they have a child.
Tome deals with her husband’s burst of outrage when she talks about the one
thing that she loves, Haiku. The abuse are a husband’s way of claiming their
place as dominant to their wives when the wives begin to rise in dominance. In
the text you can notice the rise of a wife, “Rosie noticed that her mother and
Mr. Hayano were talking together at the little table… while her father was
sitting at one end of the sofa looking through a copy of Life, the new picture
magazine” (25). The father would feel belittled by looking at pictures on the
sofa like a child and his wife sitting at the table discussing poetry like an adult
and give him the reason to storm out. For Ying Ying she was abused by her
husband daily so that she would feel subordinate to him, like a proper wife in
the first generation.
The mothers also had sons that have died and have severely affected them to
be able tell their daughters of the dangers in love. Both mothers are
traumatized by their experience and have moments of remembrance for their dead
child. Tome would remember her child at the end of the story as she tells Rosie
why she puts up with her father, “Her mother, at nineteen, come to America and
married her father as an alternative to suicide” (37). Her mother’s depression
came from her tragic love life that led to her pregnancy and then to the miscarriage
of her son yet she continued living because of the second chance of a beginning
in America. Similarly, Ying Ying’s son also died as she accidentally left her
baby to drown in the bath as she was consumed by hate and sorrow to her abusive
husband. In the movie, Lena talks about her mother’s dazed moments where she is
fazed and holds a sorrowful look with tears for her son, but what brings her
back is her daughter.
Through these experiences, the mothers are able to warn their daughters
about love and how it can turn horribly wrong. Although they have different
cultures they still are able to teach them a lesson in love, to own your life.
I believe that if there was a continuation of Rosie’s love life it would have
been just like Lena’s. Lena’s love life is sad as she is also submissive to her
husband even though her mother warned her. Her husband sees their relationship
as something financial which depresses Lena. Ying Ying sees this and tells her
that she shouldn’t be silent and that she must take command over her life. Tome
says the same thing to Rosie to take control over her life by not marrying, “Promise,
her mother whispered fiercely, promise. Yes, yes, I promise, Rosie said” (38.)
Her mother predicts that she will be submissive like her and only wishes her
for her own life. The mothers want what is best for their daughters and that is
to break from tradition as a wife who is submissive to be their own self.
Therefore, although Issei mothers teach their daughters traditions, they want
their daughters to break free from them.
I could relate with Rosie and Lena as I am also a Nisei who was raised by
an Issei mother. My mother, born in Korea, told me how being a female was difficult
as her brother would have the best food to eat and the choice to go to a college
while her and her sisters didn’t. She would tell me that she moved to America
for my sister and me. Although my mother did not have tragic stories as Tome
and Ying Ying she still told me the same lesson as they did and that is to take
command over my life.
Your connection between Seventeen Syllables and The Joy Luck Club is spot on. When I read this story I was also continuously making the connection to The Joy Luck Club. Both of the stories seem to have this reoccurring theme of mothers and daughters of Asian decent. Along side your story of your mother, I feel as if many people underestimate the hardships that Asians had to face to come to America and make a better life for their families. Although the female is subordinate in many different cultures also, I believe that this is the most upsetting point of both of the stories. Till this day I can't comprehend how males can treat females as subordinate when they do the same amount of tasks as the other. Actually, I believe the woman does more because running a household is not an easy task. Furthermore, I see these stories/movies as lessons to be learned. There are deeper themes to each that should be known to others. You're connection was excellent and it depicts many different themes and also some undertones.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading about your analysis of the mother and daughter relationship within Seventeen Syllables and the Joy Luck Club. Like you said, both stories relay messages about tradition and generational gaps shared between immigrant mothers and their daughters. After reading your analysis, I question why Asian cultures, along with many others, have the women be subordinate to the male. Seeing how today's society has progressed so much since those times (voting, high-leveled careers, and leaders of different countries), I fail to understand why this aspect of tradition still prevails. I agree with you about how Rosie and Lena are later taught to break free from the strains of men, as both mothers eventually try to explain to their children their worth. They want more for their children and want them to live a life they could not.
ReplyDeleteThe connection that you made between these two works is very clear, through your strongly supporting evidence and citations. I thought that it was interesting to point out that both Issei mothers presented a somewhat conflicting message to their Nisei daughters - simultaneously trying to perpetuate traditional customs with an underlying urgency to break free from such traditions. This internal struggle is definitely evident in both Tome and Ying Ying, and significantly contributes to the dramatic disconnect between these two generations of mother and daughter.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you connected Seventeen Syllables with The Joy Luck Club! I loved how you developed the idea of the subordinate wife by comparing the two stories. One of the major aspects of Seventeen Syllables that stood out to me was the whole concept of "picture-brides," a tradition which I think further illustrates the subordinate role of the woman. After learning that Rosie's mother got married under the picture-bride circumstances, I was better able to understand why she tried to deter Rosie from marriage in the end. While it's nice to see Tome encourage Rosie to take control of her life, I wish she instilled in her daughter the value of a healthy romantic relationship (instead of simply discouraging marriage), because Rosie is at the age where she is starting to get exposed to intimacy (example, her relationship with Jesus). Since Rosie observes a troubled relationship between her parents, and is told by her mother to stay away from marriage, it may end up being that she starts to generalize the idea that all men and relationships are bad. Therefore, I feel that it would be nice (and perhaps more beneficial) if Tome explained her perspective on marriage to Rosie, instead of just sort of asking her to stay away from it.
ReplyDeleteThe way you analyze Seventeen Syllables and The Joy Luck Club was splendid. The connection between mother and daughter and the generational barriers have shown us that each generation thinks differently but still the same across other cultures. I never saw this movie but I can already picture it in my mind due to your explanation of it. I agree with Teresa that these stories and movies are lessons to be learned and remembered by. Themes that show you what life is really about (to not be dominated by your husband or partner, for example)and that you should not be afraid to take action to be in control of your life. Seventeen Syllables has shown us this in great detail.
ReplyDeleteI liked this comparison that you made between the Joy Luck Club and Seventeen Syllables. The characters of Rosie and Lena, and the relationships that they have with their issei mothers are very similar. Both mothers advise their daughters of their relationships in hopes of preventing them from following similar fates. Ying Ying tells her traumatic story to Lena when Ying Ying frets that her daughter's marriage will end like her own, a disaster. Similarly, Tome tells Rosie to never marry based on her own miserable arranged marriage. Even though there is a disconnect between the two generations due to cultural differences, I feel that this idea of mothers wanting more for their daughter is relevant in any parent-child relationship.
ReplyDeleteI really like the connections you made between the Joy Luck Club and Seventeen Syllables. Though I understand the importance and need to keep traditions alive and pass them onto future generations, enforcing the male-dominant family structure is one tradition we can do without. What especially popped out at me was when you mentioned how in both Seventeen Syllables and The Joy Luck Club, the males would belittle or abuse their wives as a way to keep the females in their place. The definition of what makes a “proper wife”, or even a “proper husband”, seems like an erroneous way to think of a spouse in my opinion. Thank goodness most people have come around and now think that there should be equality in relationships.
ReplyDeleteIt also stood out to me when you mentioned that both mothers lose their sons. For stories that have such an emphasis on male roles in family dynamics, I wonder why either author chose to have the sons die. Just some food for thought.
Thanks for sharing your own family's experiences as Korean Americans, I feel like it makes your connections all the more stronger. After the discussion in class, I agree with your insight on how both mothers in The Joy Luck Club and "Seventeen Syllables" are trying to advise their daughters to break away from the oppressive traditions they follow. Initially, I thought that Tome was being heartless by forcing her daughter to promise she won't marry. It felt like she was being selfish and mean by saying she wanted to commit suicide.
ReplyDelete"Why would you tell your young daughter this??" I thought to myself. I mean, telling someone such things can be psychologically damaging you know?
Then, I realized perhaps Tome's intentions are to warn her daughter of the reality of living as a traditional mother and wife in their culture. Constantly in the shadow of your husband, or at least that's how it's supposed to be. Asian families tend to have a hierarchical role structure in which the father and eldest son are the most important. In context with these stories, both Ying Ying and Tome are frustrated with their roles in the family and do not wish the same depression and desperation upon their daughters.
The connection you made between the Joy Luck Club and Seventeen Syllables was very interesting. I did not think about the connection between the those two pieces. I also really liked the point that you made about how both mothers were steering their daughters away from becoming submissive to their husbands. And I agree that by doing so, the mothers are also trying to make their daughters break away from tradition. This promotes how women can be independent of their spouse, to have a sense of self, and to have an identity beyond that of their husband's name.Also being able to personally connect to the stories is also very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have never seen or read Joy Luck Club, I really enjoyed your comparison between the two works; it was very fitting. I thought it was interesting how you pointed out that even though the mothers teach their daughters traditions, they want their daughters to break free from them.
ReplyDeleteI think the passing on of traditions is very important in families, or at least the attempt to do so is…whether or not those traditions will be executed is a whole different story. In this sense, I feel like the daughters would have a choice in whether or not they want to continue on with the traditions. Their decision would give them an option to either break free or to follow tradition. It’s kind of like… “Hey, just so you know, this is our family tradition, but you don’t necessarily have to follow it. I just wanted to let you know.” At the same time, I think that by teaching the daughters the traditions, they serve as a lesson for the daughters not to repeat the same mistake the mothers made: being a submissive in an overly male-dominant relationship. I believe that with this, the daughters have to walk the fine line between following tradition or non-conformity.
Thank you very much for sharing this post and a part of your own personal story with us. As I first read "Seventeen Syllables" I thought that it was not right for Tome to ask her daughter to never marry, but reading your, I can understand that. It makes a lot of sense that she told her daughter not to marry if it would help her take control of her life because she is part of a male dominated culture. I enjoyed reading in the post how the mothers are teaching their daughters tradition but also teling them to break away from it. Because really, someone can be taught tradition, but they can modify it in ways to keep the meaning of it the same or to adapt it to fit how their lives are now. Is that not what people do now anyways, modify traditions to fit how life is now?
ReplyDeleteI liked this because I do understand how a female would want to make more of themselves than a culture/society may allow them. I've been told many stories from my mother.
I do not even quite know how to express it, but thank you for pointing out these similarities.