The paper is composed of 5 chapters. It will analyze the cultural conflicts and fusions between the United States and China from mothers and daughters’ relationship. In the first chapter, I will briefly introduce the conflicts between mothers and daughters. In the second chapter, I will list some cause of these cultural conflicts. In the third chapter, I will summarize the way which they get along with each other. And, in the chapter I will analyze the cultural fusion behind the mother-daughter relationship. In the last chapter, I will make a summery which is about the cultural fusion.
The globalization is a very common phenomenon. Against such a background, everyone will face various problems. Someone always feels confused and lost. They get a feeling of disorientation which makes them think cultural conflict is irreconcilable and contradictory. This situation is more typical in immigrants. So this paper tries to give us a solution when we face some cultural conflicts in the process of globalization. At the same time, it will reveal the inevitability and feasibility of cultural fusion. Then everyone can deal with cultural conflicts effectively.
Chapter Two Conflicts
The novel is be pided in four sections. Each section is an independent story of a mother and a daughter. Mothers were born in China, and they grew up in China. They do not care about their English level, but they are proud of that they can speak Chinese fluently. However, the daughters do not understand Chinese and its culture. They even believe that Chinese culture is ignorant and lagging.
2.1 Conflict between Suyuan and June
The conflict between Suyuan and June is the mother’s expectation. Suyuan always wants June to be an outstanding child or a genius. Suyuan believes that America is a place where people can make their dreams come true. “You could be anything you wanted to be in America. You could open a restaurant. You could work for the government and get good retirement. You could buy a house with almost no money down. You could become rich. You could become instantly famous.” (Tan, 132)
So, Suyuan puts all her hope and wish on her daughter——June. At the beginning, Suyuan wants to make June to be the China’s Shirley Temple. Then, she takes June to have a haircut. When it fails, Suyuan wants June to be a genius. Finally, the genius dream is failed too. Suyuan persuades an old piano teacher to teach June the piano with Suyuan’s cleaning the teacher’s house as the payment.
However, June does not believe that she could be anyone. She just wants to be herself. “Why don't you like me the way I am? I am not a genius! I can't play the piano. And even if I could, I wouldn't go on TV if you pay me a million dollars!”(Tan.136)源`自·751.文/论:文'网,www.751com.cn
In China, parents think the children are the continuation of their lives. So they hope their children can realize the dream which they did not achieve. Parents can sacrifice everything that they have for their children. The parents have the supreme power. This also gives their children enormous pressure. But, in the US, the independence and freedom is the core belief. Children want to be the independent people. June also thinks so. She thinks she is not the slave of her mother. The conflicts over piano is lasting about twenty years.
2.2 Conflicts between An-mei and Rose
Respect is the main conflict between An-mei and Rose. An-mei tries to be a more confident and self-respecting person. And, she tries to be brave when she faces some powers. Instead, her daughter Rose becomes a woman who lost her respect and confidence during her life. Rose does not have her own mind, and she does not believe herself. When her husband Ted asks her about her idea, she always gives the answer “Either way is fine with me,”“I don’t care.” “She thinks that her love is not good enough, but her husband’s love is better than hers. So she tries to do something to please her husband.”(Cao, 12) She lost herself. Her husband thinks that she has changed. So he decides to end the marriage. 从《喜福会》的母女关系看文化融合(2):http://www.751com.cn/yingyu/lunwen_55610.html