In the story “Rice Husband,” (from the book The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan), the main character is a woman named Lena St. Clair; her mother was Chinese and her father was English-Irish American. Her mother had a Chinese saying, “Chunwang Chihan,” which meant, “if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,” (which means that one thing is the result of another).
Lena’s mother had the ability to foresee unfortunate events before they occurred. One time she looked at their new apartment and said that it “sat too steeply on the hill,” and that her baby would fall dead from her womb and it did. When Lena’s mother came to stay with her and her husband, Harold, she was able to find flaws in their new home. One of the symbolic flaws she found was a table made of unevenly cut marble with a vase on the top. When Lena’s mother puts her bag on top, the vase almost falls off because the table is not sturdy enough.
Before Lena knows it, she starts a fight with Harold that is bigger than the cat’s fleas or about the ice cream; it is an argument that has been building up inside her for many years. At that point the table falls over and the vase shatters into pieces. Lena’s mother simply says it fell down, and when Lena responds, “I knew it would happen,” her mother asks “then why didn’t you stop it?” It was a simple question and at the same time Lena could not answer because it did not know the answer.
What do you think the question was referring to and why do you think Lena did not stop “it”? What do you think Lena’s marriage was really based on?
5 comments:
What do you think the question was referring to and why do you think Lena did not stop “it”? What do you think Lena’s marriage was really based on?
When Lena admitted she knew it was going to fall, she was talking about her relationship with Harold. Inside she was hurting at the fact that she felt that since everything was spilt in half, things were in the end not fair. She did not feel much of the love anymore but she thought that Harold did love her and thats what matters. But if they truly loved each other then why were thing split in half? If he loves her he would treat her to dinner or things but never did he buy her something out of kindness or love. He would even take advantage and when they would go out for dinner hes plate would be more than hers and she would pay for somet of his in the end. So Lena was not happy in this relationship. I think it was based on the fact that Lena never really knew what happened between her mother and father, but knew enough that something had happened in their marriage to change her into a completely different person. Lena was scared her something like that would happen to her, and did not want to let her mother know she was unhappy because. I think think part of Lena's marriage was based on the love SHE had for Harold, and on the sake of her mother.
The question you posed is very interesting. I think the question referred to her marriage falling apart just like the table. They both had a feeling inside them that Lena and Harold's marriage would not work out. Lena's marriage may show ideas of the American dream - a nice house, financially well off, and supposedly a good marriage. But basing a marriage on the American dream does not lead to success.
I think the question refers to Lena's marriage. When her mother asks “then why didn’t you stop it”, she does not know how to answer. I think Lena as an Asian American, she still does not know how to adapt herself within two different culture. She lives in America and married to an American, but she cannot totally accept the completely independent marriage life. She affected by her mother, and she also holds on Chinese culture.
I like the question you posted, it makes you think outside of the box. The question i based on her marriage. How it was falling apart. Even though they were together they both knew it was not going to work out. Lena's vision of her marriage was the American dream Big house a car 2 1/2 kids etc.. But even though the intentions were good they could not keep a relationship based on only intentions.
I like the question you posted, it makes you think outside of the box. The question i based on her marriage. How it was falling apart. Even though they were together they both knew it was not going to work out. Lena's vision of her marriage was the American dream Big house a car 2 1/2 kids etc.. But even though the intentions were good they could not keep a relationship based on only intentions.
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