本科论文-分析《喜福会》中的中美文化冲突与融合

本科论文--分析《喜福会》中的中美文化冲突与融合CulturalConflictsandIntegrationBetweenChinaandAmericaintheJoyLuckClubbyXXXAthesispresentedtotheSchoolofEnglishEducationofXi’anInternationalStudiesUniversityinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthedegreeofBachelorofArtsMay18,2012Class:08-4Advisor:________西安外国语大学毕业论文开题报告姓名性别班级学号毕业论文题目：分析《喜福会》中的中美文化冲突与融合CulturalConflictsandIntegrationBetweenChinaandAmericaintheJoyLuckClub任务起止日期：2011年11月20日至2012年5月20日毕业论文主要内容及参考文献：小说《喜福会》是美国华裔女作家谭恩美的处女作，1989年一经出版即受到广泛关注和好评。二十多年来对《喜福会》的研究一直是国内外评论界的热点。梳理国内外的研究成果可以发现，西方学术界偏重小说中的种族、身份、民族主义方面的寓意，国内则注重分析文化冲突问题,但是对文化融合的研究则略显欠缺。基于此研究现状和中美文化交流的新形势，本文将集中探讨小说中所体现的的文化冲突与融合。《喜福会》主要讲述了四位从中国移民到美国的女性和她们各自美国化女儿之间的“恩恩怨怨”，其中母女之间矛盾的产生和最终冰释是小说的重要情节，本质上表现的正是中美两种文化碰撞交流的过程。本文首先将通过对比母女两代人之间的语言，行为，观念等方面的不同，揭示矛盾背后的文化差异及其原因；接着分析文本中的母女关系的缓和所体现的文化融合；最后得出在现代社会我们对于文化差异及文化交流应采取的正确态度。希望今后不同民族的文化能够增进了解，增加沟通，彼此尊重，互相信任，优势互补，真正实现多元文化的共存与融合。参考文献：Huntley,E.D.1998.AmyTan:ACriticalComparison.Michigan:GreenwoodPress.Tan,A.1989.TheJoyLuckClub.NewYork:PenguinBooks.刘晓红．1998．隔膜·冲突·融合．思想战线（9），40-45．王凤霞．2008．论《喜福会》中双重文化的冲突与融合．西南民族大学（人文社科版）（12），76-79．徐行言．2004．中西文化比较．北京：北京大学出版社．指导教师(签名)

年月日IntroductionAmyTanisoneofthemosthighlyacclaimedwritersofAmerican-Chineseliterature.ShepublishedherfirstnoveltheJoyLuckClubin1989,whichreceivedgreatattentionimmediatelyandremainedontheNewYorkTimesbest-sellerlistformanymonths.InthenoveltheJoyLuckClub,AmyTanexplorestherelationshipbetweenmothersanddaughters.Thenovelfocusesonfourpairsofmothersanddaughters:SuyuanWooandJing-MeiWoo,An-MeiHsuandRoseHsuJordan,Lindo-JongandWaverlyJong,andYing-YingSt.ClairandLenaSt.Clair.ThefourmothersarethefirstgenerationimmigrantsfromtheChinesetraditionalfamilies.ThedaughtersareborninAmericaasthesecondgenerationimmigrantswhoaredeeplyinfluencedbyAmericanmoralstandardsandactingprinciples.Theycherishtheirindependentspiritsandcharacters,andtheyarenotwillingtobecontrolledbyothers.Theycannotunderstandtheirmothers'Chinesecultureandtheirwayofthinking.Theyrejecttheadvicesandcriticismsfromtheirmothersnomatterwhethertheyarereasonableornot.Meanwhile,themothers,asthefirstgenerationimmigrants,donottotallyintegrateinAmericanculture.TheycannotspeakfluentEnglish.TheyneverdiscardthetraditionandneverforgettheirlivesinChina.Theyshowtheirlovefordaughtersbyplanningtheirfuturesandinterferingintheiractivities,whichishatedbythedaughters.Consequently,thereareconstantconflictsbetweenmothersanddaughtersfromchoosinghusbandstohairdos. However,thenoveldoesnotendupwithconflicts.ThemothersmakecontinuouseffortstoinstillChineseculturewithdaughtersandtheyneverstopmaternallovetotheirdaughters.Moreover,intheprocessofgrowingup,thedaughtersgraduallyunderstandtheirmothers'loveforthemandacceptiteventually.Attheendofthenovel,thereconciliationbetweenmothersanddaughtersformsnaturally.Infact,alltheconflictsarecausedbyculturaldifferences,andthefinalreconciliationsuggeststhepossibilityofintegrationofdifferentcultures.Inthecontextofglobalization,thecommunicationbetweenChinaandothercountrieswhoseculturalbackgroundsaretotallydifferentfromChina'sisincreasingrapidly.Chinafacemorechallengestoitstraditionalculture.Itisaknottyquestionhowtogetintegrationintheculturalexchange.ThispaperanalysestheculturalconflictsandintegrationbetweenthemothersandthedaughtersinthenoveltheJoyLuckClub,andmetaphoricallybetweenChineseandAmericanculture,withtheaimtogetthecorrectattitudesinculturalexchange.2.CulturalConflictsbetweenChinaandAmericaintheJoyLuckClubIntheJoyLuckClub,theauthorAmyTanpresentsmanyconflictsinthemother-daughterrelationship.2.1EpisodesReflectingtheConflictsintheNovelThemostobviousconflictshappeninthestory“TwoKinds”.Jing-Mei’smotherSuyuanWoohasahighexpectationforherdaughter.Shebelievesthat“youcouldbeanythingyouwantedtobeinAmerica”.ShethinksthatJing-Meicouldbeaprodigy.ShehopesthatJing-Meiwouldbeapianistinthefuture.Sothemothergetsallkindsofmagazinesfrompeoplewhosehouseshecleans,andsearchesforstoriesaboutremarkablechildrentotelltothedaughter.ShetradeshousecleaningserviceforweeklylessonsandapianoforherdaughterJing-Meitopracticeoneveryday.Jing-Meilikespianoherself,butshedoesnotwanttoplaythepianoforhermother.InJing-Mei’seyes,shehastherighttodecidewhatshewoulddoandnotdo.Shehastherightnotbecontrolledbyhermother.Inordertobreakhermother’shope,Jing-Meidisruptsapianoshowonpurposewithallthefriendsofherparentspresenttoshamehermother.Themotherdoesnotgiveup,however.Shecontinuestoforceherdaughtertopracticethepiano.Jing-Meiremainsdefiant.Shesaystohermother:“YouwantmetobesomeonethatI’mnot!I’llneverbethekindofdaughteryouwantmetobe.”(Tan,1989:142)Themotherrepliesthatonlytheobedientdaughtercanliveinthehouse.Thedaughterdoesnotgiveintohermother,shoutingthat“IwishIwasn’tyourdaughter.Iwishyouweren’tmymother.ThenIwishIhadneverbeenborn!”(Tan,1989:142)TherelationshipbetweenLindoJongandherdaughterWaverlyJongalsovividlyreflectstheculturalclash.Inthestory“RulesoftheGame”,asalittlegirl,WaverlyJongshowsgreattalentonchess.Themother,LindoJong,issoproudofherdaughterthatsheintroducesWaverlytowhoeverlooksherwaywhentheygoouttogether.Inordertocreateagoodenvironmentforherdaughtertopracticechess,Lindomakemanyconcessionswiththeaimthatherdaughtercanconcentrateonchess.Shemakesdecisionthatthedaughternolongerhastodothedishesandhertwobrothersneedtodothechoresinplaceofher.Whenthedaughtercomplainsthatthebedroomthatsheshareswithhertwobrothersissonoisythatshecouldn’tthink,thetwobrothersarearrangedinthelivingroomfacingthestreet,immediately.Themotherregardsherselfasaprotectiveallyofherdaughter.ShehasahabitofstandingoverherdaughterwhileWaverlypracticesthechessathome.WhenWaverlywinsthegame,shelikestoannouncetoothers:“Itoldmydaughter,useyourhorsetorunovertheenemy,shewonquicklythisway.”(Tan,1989:170)However,thedaughterhates“thewayshetriedtotakeallthecredit”.(Tan,1989:170)Finally,oneday,inthemiddleofacrowdofpeople,thedaughterburstoutheraversion.Shesays:“Whydoyouhavetousemetoshowoff?Ifyouwanttoshowoff,thenwhydon’tyoulearntoplaychess?”(Tan,1989:99)Thesewordsactuallyturntheirmother-daughterrelationshipdowntothebottom.Theirconstantconflictsreachaclimaxever.Besides,theconflictsnotonlyexistbetweenChinesemothersandAmericandaughters,butalsobetweenothermembersfromSino-AmericanFamilies.BothRoseandLenamarryAmericanhusbands.RosehasalwaysbeentoldtobesubmittedandmeekbyherChinesemothersinceherbirth.Asaresultofhermother’seducation,Roseisusedtolisteningtoherhusband’sadvicesinmarriagelife.Whenaskedforheropinion,sheusuallysays:“Youdeicide.”or“Idonotcare.”or“eitherwayisfinewithme.”Insuchcase,herAmericanhusbandwouldsayinhisimpatientvoice,“No,youdecide.Youcannothaveitbothways,noneoftheresponsibility,noneoftheblame.”(Tan,1989:120)BecauseofRose’sbehavior,herhusbandproposestodivorcewithher.Lenaandherhusbandhaveapieceofpaperonwhichundereachoftheirnamesarethingstheyhaveboughtandhowmuchtheypay.Justthingstheyshare.ThisisnotsurprisinginAmerica.Lenafeelsuneasyandisinacompletedespaireventually.Shesaystoherhusband:“ourmarriageisreallybasedon…notthisbalancesheet,whooweswhowhat.”(Tan,1989:165)2.2FactorsCausingtheConflictsActuallyalltheseconflictscanbeattributedtotheAmerican-Chineseculturaldifferenceswhichareembodiedinthreeaspects.2.2.1DifferentLanguagesandExpressionsFirst,themothersarebornandgrowupinChinawhilethedaughtersareeducatedinAmerica.Theyspeakdifferentlanguagesandhavedifferentstylesofexpression.Aslanguageisthecarrierofculture,differentlanguagesconveydifferentculturalinformation.Languagecangivethespeakercertainkindofculturalidentity.Alanguagemeansapasschecktoknowthecultureitbelongsto.IntheJoyLuckClub,languagehasbeenabarrierobstructingthemother-daughtercommunication,whichishardtoremove.AlthoughhavingbeenlivinginAmericaformanyyears,themothersareusedtospeakinginChinese,especiallywhentheyneedtoexpresssomethingimportantortheirstrongfeelings.Chineseistheirmothertongue,whichtheycannotleavebehind.TheyeitherspeakthebrokenEnglishortheChinese-Englishsentences.Forthedaughters,whoarebroughtupinAmerica,theyspeakfluentEnglish.Theydonotlikeandevendespisetheirmother’swaylanguage,nomattertheyspeakChineseorthebrokenEnglish.Consequently,thecommunicationproblemsarise.Forexample,Jing-Meisays:“MymotherandIneverreallyunderstandoneanother.Wetranslateeachother’smeaningandIseemedtohearlessthanwassaid,whilemymotherheardmore.”(Tan,1989:27)Ontheonehand,thedaughterlooksformeaninginwhatisstatedbyhermotheranddoesnotunderstandthathermotheromitsimportantinformationbecauseshethinksthatherdaughterknowsit;ontheotherhand,themotherlooksformeaninginwhathasnotbeenstatedandaddsmanythingstowhathasbeenstatedandcomesupwithmeaningsthatsurpriseherdaughter.Peoplefromthetwoculturesalsohavetotallydifferentexpressionstyles.AmericanpeoplecannotunderstandthevirtueofbeingmodestandreservedinChineseculture.JustasJing-Meisays,“itwasoneofthoseChineseexpressionsthatmeansthebetterhalfofmixedintentions.IcanneverrememberthingsIdidn’tunderstandinthefirstplace.”(Tan,1989:19)UnlikeChinese,Americansarefrankanddirectwhenexpressingtheirideas.Theysaywhattheythink.Chinesepeoplesayhalfofwhattheythink.Sometimes,theyevensaywhatisoppositetowhattheythink.ThereisatalkingbetweenthetwoChinesemothersLindoJongandSuyuanwooreflectingthefeatureofChinesecommunication.Lindosays:“Shebringshometoomanytrophy.AlldayIhavenotimedonothingbutdustoffherwinnings.”Suyuanresponses:“Ourproblemworserthanyours.IfweaskJing-Meiwashdish,shehearnothingbutmusic.It’slikeyoucannotstopthisnaturaltalent.”(Tan,1989:138)Atthesuperficiallevel,theyarecomplainingabouttheirproblems.Actually,itisaChinesewayofshowingoff.However,thisconnationisnoteffectivefortheAmericans.WhenWaverly’shusbandRichfirstcomestoherparents’home,themotherLindoJongcooksherfamoussteamedporkandpreservedvegetabledish,whichshealwaysserveswithspecialpride.WhenLindoJongmakesdisparagingremarksabouthercookingasusual,“thedishisnotsaltyenough,noflavor.It’stoobadtoeat”.(Tan,1989:178)AsanAmericanman,Richdoesnotknowthatisacueforotherstopraisethecook.Hesays:“youknowallitneedsisalittlesoysauce.”Andheproceedsto“pourariverfulofthesaltyblackstuffontheplatter,rightbeforethemother’shorrifiedeyes”.(Tan,1989:178)HeevencallsWaverly’sparents’namedirectly,whichisconsideredasnotpoliteinChina.WaverlythinksoverandoverwhenshedecidestotellherparentsthatshewillgetmarriedwithRich.ForRich,itisonlyamatterofonesentence“Mom,Dad,I’mgettingmarried.”ChinesepeopleareroundaboutwhileAmericanpeoplearedirect.2.2.2DifferentViewsonLoveandMarriageSecond,intermsoftheviewsonloveandmarriage,themothersanddaughtersholddifferentideas.AccordingtoChinesetradition,children’smarriageisavitallyimportantthingforparents.Theytrytogivetheirsuggestions,sometimeseventhedecision.Parentsinterferewithchildren’smarriageoutofresponsibilityandkindnesstomakesurethattheirchildrencanhaveblissfullifeinthefuture.Tosomeextents,itisanimportantmanifestationofparents’lovetochildreninChina.Americanculturevaluesindependence.Whenchildrengetmarried,whattheparentsneedtodoistogivetheirblessings.ForAmericans,marriageisaprivatethingtheydonotliketosharewithothers.Whenthetwodifferentviewsmeet,theconflictsareinevitable.LindoJongthinksthatWaverly’sfirstboyfriendislazyandlackoffamilyresponsibilities.Shethinkstheboyisnotgoodenoughforherdaughter.Whenshefindsherdaughterelopeswiththisguy,shethrowshershoesatthem.ThedaughterWaverlydoesnotunderstandhermother’sbehavior.Whenherfirstmarriagefails,sheeventhinks:“Ifperhapsmymotherhaspoisonedmymarriage.”(Tan,1989:174)AsanAmericanizedgirl,shedoesnotthinkhermotherhastherighttointerveneinherchoice.Anothergirl,Lenabelievesingenderequalityandequalrightsformanandwoman,equalrightsforhusbandandwife,whichareadvocatedinAmericanculture.TheygoDutchinlife,whichseemsjust.Theythinkthatonlybydoingthisway,theycan“eliminatefalsedependencies…beequals…lovewithoutobligation…”(Tan,1989:162)ButhermotherYing-Yingcannotbearthisrule.AccordingtotheChinesecultureinwhichthemotherwasbornandgrewup,itisunacceptable.AmarriedChinesecouplecannotcalculatethefamilyfinancialexpendituresoclearly;theymustsharetheburdentogether.HavingreceivedtheAmericaneducation,LenastillholdsChinesetraditionalviewbynature.Suchnaturemakesitalittledifficultforhertointegrateintothewesternmarriage.2.2.3DifferentSensesofValueThird,themothersanddaughtersalsohavetotallydifferentsensesofvalues.Chinesecultureemphasizesthecollectiveness,whileAmericanculturevaluestheindividualism.InChina,peopleareseenasonepartofthegroupandindividual’sabilitynotonlyembodiesone’svalue,butalsorepresentsthecollectivevaluesofthewholegroupwhichhebelongsto.AccordingtoChinesetraditionalConfucianism,theinterestsofthesocialgrouptakeprecedenceovertheinterestsoftheindividual.Whenonesucceeds,hisfamilyreceivescompliment.Whenonefails,hisfamilyreceivescriticism.Individualiscloselytiedwithfamily.SoWaverly’smotherLindoJongshowsoffherdaughters’successasifshesucceedsherself.InAmerica,peoplearemutualindependent.Theythinkifonewantstosucceed,heshouldrelyonhimselfratherthanhisfamily.WhenyoutalkwithAmericans,itisraretofindthemboastoftheirfamilyorsocialrelationship.FreedomandindependencearehighlyvaluedbythedaughterswhoareraisedintheUS.Theycannotbearbeinginterferedandcontrolledbyothers.TheAmericancultureseespeopleasindividualwithintelligence,dignity,andfreewill.Everybodyneedstoberesponsiblefortheirownfate.SoJing-Meishoutstohermother:“Iamnotyousalve.Thisisn’tinChina.Youcannotmakeme.”(Tan,1989:140)SoWaverlysays:“Donotbesooldfashioned,Ma.I’mmyownperson.”(Tan,1989:254)2.3CulturalInterpretationoftheConflictsUltimately,underneaththeconflictsbetweenthemothersanddaughtersaretheclashesbetweentheEasternandWesterncultures.Allpeoplearecreateddifferent,andthusnotwocultureswilleverbethesame.TheSino-Americarelationshiphasbeenunequalformanycenturies.Americaisthestrong;Chinaistheweak.Duetotherelationshipontheunfairandunequalbasis,itisinevitablefortheAmericanpeopletohaveprejudiceagainstChinesepeopleandthings.IntheeyesoftheAmericans,Chinameansignoranceandbackwardness.Whenthetwomeet,theynaturallychoosethesuperioroneintheirhearts.SoRoseconsidersthat“ChinesepeoplehadChineseopinions,AmericanpeoplehadAmericanopinions.Andinalmosteverycase,theAmericanversionwasmuchbetter.”(Tan,1989:191)ChinesetraditionalcultureissuppressedinAmericansocietywherethemainstreamAmericanculturepredominates.Atthebeginningofthestory,whenJing-Mei’smotherarrivesinAmerica,theimmigrationofficialsforcehertoleavetheswanshebuysfromChina.ThepotentialmeaningofthisplotisthattheAmericancultureviolentlycutsthebondbetweenthemothersandhertraditionalculturewithitsadvantage.ButSuyuanstillpreservesoneswanfeather,whichstandsfortheweakculture’sstruggleandsurvival.3.CulturalIntegrationbetweenChinaandAmericaintheJoyLuckClubConflictisthemainplotintheJoyLuckClub,butitisnotthefinaldestination.Moreover,theauthor,AmyTanisalwaystryingtofindthepossibilityofintegrationbetweenpeoplefromdifferentcultures.Actually,shesucceedsindoingthis.Struggleispainful,butitisworthifitcanmakepeopletoexaminethemselves.IntheJoyLuckClub,conflictsbeginwithantagonisticcontradiction,butendupinaccommodation.3.1EpisodesReflectingtheIntegrationintheNovelDespitesomanycontractionshavinghappenedbefore,themothersanddaughtersindeedcometoreconciliationatlast.Forinstance,WaverlyandRichdecidetogotoChinatospendtheirhoneymoon.Waverly’sAmericanhusbandhopesthatWaverly’smotherLindocouldgowiththem.Lindowouldlovetogo,althoughshedoesnotsayitdirectly.Waverlydoesnotlikethisidea.Shethinksthathermotherwouldkeepcomplainingaboutdirtychopsticksandcoldsoup,threemealsaday.Butshealsoconsiders:“Yetpartofmealsothinksthewholeideamakesperfectsense.Thethreeofus,leavingourdifferencesbehind,steppingontheplanetogether,sittingsidebyside,liftingoff,movingWesttoreachtheEast.”(Tan,1989:184)AnotherExampleofintegrationisaboutJing-Meiandhermother.Afterhermother’sdeath,Jing-Meiopensthepianowhichcausesthefierceconflictsbetweenhermotherandhermanyyearsago,playsthetwosongswhichbringsmuchpaintoher.Afterplayingthembothafewtimes,sherealizesthattheyaretwohalvesofthesamesong.Theoneisshorterbutslower;theotherislongerbutfaster.Itindicatesthattheeasterncultureandwesternculturearebothpartofthewholehumanculture.Separatedfromtheother,theremainsisnotcompleteandperfect.Attheendofthenovel,Jing-MeisetfootontheChineseland.WhenshehearsthestoryofhermotherandseesherChinesesisters,shetotallyunderstandshermotherandknowsthathermotherloveshermorethanherownlife.Inthethirdpartofthenovel,thefourdaughtersnarratetheirdilemmasaftertheygrewup.Althoughtheythinktheirmothers’ideasareoutofdate,whentheysearchforthesolutions,theyinevitablycomebacktotheirmothers.Atlast,mothersoffersolutionsandsupporttotheirdaughterswiththeirpastexperiencesinChina.Forexample,RoseHsuJordanfindsherselfunabletopersistinherideas.AlthoughsheexpressesherideasbydisobeyinghermothertomarryTed,shemakesherselfthevictimtoTedinmarriage.Athome,Teddecideseverything.Atlast,shelistenstohermotherandtakesactionstoprotectherrights.3.2WaysPromotingtheIntegrationFromtheconflictstointegration,therearesomewayspromotingtheprocess.Itisduetothejointeffortsbymothersanddaughtersthatthefinalreconciliationcanbeachieved.3.2.1Mothers'EffortstoInstillChineseCultureinDaughtersThemothersmakegreatefforttoinstillChinesecultureindaughtersduringthedaughters’growingup.ThemothersinthejoyluckclubcometoAmericawiththeirAmericandreams.TheycometoAmericainordertofindabetterlife.Deeply,theystillpreservetheprideofChineseculture.Confidentoftheirculture,theywanttopassittotheirdaughters.WhenWaverlyaskshermotherwhatisChinesetorture.Themotheranswers:“Chinesepeopledomanythings.Chinesepeopledobusiness,domedicine,dopainting.NotlazylikeAmericanpeople.Wedotorture.Besttorture.”(Tan,1989:91)LindosaysthesewordsbecauseshedoesnotwantherdaughterloseconfidenceinfrontofherAmericanclassmates.Inthisway,shetellsherdaughterthatChinesepeoplearenotinferiortoanyotherpeopleintheworld,eventheAmericanpeople.Forthem,theoffspringofChineseimmigrantsareassuperbastheAmericans.Waverlymisunderstandshermother’shometownTaiyuanasTaiwanbecauseofthesimilarpronunciations.Lindocannotwaittocorrectit,saying:“IwasborninChina,inTaiyuan.TaiwanisnotChina.”(Tan,1989:183)Shedoesnotwantherdaughtermisunderstandhermotherland.Throughthiskindofdailydialogue,theJoyLuckClubmothersgraduallyinstillasenseofChineseaffectionintotheirdaughters’hearts.3.2.2CommunicationBetweenMothersandDaughtersMutualcommunicationisanotherfactorcontributingtoformingthereconciliationbetweenmothersanddaughters.Therehasalwaysbeenabarrierduringthemotheranddaughter’scommunication.Thelanguageandculturebarriersevermakeithardforthemtounderstandeachotherandcommunicate.However,astimegoesby,theygraduallyknowandaccepteachotherandeventuallyovercomethecommunicationbarriers.SeeingthehardshipandpaintheirdaughterssufferfromtheAmericanmainstreamsociety,themothersrealizethenecessityofcommunication.Theybreaktheirusualsilenceandopenthememoriestohavedialoguewiththeirdaughters.WhenRoserunsintothemarriagecrisis,shewouldchoosetoturntothepsychiatristratherthantalkwithherownmother.ButhermotherAn-Meitellsherthat“amotherisbest,amotherknowswhatisinsideyou,apsyche-atrickswillonlymakeyouhulihudu(Chineseexpressionwhichmeansconfused),makeyouseeheimongmong(Chineseexpressionwhichmeansdarkness).”(Tan,1989:188)ThisisatypicalkindofChinesetheory.Ying-YingrealizesthatshehaspassedherpassivityandfatalismtoherdaughterLena.Shebeginstochangeherselfnottobesilentanymore.Shesays:“allherlife,Ihavewatchedherasthoughfromanothershore.AndnowImusttellhereverythingaboutmypast.Itistheonlywaytopenetrateherskinandtopullhertowhereshecanbesaved.”(Tan,1989:242)WaverlydecidestomarryTed.Sheneedstotellherparentthenews.ShethinksthathermotherdoesnotlikeTedandwouldobjectherchoice.Aftertheintimateandfrankconversationwithhermother,sheunderstandshermother’sloveforherfinally.Sheknowsthathermotherisnottofightwithheronpurposeasshethinksbefore.ThatisjustawayoflovefromaChinesemother.Themotheralsoagreesonthedaughter’smarriagewithanAmericanman,indicatingheracceptanceforAmericanculture.Inthestory“Fourdirection”,Waverlysays:“InthebriefinstantthatIhadpeeredoverthebarriersIcouldfinallyseewhatwasreallythere:anoldwoman,aworkforherarmor,aknittingneedleforhersword,gettingalittlecrabbyasshewaitedpatientlyforherdaughtertoinviteherin.”(Tan,1989:184)3.2.3Daughters'UnderstandingandRespectofMothersDaughters’understandingandrespectofmothersisthelaststeptoshapetheaccommodationbetweenmothersanddaughters.TheAmericandaughtersarealwaysresistingtheirmothers.Themothersanddaughtersseemtobeintheoppositesideallthetime.Jing-Meiindeedsucceedsinresistinghermother.Shedisappointshermothertoassertherownwillandherrighttofallshortofexpectation.Shedoesnotbecomeapianist.Shedoesnotbecomeclasspresident.ShedoesnotgetintoStanford.Shealmostmakesallofhermother’sexpectationfail.Meanwhile,shebecomesanordinaryperson.Inordertorejecthermother’sshowingoff,Waverlystopsplayingchess.Afterlettinggoofhermother’ssupport,Waverlyisnotageniusanymore.Asthedaughtersgrowup,theygraduallyunderstandtheirmothers’goodintentions.InJing-Mei’striptoChina,herfathertellsherthestoryaboutSuyuanaftersherunsawayfromKweilin.Jing-Meitotallyunderstandswhyhermotherleavesthetwinsontheroadatthattime.Shealsoknowsthemeaningofhermother’sname“Suyuan”andhers“Jing-Mei”.Shehasadeeperunderstandingofhermother’shopeforher.Attheendofthenovel,Jing-MeimeetshertwinsistersinChina.“IlookattheirfaceagainandIseenotraceofmymotherinthem.Yettheystilllookfamiliar.AndnowIalsoseewhatpartofmeisChinese.Itissoobvious.Itismyfamily.Itisinourblood.Afteralltheseyears,itcanfinallybeletgo.”(Tan,1989:288)Shefinallyagreesthathermotherisright.SheisbecomingaChinese.AtthepointwhenJing-Meiandhertwosistersembracetogether,murmuring“Mama,Mama”,theculturalbarrierhasdisappeared.TheChinesecultureandAmericaculturearewhollyintegrated.3.3CulturalInterpretationoftheIntegrationThroughoutthewholestory,AmyTanshowsthereadersthepossibilityandinevitabilityofculturalintegration.Despiteofthedifferences,withloveandtolerance,differentculturescanliveinharmony.Themother-daughterrelationship’sreconciliationsymbolizestheintegrationbetweenChineseandAmericanculture.AlthoughtheAmericancultureholdsthemainstreamintheAmericansociety,itcannotremoveChineseculturefromitssocietytotallybecauseChineseculturehasitsownvalueandadvantage,justasmanyotherculturesdo.NeithercouldChineseculturebeatAmericanculture,norcouldAmericanculturewipeoutChineseculture.Thefuturecouldonlybethatthetwolivewithequalityandharmony.Inthisway,thecross-culturecommunicationcanbeconductedeffectivelyandmeaningfully.4.CorrectAttitudesinCulturalExchangeNowadays,wearelivinginanagewithglobalizationandculturaldiversity.Therearemuchmorecollisionandclashesbetweendifferentcivilizationsduringexchangethanbefore.Wearefacedwithmanyculturalshocks.Thus,correctattitudesinculturalexchangearenecessaryandshouldbeadvocated.RuthBenedict,anotedAmericanculturalanthropologistviewsthehumanculturesas“personalitywritlarge”.Eachculturechoosesfromthe“greatarco