None Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 5

None - Essay Example In china, looking back historically, women underwent much degradation and prolonged oppression from the society as they were viewed as being lesser than their male counterpart. They never had equal rights as men, both in the social, political and economic spheres of the society. In this regard, the women become economically dependent and were never accorded any property or inheritance rights with no possession of an independent income source. Socially, the women were forced to subordinate to their fathers, husbands and sons, obey their fathers before marriage, and after marriage, their husbands and their sons in case they became widows. They had no rights in marriage and were forced to do odd and less important jobs. These marriages in the ancient times were arranged and were not in any manner dependent on the couple’s decisions. Once the females had moved into the marriage, they would then be denied any marital freedom with their task restricted to carrying out the household chores such as cleaning, preparing meals and looking after their children (Wang and Theodore, 19). Theirs was the manual labor in their homes. They never had too the right to education and to participate actively to social activities. The ancient Chinese never considered it serious to educate the females, and this had made their illiteracy levels very high. They underwent the retrogressive culture of polygamy and prostitution that tortured them mentally. For a growing young girl, one’s foot had to be bound on something too that affected their social lives, in order for them not to run or practice other customs. Males, on the other hand, were treated differently and with respect in the society. The male children were treated accordingly by their families as they were regarded as a gift from their gods. In the whole society setup, bearing of sons was much-preferred than the

Film Analysis - The Joy Luck Club - Prajakta Kanegaonkar Essay

Film Analysis - The Joy Luck Club - Prajakta Kanegaonkar - Essay Example Going ahead this becomes a major point of clash between the two generations, none comprehending and understanding other’s view point. For the women in the film ‘The Joy Luck Club’ we see this struggle going on constantly. In this essay based on the film, we are going to analyse this clash of culture as strong as generation gap and how the women in the film try to bridge the gap in the relations with the help of their values and cultures. This film is based on the novel by Amy Tan by the same name. This was completed and released in the year 1993 and received critical as well as mainstream acclaim. This movie and the book is based on the lives of four Chinese women who came to America because of some or the other reason and settled there. They came together and found the club called ‘The Joy Luck Club’ indicating that they would always find joy and happiness wherever they go and would not let circumstances affect them. The story could have happened any where in this world. Howsoever torn we are with the extreme circumstances around us we don’t give up and nor should we. The name of the club in itself is an indicator of the ever going hopeful attitude of the ladies who have formed the club. There are many stories that go on at the same time in the film. Unlike the book the director of the film has to make choices about which character to bring to surface and which one should relegate at the background. Irrespective of a few characters going in the background the weave of the story is not loosened. In fact all these characters contribute to the protagonist’s sketch very beautifully. The purpose of including Jing-Mei in the club is to tell her about her half-sisters in China, whom her mother longed to be reunited with all her life. The seamless flow of the story begins at this point. The story is not about Jing-Mei fulfilling her mother’s last wish. The story narrates the highs and lows of her relationship with h er mother, of broken moments, of tears and joys and most importantly of discovering her mother all over again. The story ends with Jing-Mei meeting her sisters and introducing them the mother they never had. The journey of a relation begins with self-discovery and acceptance of our own self and then the closed ones around us as they are. This journey is portrayed beautifully in the book but is also conveyed with same passion by the actors through their excellent acting and by the powerful media of cinema. The movie impacts the audience as much as the impact caused by the book on the reader. History and traditions are carried forward by the women of the society all around the world. This handing over happens seamlessly through stories, through teachings of pride, memories and is blended beautifully in the upbringing of the children. When we go through the stories of the club members, it becomes increasingly apparent that the cultural gaps between America and China would never be full y reconciled. The question arises when women in the film are trying to blend into a new culture of individualism, freedom of speech and decisions and free thought they are unable to let go of their Chinese ties and traditions. Surprisingly each of them has been a direct or indirect victim of the same ties and tradition. The daughters Jing-Mei, Lena, Waverly and Rose are all American women, because they don’t want to be a part of their Chinese heritage. This is what worries the mothers in the club, while their trying to preserve the Chinese traditions