A Comparison of Themes of Amy Tans Kitchen Gods Wife...

Similar Themes in of Kitchen Gods Wife and Joy Luck Club Amy Tans two novels, The Kitchen Gods Wife and The Joy Luck Club, represent a unique voice that is rarely heard in literature. Tan is a Chinese-American woman who tells stories of old China that are rich in history and culture. Both novels have at least one strong central female character who is trying to inform her daughter about their Chinese heritage and familial roots. The plot ofThe Joy Luck Club displays this idea in each womans story. The older generation is comprised of four women: Suyuan Woo, An-Mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-Ying St. Clair. They relate their stories to their daughters, hoping to retain some of their rich histories and old lifestyles†¦show more content†¦The Kitchen Gods Wife is the story of Winnie Louie, a Chinese woman who came to the United States after World War II. She has survived abandonment, a bad marriage, loss of children, war and bombings, and adaptation to a new culture. Through the novel Winnie relates the story of her life to her daughter Pearl, who is unaware of her culture and Chinese heritage. Winnie wants Pearl to understand what her life was like in traditional China. Tan expresses similar themes in the two novels. One of these recurring themes is a generation and culture clash between old customs and Western civilization. The mothers in both books come from a strict country with rigid rules and restrictions for women. The daughters have grown up in America without those limitations, making it hard for them to relate to their mothers. Another common theme is abandonment. At least one character in each book has either been abandoned by loved ones or has abandoned loved ones herself. Not only are abusive husbands abandoned by their wives, but babies are abandoned by their mothers, as well. The older women in both novels are forced to deal with the abandonment of their countries, cultures, and lifestyles. Strong central characters are seen throughout both novels. The older generation of women displays strength gained through experiencing the hardships of war. The younger generation of the Chinese