An Mei And Rose Analysis

Through An-mei and Rose’s complementary passive natures in the first two chapters and the exposure of their development in the last two. Amy Tan uses the structure of the Hsu family storyline to demonstrate the correlation between An-mei and Rose, proving that their mutual weaknesses assist in the personal growth of the mother- daughter duo.

Topic Sentence #1:

As a child, An-mei was passive in her opinions about her mother, which seems to have translated over to Rose and how she deals with her brother’s accident.

Context/Integration/Quote #1/Citation:

An-mei’s mother is seen as a disgrace to the family, due to her remarrying after her first husband’s death. When An-mei’s mother came to the house begging for forgiveness, conflict breaks out and a boiling pot of soup spills on An-mei’s neck. This creates a scar which An-mei describes “My

scar became pale and shiny and I had no memory of my mother. That is the way it is with a wound. The wound begins to close in on itself, to protect what is hurting so much. And once it is closed, you no longer see what is underneath, what started the pain ” (Tan 47).

Quote #1 Analysis:

Zoom In: The use of the word “pale” and saying that “the wound begins to close”, presents the idea that her connection with her mom is fading. Later she says she wants to scratch off the scar, which represents her desire to learn about her mom.
Zoom Out: Unfortunately out of loyalty to Popo, she does not learn about her mom, or even have her own opinions about her. This is because she learns to stifle her own desires, out of respect for Popo’s hatred of her mother. This fading connection is a result of Popo’s bitterness towards An-mei’s mother, as she influences An-mei to think ill of her as well.
Context/Integration/Quote #2/Citation:
When Rose is at the beach with her family, she is expected to watch after her brother Bing. Her reaction to her brother falling in the water is, “ I sank to my knees watching the spot where he disappeared, not moving, not saying anything. I couldn't make sense of it. I was thinking, Should I run to the water and try and pull him out? Should I shout to my father? Can I rise on my legs fast enough?” (126).

Quote #2 Analysis:
Zoom In: The description of her sinking to her knees represents her lack of action, which in turn causes her brother to drown. This is caused by her insecurity of making decisions, which is shown by her lack of response and instead her questioning.

Zoom Out: Therefore, as a result of her reluctance to make decisions a horrible tragedy occurred. So consequently, the accident is used to represent her relinquishment of the responsibility to make the decision to save her brother, as a result of her fear and passive nature.

Concluding Sentence:

As a result of An-mei’s environment, with her grandma's influence, she learns to conform to what will please the people around her. This surrendering of decision- making is also indicated by Rose’s lack of action, for example when Bing drowns. This passive nature that both An-mei and Rose present turns out to be extremely detrimental.

Topic Sentence #2:

An-mei’s demonstration of strength is reflected by Rose’s newfound will of independence.
Context/Integration/Quote #1/Citation:
After days of Rose being paralyzed with pain after finding out about her husband Ted has filed for a divorce, she receives an inspiring phone call from her mom. Ted calls confronting her about why she has not signed the divorce papers. Rose then tells Ted to come over to the house, as they are standing in their seemingly lifeless garden, she states, “You can't just pull me out of your life and throw me away” (Tan 196).
Quote #1 Analysis:

Zoom In:
In the beginning of Rose’s and Ted’s seemingly faultless marriage, Ted has a garden. This garden was perfectly cultivated by Ted, every aspect of it controlled by him. This garden symbolizes Rose and the way that Ted dominates her and every aspect of their marriage. With the betrayal of Ted’s affair the garden appears to be falling apart, all the flowers dying, once again representing Rose and her initial denial of their collapsing marriage. If you inspect the garden closely you will notice weeds, which initially Rose thinks is one of the causes of deterioration for the garden. However, these weeds are resilient, which is demonstrated by Rose after her mother's phone call. Zoom Out:
This is when she finally establishes her new strength and trust in herself. By saying she won't be pulled out or controlled, Rose is finally dictating what she wants from the divorce. She has taken root in her choices, which she finally trusts herself to do. This is a refreshing change from previously when she did not have confidence in her decisions, so she allowed Ted make them.
Context/Integration/Quote #2/Citation:
An-mei defies her grandma and leaves with her mother when she ends up realizing that her mom is a concubine. After being oppressed in a disgraceful marriage, An-mei’s mother kills herself. This act gives An-mei the power to stand up to the second wife “And on that day, I showed Second wife the fake pearl necklace she had given me and crushed it under my foot” (240).

Quote #2 Analysis:

Zoom In: The second wife gave An-mei a pearl necklace, which originally she took as a valuable gift.

Although this was when she was passive and unaware of the intent of the second wife. This gift was one of manipulation from the second wife, just as the second wife manipulated An-mei’s mother into the marriage. The crushing of the fake pearl necklace represents not only An-mei’s newfound clarity but also her independence. This was given to her by her mom’s death. The use of the word “crushing” means to violently subdue, which can be assumed to represent her rebellion against being apathetic in her life.

Zoom Out: An-mei’s mother is treated as though she has no value at all, for example, she has no identity, not even being given a name. An-mei’s mother is powerless, she is forced into a marriage as a result of manipulation. To inspire a change in An-mei she kills herself. Which in turn gives An-mei the strength to stand up to the second woman, and evokes a lasting stand of independence in her. The death of An-mei’s mother serves as a wake-up call for An-mei to develop and become

self-sufficient.

Concluding Sentence:
The evolution of both An-mei and Rose is displayed by Rose’s establishment of her will regarding her divorce. Along with An-mei’s assertion of independence, as a result of her mother's death.