Play by ear.

Throughout the book, stories are used to link generations and circumstances. What do you think the importance of stories are to the novel? (in general?)

Think about stories and...

• the creation of the Joy Luck Club
• the JLC members
• the readers interpretation

You don't have to answer all of the bullets, just post on what you think the importance of stories are to the novel and everyday life.

Concubines

"Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing, quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status. Typically, the man has an official wife and, in addition, one or more concubines. Concubines have limited rights of support from the man, and their offspring are publicly acknowledged as the man's children, albeit of lower status than children born by the official wife or wives; these legal rights distinguish a concubine from a mistress.

The term concubine generally signifies ongoing, quasi-matrimonial relationships where the woman is of lower social status than the man or the official wife or wives. Some historical Asian and European rulers maintained concubines as well as wives.

Historically, concubinage was frequently voluntary (by the girl and/or her family's arrangement), as it provided a measure of economic security for the woman involved. Involuntary, or servile, concubinage sometimes involves sexual slavery of one member of the relationship, typically the woman, being a pleasure slave to the man." --Wikipedia



In An-Mei Hsu's story, her mother was a concubine to a wealthy man. She talks about the man's other 4 wives/concubines. Talk about how you feel about concubinage. Should it still be legal today? Do you think it is fair? Consider religions and the role of the women (for pleasure or for children). Read http://thetruth.atspace.com/concubines.html and discuss.

Quote!

". . . I wanted my children to have the best combination: American circumstances and Chinese character. How could I know these two things do not mix? I taught [my daughter] how American circumstances work. If you are born poor here, it’s no lasting shame. . . . In America, nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you. She learned these things, but I couldn’t teach her about Chinese character . . . How not to show your own thoughts, to put your feelings behind your face so you can take advantage of hidden opportunities. . . . Why Chinese thinking is best."

Do you agree with her that both "American circumstances and Chinese character" couldn't mix? Isn't her idea about America quite naive, thinking that it is a place of equal opportunity? Does anyone feel all the characters are challenged by this, having to entwine both "American circumstances and Chinese character?" Discuss.

(I was too lazy to type it all, full passage on page 289)