摘 要

关键词: 婚姻观; 《喜福会》; 差异

Abstract Because of the different social and historical background and geographical environment, there are many differences between China and the West. Marriage view is one of them. From the angle of marriage view, this article compares the marriage view of mother and daughter in different cultural backgrounds in The Joy Luck Club, and finds out the difference of marriage view between China and the west, and helps those who marry in the world to achieve better communication.

Key Words: View on marriage; The Joy Luck Club; Difference

Introduction

The Joy Luck Club is the first novel written by Amy Tan, a Chinese American woman writer. Her novels are deeply liked and praised by literary critics and readers.The narrative of the novel is dominated by women, describing the values and emotional conflicts between the four women who moved from China to the United States and their daughters born and grown in the United States. And We are deeply impressed by the feelings and marriages of the protagonists. Because China and the West are influenced by different thoughts Confucianism and Christianity, they have different attitudes towards marriage. Because of the different social environment, the human concept of marriage and the mode of combination are also different. The culture of China and America is different, especially the concept of marriage. Therefore, from the angle of marriage view, this article compares the marriage view of mother and daughter in different cultural backgrounds in The Joy Luck Club, and finds out the difference of marriage view between China and the west, and helps those who marry in the world to achieve better communication.

Amy Tan, a Chinese-American writer, deserves a special place in the study of contemporary Chinese American literature. Among all the Chinese American writers, Amy Tan undoubtedly occupies a representative position. In 1989, the Joy Luck Club, which is the first novel of Amy Tan, wins great fame for her. She is good at describing the subtle emotions between mother and daughter, usually taking the leading role in Chinese-American women.

Chapter one Chinese and American Marriage Values

1.1 The Definition of Marriage Value

Marriage value , in a word, is people’s view and attitude towards the marriage and family. Marriage comes from love, not the grave of love. Because married couples are close friends and intimate friends and have a deep emotional foundation, they have the same view on many things, and finally, based on a common goal of life, get married together and spend the rest of their lives together. There is a great difference between the westerners' view of marriage and Chinese’s view of marriage. Westerners believe that marriage is a private affair, no one can interfere, and there is no moral problem in marriage.

1.2 Development of Chinese Marriage Value

The marriage in the past in China was certainly a family affair. That is to say , parents should take the responsibility and obligation for their children’s marriage. China's traditional view of marriage is generally described as a hundred years old. They focused on one end, so they were very cautious. They tended to think farther and think more thoughtfully. But Chinese people always put their parents in the bottom of their hearts. They would ask for their parents' opinions and sincerely expected their parents' blessings. But in real life, because of such problems, there were many cracks and even deconstruction in the family. The change of contemporary Chinese marriage values includes: the feelings of marriage have been greatly improved, the tolerance of marriage diversity has been greatly improved, the idea of freedom of marriage has obviously become common sense, marriage is more autonomous, the status of men and women in the family is more equal, more emphasis on marriage is a personal affair, a reduction in the negative evaluation of divorce, society is more tolerant of premarital sex, diversity of awareness of extramarital sexual behavior and the number of celibate is increasing.

1.3 Development of American Marriage Value

Some new changes are taking place in the concept of marriage in the United States. Firstly, unmarried cohabitation has become a normalization. According to the Census, there are five million two hundred thousand unmarried cohabitation partners in the United States by 2012, who have two million two hundred thousand children. But now, not only is the young people living a life which is called non - marital cohabitation in the past and even their parents are starting to get used to it and choose such a way of life. Secondly, same-sex marriage is being legalized. Nowadays, the United States has recognized the legality of same-sex marriage, which is not possible in the past. The orientation of choosing spouse is tend to be racial diversity . There is about ten percent white lady would like to marry Indians, the Middle East, the Asian (the East Asian), and the Negroes, which is unthinkable in the past.

Chapter Two Different Aspects in Chinese and American Marriage Value based on The Joy Luck Club

2.1 Spouse Selection

2.1.1 Chinese Spouse Selection

In traditional Chinese society, there are many concerns and interference in marriage, especially in the freedom of spouse selection and the standard of spouse selection. China emphasizes on taking state and society as the standard, free love and marriage are not allowed by feudal ethics. Therefore, the authority of parents is beyond doubt. It is natural for parents to deal with their children's marriage according to their own views. In China, marriage without a matchmaker is not a complete marriage. Traditionally, marriage is usually done by matchmaker who goes to the girl’s house to ask for her parents’ agreement . Only if her parents agree , it becomes a marriage.

When Lindo was two years old, there was matchmaker visit her parents. Although she had never seen a man who was going to be her husband, she had to marry him because of her parents’ promise. Even though she knew later that she would marry such a bad man as a wife, she would not dare to defy and accept her fate. For her, there is no freedom in her marriage. She has completely lost the right to choose her own marriage object, and can only comply with her parents' decision.