Literary Analysis #3 The Joy Luck Club

     There are poor relationships between mothers and daughters all around the world. In the novel The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, there was a large amount of inadequate miscommunication  between mothers and daughters. The complication between the families can be caused by many reasons, but culture stands out. Cultural differences are portrayed when you compare obedience from China to free will as American. The story would change dramatically if the characters were fathers and sons because men had more rights and they would be a lot more care free.

     The women had very little respect, or at least that's how men treated them. Ying Ying was married to Clifford St. Clair. and he changed personal things about her including her own name. Ying Ying evolved and eventually became a ghost because she eventually stopped caring. The same thing happened with her daughter Lena. Lena's marriage was headed toward disastrous ways and she didn't do anything to stop it. Ying Ying also married a man before Clifford, a man who turned out to be a womanizer and who left her for an opera singer. There were a lot of men who didn't value their relationships,

     Men wouldn't worry as much as women did. For example, An-Mei-Hsu's mother taught her how to cope with pain, distrust others, and swallow or control her tears. Men usually got many marriages and had more power. They hardly had moments where they got emotional and completely broke out. They made the rules most of the time and were unreasonable. Overall, they suffered the least.

     I believe that, for the most part, men were the main source of pain. If the story was based on them it would mostly be about unsatisfied marriages, keeping a family together, and even plain womanizing. Lindo, Suyuan Woo, An Mei Hsu, and Ying Ying all had emotional breakdowns or painful moments in their lives. They moved to America to escape all the bad in their world. Their daughters still faced bad men. Lena literally owes money to her husband Harold and doesn't have a healthy marriage. Waverly is in a relationship with a man named Rich, and he treats her the way she would want to be treated. It seems that there are good men in the world, but they still have to find them. 

     Overall, I believe that the entire concept of the story would be different if the characters were fathers and sons. The 2 reasons are because men's lives were different compared to women due to more rights, and because men would have less worries. My opinions about the novel in general make me realize that I'm lucky. Lucky that I have a healthy relationship with not only my mother, but my family. The last thing I would want is a large amount of miscommunication between my family and I, and for my family to go through everything that the characters faced.

     

Leopard Man #9-15

9. Tom Leppard is known as "Leopard Man" because he is covered with tattoos from head to toe of leopard spots, he lives the lifestyle of a leopard, and because of where he lives.

10. The author believes that people with tattoos and piercings are just looking for attention. He believes this way because he assumes that they failed to get the positive attention they were seeking, so they seek attention by getting piercings and tattoos.

11. Leopard Man stands out from other peirced and tattooed people because he tattooed his body to express the way he wanted to live his life, as a leopard. Plus, he tattooed his entire body while most people with tattoos only get a few or only cover their arms or back.

12. Leopard Man lives in the Scottish wilderness in a small cabin. 

13. According to Feys, the type of people society fears are loners (or anti-social freaks). They fear them because they follow their own beliefs and values and they refuse to let anyone's opinion effect them.

14. The "worlds most common but dangerous psychological disorder" is conformity. Feys argument consisted of people wanting and trying so hard to fit in so much that it causes them to destroy themselves. You destroy yourself due to all the pressure. 

15. Leopard Man is content with his life because he is living the life he has dreamed of. He doesn't care about everyone else's opinions on him and is relieved from society. All that he has ever wanted is his.

Latin Roots #7

Roots and Derivatives

1. duct(t), duce (to lead): conduct, reduce, education, abduct, deductive, ductile, induction, deduce, conduct

2. fed(er), fid(e) (faith, trust): federal, confidence, affidavit, infidel, bona fide, confide, confederate

3. fin(e) (end, limit): finish, confide, define, infinitesimal, affinity, infinity, finial

4. flect, flex (to bend): deflect, reflex, reflector, flexibility, genuflect, flexor

Word List

1. aqueduct(n): a large pipe or other conduit made to bring water from a great distance

2. conducive (a): tending to lead, help, assist, or result in

3. definitive (a): completely accurate, reliable, and authoritative; decisive or conclusive

 

4. fidelity (n): faithfulness to one's promises or obligations; steadfast faithfulness; technological faithfulness

5. fiduciary (n): an individual who holds something in trust for another, a trustee

6. finale (n): a "grand" conclusion, as of a performance; the last scene of a play

7. finite (a): limited or bordered by time or by any measurement; measurable

8. flexuous (a): winding in and out; bending or wavering

9. inducement (n): anything used or given to persuade or motivate; an incentive

 

10. inflection (n): a slight change in tone or modulation of the voice, as in a point of emphasis

11. perfidious (a): characteristic of one who would intentionally betray a faith or trust; treacherous

12. traduce (v): to speak falsely of; to slander or defame; to disgrace another's good name; to vilify