The Joy Luck Club - a Pair of Tickets Analysis
The Joy Luck Club – A Pair of Tickets – Analysis
Use of Language – Metaphor Theme – Identity
This story explores the insights of Jing-Mei’s literal and figurative journey back to her cultural origin, China.
In the text, Jing-mei had initially 'vigorously denied that [she] had any Chinese whatsoever below [her] skin.' and through this she has shown her inability to understand her true identity.
Use of Language – Metaphor Theme – Identity [cont.]
When she had finally comprehended her true identity, the use of visual imagery serves as a metaphor to represent this understanding.
When Suyuan had mentioned that Jing-Mei’s true identity as a Chinese ‘is in [her] blood’ The visual ‘saw [herself] transforming like a werewolf, a mutant tag of DNA suddenly triggered, replicating itself insidiously into a syndrome, a cluster of telltale Chinese behaviours’.
Use of Language – Metaphor Theme – Identity [cont.]
Suggests that Jing-Mei has finally understood the true meaning of discovering one’s true identity Identity is sometimes naturally a part of oneself; beyond one’s control.
The ‘pair of tickets’ she had bought for the trip to
China has also been figuratively a journey through her own thoughts and hopes Her search for the true meaning of her existence
Use of Language – Imagery
Page 274: When she first came to meet Jing-mei and her
“Little Wild Goose” and his aunt was described as a “tiny sparrow of a woman”. father, Jing-mei’s father was described as a Other words used in association with her are para 5) and
“crooning” (275 para 3)
“coos” (274,
What’s that mean
The bird imagery shows how by the time June’s father and his aunt finally had the opportunity to meet up, they are fragile like birds because they are already old.
‘They clasp each other’s hands, but do not hug’
However, while they are small and weak in appearance, they are chatty, saying “Look at how old you’ve become!”, just as birds can be noisy and
Use of Language – Metaphor Theme – Identity
This story explores the insights of Jing-Mei’s literal and figurative journey back to her cultural origin, China.
In the text, Jing-mei had initially 'vigorously denied that [she] had any Chinese whatsoever below [her] skin.' and through this she has shown her inability to understand her true identity.
Use of Language – Metaphor Theme – Identity [cont.]
When she had finally comprehended her true identity, the use of visual imagery serves as a metaphor to represent this understanding.
When Suyuan had mentioned that Jing-Mei’s true identity as a Chinese ‘is in [her] blood’ The visual ‘saw [herself] transforming like a werewolf, a mutant tag of DNA suddenly triggered, replicating itself insidiously into a syndrome, a cluster of telltale Chinese behaviours’.
Use of Language – Metaphor Theme – Identity [cont.]
Suggests that Jing-Mei has finally understood the true meaning of discovering one’s true identity Identity is sometimes naturally a part of oneself; beyond one’s control.
The ‘pair of tickets’ she had bought for the trip to
China has also been figuratively a journey through her own thoughts and hopes Her search for the true meaning of her existence
Use of Language – Imagery
Page 274: When she first came to meet Jing-mei and her
“Little Wild Goose” and his aunt was described as a “tiny sparrow of a woman”. father, Jing-mei’s father was described as a Other words used in association with her are para 5) and
“crooning” (275 para 3)
“coos” (274,
What’s that mean
The bird imagery shows how by the time June’s father and his aunt finally had the opportunity to meet up, they are fragile like birds because they are already old.
‘They clasp each other’s hands, but do not hug’
However, while they are small and weak in appearance, they are chatty, saying “Look at how old you’ve become!”, just as birds can be noisy and