Courtesy ChrisDo you think Kingston's family was able to integrate into American society as best as they could or did they struggle to find their place? Do you think they were able to properly keep their traditions and identities as Chinese-Americans?
"Kingston’s family finds itself struggling because distance and emigration have created two sets of tradition among the family, Chinese and American. But despite their differences, Kingston’s family remains whole and proves that family ties can survive almost any trial." - Molly
"Brave Orchid’s stories are only one instance of Kingston’s struggle to unite her Chinese and American identities. Throughout the story, Kingston proves the difficulties of growing up Asian American and the distance separating her from her parents and their old traditions." - Helen
"While Brave Orchid has tried to adjust the best that she could in China, she still yearns for her life back in China."-Jade
Courtesy JadeWhat do you think of Brave Orchid? Is she a strong matriarchal mother figure to an immigrant family, or is she a manipulative woman stuck in archaic ways?
"It is this strengthening of the Asian-woman stereotype that is meant to be displeasing for the reader. Brave Orchid strengthens the stereotype not only through her personality, but in her attitude towards women in general" - Chris
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"She stubbornly holds onto her own beliefs, thinking that her children were strange to be thinking in any other way than her own." - Jade
" Perhaps the distance between Brave Orchid and her children is made even larger by her sense of superiority over them. Knowing the struggles and sacrifices she has had to make to survive in America, Brave Orchid often comes across as overly critical of others. She sees her children as useless and disappointing." - Helen
"For example, Orchid proves to have the will of an ox and unbeatable determination. She understands the value of hard work. Fitting of the elder asian stereotype, the very importance she places on hard work brings out irritating traits." - Chris
Why exactly is Brave Orchid distant from her children? Is it a generational issue, or is it cultural issue mixed with her experience as an immigrant?
"While Brave Orchid has become accustomed to many aspects of American life, she will never assimilate into the culture as her children have. This culture gap leaves her feeling distant from her children, and she begins to sneak around in order to feel more involved in their lives." - Molly
"She feels a disconnect with them, since she was raised in a tradition Chinese household with long-established Chinese values and her children were surrounded by American customs while growing up. " - Jade
"So I could relate to this first mother-daughter exchange, but I kind of cringed at the chapter entitled "At The Western Palace." The mom is SO ANGRY at her kids, it scared me. It seems like partially, she's mad at them for rejecting traditional mannerisms and attitudes." - Lauren
"In these ways, Kingston underscores the gap between her world and her parents’ old world, their vastly different customs and traditions. Even the word “home” carries a different meaning for Kingston and her siblings." - Helen
Do you think in general Asian-Americans have had difficulty assimilating to the vastly different American culture?
"And so this is the Asian immigrant experience: we lose all our supernatural powers, gain a strong work ethic, hone our mental math skills, and give up our ability to operate motor vehicles. But seriously, there is a loss that takes place when immigrants come from the East and start living in the United States." - Chris
"Moon Orchid also notices that the newer generation does not hold some ideals important to traditional Chinese culture close to them. She compliments them, and they accept the compliment without a sense of humility. Moon Orchid realizes that these children were brought up in a different society, and as a result, hold a different set of values. "- Jade
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