Amy Tan, "A Pair of Tickets"
A Pair of Tickets Amy Tan
Amy Tan’s A Pair Of Tickets is a story concerning family and roots. June May, like the author herself, was a Chinese born in USA and grew up with an American background culture, whereas her mother grew up in China and then immigrated to America. Looking at the repeated words, we discussed that one there are many words such as mother, sister, father and Aiyi. Most of the characters in this story belong to one family, June May’s family. It suggests to us that the tale is about relations and where we stand in our family. Even Aiyi brings practically her whole family to see her brother and niece. This is also one of the stronger traits of the Chinese cultures where there are many family occasions.
The Story also constantly talks of “blood.” In the western culture, blood, which is usually connected with red, symbolizes a sacrifice, death and also a bloodline. As we look at the previous repeated words, the “blood” means a lineage of family and relations. Blood also signifies your identity. In the story, May June, does not understand her Chinese blood identity at the beginning. She was embarrassed by her mother’s behavior. She did not realize what it meant when her mother said “Once you are born Chinese, you cannot help but feel and think Chinese…It is in your blood, waiting to be let go.” She admits that even though she is 36 years old, “I’ve never known what it means to be Chinese.” It is not until she goes to China and finally meets her half sisters that she understands what it is to be Chinese. “And now I see what part of me is Chinese. It is so obvious. It is my family. It is in our blood. After all these years, it can finally be let go.” Red color in the Chinese tradition is different from the west. It symbolizes joy, happiness and celebration (weddings and new years especially). As June May discovers her heritage through her blood family, she gains a kind of joy and happiness through it.
The imagery of the make-up
Amy Tan’s A Pair Of Tickets is a story concerning family and roots. June May, like the author herself, was a Chinese born in USA and grew up with an American background culture, whereas her mother grew up in China and then immigrated to America. Looking at the repeated words, we discussed that one there are many words such as mother, sister, father and Aiyi. Most of the characters in this story belong to one family, June May’s family. It suggests to us that the tale is about relations and where we stand in our family. Even Aiyi brings practically her whole family to see her brother and niece. This is also one of the stronger traits of the Chinese cultures where there are many family occasions.
The Story also constantly talks of “blood.” In the western culture, blood, which is usually connected with red, symbolizes a sacrifice, death and also a bloodline. As we look at the previous repeated words, the “blood” means a lineage of family and relations. Blood also signifies your identity. In the story, May June, does not understand her Chinese blood identity at the beginning. She was embarrassed by her mother’s behavior. She did not realize what it meant when her mother said “Once you are born Chinese, you cannot help but feel and think Chinese…It is in your blood, waiting to be let go.” She admits that even though she is 36 years old, “I’ve never known what it means to be Chinese.” It is not until she goes to China and finally meets her half sisters that she understands what it is to be Chinese. “And now I see what part of me is Chinese. It is so obvious. It is my family. It is in our blood. After all these years, it can finally be let go.” Red color in the Chinese tradition is different from the west. It symbolizes joy, happiness and celebration (weddings and new years especially). As June May discovers her heritage through her blood family, she gains a kind of joy and happiness through it.
The imagery of the make-up
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