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Every nation, culture, and family on the face of this planet has somewhat a sense of pride that burns deep down within them. Some people are inclined to base each single move, decision, and measure in their lives revolving around this concept of pride. The novel Eat a bowl of Tea by Louis Chu, distinctively describes a young Chinese couple living in New York s Chinatown during the 1960 s, whose marriage involves numerous conflicts of unfaithfulness, deception, and extreme dishonor reflected upon not only to each other but to their culture as well. The distortion of the infamous Wang family name triggered by Mei Oi s deceitful deluding actions towards her husband, Ben Loy, truly exemplifies the ultimate Chinese priority and major concern of defending one s own pride in his or her family name. The Chinese culture has a tendency to focus a great deal on the reputation and appearance in the way they approach and present themselves in their closely bound communities. This concern for image is clearly illustrated when Ben Loy s father, Wah Gay, acknowledges his son s marriage to Mei Oi by preparing an extravagant wedding banquet.
Wah Gay s invited guests include people of status such as the elite members of the Wang Association, whom were served with elegant Chinese delicacies, fine liquor, and plenty of cigars (68 76). Despite the reason for celebrating a newly found marriage in his son s life, Wah Gay s intent for this joyous occasion is to make a positive impression in front of highly recognized individuals that hold distinguished positions within the Chinese community. Wah Gay is definitely concerned in gaining a popular reputation and that his son and daughter-in-law are introduced and familiar with people of power, politics, and authority. Another example relating to one s concern about his own public s image is when Ben Loy hears of his wife s notorious events of betrayal and contemplates to himself, If his wife had to go to bed with another man, why did she have to be discovered!
The discovery of an act is even more humiliating than the act itself Ben Loy was most concerned about any publicity over the cause of his wife s infidelity (144). Ben Loy sees that his reputation of a man is at risk of being destroyed and mortified because of the rumors about Mei Oi s personal intimate affairs with Ah Song have flourished throughout the community of Chinatown. He recognizes that Mei Oi has broken the vows of loyalty and commitment in their marriage but the notion of the public being aware of this disreputable situation of infidelity has severely threatened his own manly pride. The need of status is definitely a main characteristic that is seen everyday in Chinese communities.
Destroying the honor of a person s family name in the Chinese culture, can lead to great lengths in the amount of shame experienced not only towards the primary individuals involved, but also to the extended family and friends. Chuck Ting, the elder statesman of the Wang Association, announces his stand referring to Ah Song s unacceptable act and behavior, If a case similar to this ever happens again, people will say He is a member of the Ping On Tong. He is free to do anything. He even got away with raping Wang Wah Gay s daughter-in-law! The reputation of the man reflects upon our organization (222).
Chinese organizations such as the Ping On Tong consider themselves as a family and because of Ah Song s membership and committing a devious crime, he has affected and shaped a negative image of his family in the eyes of the Chinese community. Even though the Ping On Tong association was not involved and behind Ah Song s sexual relationship with Mei Oi, they must intervene and figure a solution for the sake of the organization s name. When Chuck Ting discovers Mei Oi and Ah Song s sexual scandal, he reflects on the destruction of Wah Gay s family image by considering, It wasn t his cousin s fault of course, but the good name of the family was at stake. Not only Wah Gay s family, but all the Wang's would lose face if some means could not be found to hush this whispering campaign that was finding its way into attentive and eager ears in the shops and rooms of Chinatown (134).
Chuck Ting is troubled and worried about the consequence of Mei Oi s secret engagements with Ah Song will completely humiliate anyone who possesses the Wang family name. The gossip of Mei Oi s private relationship in the Chinese community truly has a degrading effect on the reputation of all the Wang's and may result to a devastating loss of family pride and honor. Shame within a family can affect a chain of people, which is especially true in the Chinese tradition. Dignity in a person s family name is an exceedingly serious issue in the Chinese tradition that possesses harsh outcomes to anyone who defaces it or to whom is victimize by disgrace. Mei Oi recalls a memory from her past, remembering how once a girl from her village has engaged in the immoral act of infidelity and premarital sex and as soon as the girl s family discovered their daughter s doings, her very own family immediately disowned her forever. The girl in Mei Oi s village committed a crime of disloyalty in which that was a total offense to the values of the Chinese culture and a humiliation to her family s honor.
Mei Oi recognizes the tremendous possibilities and results to expect for her corrupt actions of infidelity including the thought of being despised by the Chinese community and even worst experiencing total rejection from her own family. Wah Gay realizes the crucial effects of his son s well-known troubled marriage and dreadfully explains to Mei Oi s father, Lee Gong, I have to start a new life. I cannot stay in New York. The shame is too great (229). He feels that the only solution for the amount of shame he faces is to escape the life of Chinatown where he is well recognized and popular amongst the gossip and rumors. Wah Gay cannot handle the humiliation brought upon his family and himself.
He considers the option of disowning himself from New York s Chinatown because of the thought that he is a disgrace in the community simply for his daughter-in-law s error and mistake. Loss of pride in the Chinese culture is the most severe punishment that can be experienced. Chinese families are extremely concerned and dignified in their display of honor. The issue of pride in the Chinese background rises above all aspects in their culture which make it the primary focus and attention in living on this earth. A person s recognizable actions portrayed in society truly reflect on his very own reputation and in addition to his family s status.
Thesis: The distortion of the infamous Wang family name caused by Mei Oi s deceitful deluding actions towards her husband, Ben Loy, truly exemplifies the ultimate Chinese priority and major concern of defending one s own pride in his or her family name. TS: The Chinese tend to focus a great deal on the reputation and appearance in the way they approach and present themselves in their closely bound communities. TS: Defacing and destroying the honor of a person s family name in the Chinese culture, can lead to great lengths in the amount of shame experienced by not only towards the primary individuals involved yet also to the extended family and friends. TS: Dignity in a person s family name is exceedingly a serious issue that possesses severe consequences and harsh outcomes, which are especially common and vastly acknowledged in the Chinese tradition. Every nation, culture, and family on the face of this planet has somewhat a sense of pride that burns deep down within them. Some people are inclined to base each single move, decision, and measure in their lives revolving around this concept of pride.
The novel Eat a bowl of Tea by Louis Chu, distinctively describes a young Chinese couple living in New York s Chinatown during the 1960 s, whose marriage involves numerous conflicts of unfaithfulness, deception, and extreme dishonor towards not only to each other but to their culture as well. The distortion of the infamous Wang family name triggered by Mei Oi s deceitful deluding actions towards her husband, Ben Loy, truly exemplifies the ultimate Chinese priority and major concern of defending one s own pride in his or her family name.
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Research essay sample on Chinese Culture Chinese Tradition
