Week 3 Question #4

Consider the details the author provides in "A Chinese Banquet". What do these (largely image-driven) details establish in the poem? For example, we are told that the grandson is a dentist and drives a particular kind of car, specific dishes, etc. Consider that these details are offered primarily in the first half of the poem but are largely absent from the second.

In the background information of the author, Kitty Tsui, we learn that she is from Hong Kong. In the play, the family eats “sharks fin soup” (Line 12) and “suck on shrimp and squab” (Line 15) which gives us the image that the family is From Hong Kong also. The image given of the mother’s stubborn pride, typical of the nationality, comes to us in the poem when the author writes referring to the mother saying there are “emotions invading her face. Her eyes will not let tears fall.” This is a very traditional family which is strained by disparities their in values and the values of the daughter who is the narrator of the poem. To the family symbols of status and symbols of success are important. We are told “the grandson is a dentist who drives a mercedes benz.” (Lines 9-10) and “they talk about buying a house and taking a two week vacation to bejing.” (Lines 13-14). After having enlightened the reader of the pride bestowed upon for the family members who do not shame the family in the first four stanzas of the poem, the focus for the remainder of the poem is directed at the daughter and her shortcomings. To her they ask “what are you doing with your life” (Line 22) and “why don’t you study computer programming” (Line 24). If only the daughter could tell her mother, i’m gay and so happy with her” (Line 30). The daughter wishes she could just say it “i love a woman” (Line 39) but she knows “it is not what she wants to hear” (Line 40). The belittling continues “sold that old car of yours yet?” (Line 48). To the daughter, being accepted for who she is and the choices she has made in her life is something she has accepted and has learned to not let it bother her so much “my back is healing” (Line 49). What the daughter does to survive the torment is “dream of dragons and water” Line 51) Knowing that “my home is in her arms. our bedroom ceiling the wide open sky.” (Lines 52-52) is her escape from the torment, for in her daydreams and in her home she is accepted.