Writing Response Answer each of the following in 100 words. Consider the role religion, specifically Catholicism, plays in "The Plague of Doves." For instance, references are made to the season of L

Introduction

In Tan's "A Pair of Tickets," the interplay of names, identity, and photographs is intertwined to delve into the deep-rooted influence of cultural heritage. Jing-Mei's journey to China peels back the layers hidden in her name and those of places, revealing memories held in snapshots with cultural echoes. In delving into Tan's work, much like Kawabata does in "The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket," we uncover how names don't just label characters but shape who they are at their core.

The Significance of Names

In Amy Tan's "A Pair of Tickets," the names of each character do more than identify them; they reveal cultural heritage that shapes their identities. Jing-Mei wrestles with her identity, reflected in a name that's stitched together from both Chinese tradition and American modernity. Her name constantly reminds her of her dual identity. This is demonstrated when she acknowledges, "My mother was right. I am becoming Chinese" (Tan, 727). Through Jing-Mei's eyes, we see that identity is not merely shaped by our environment; it's also etched in our very essence. (O'Brian, 2011)

Switching up city names, like Canton becoming Guangzhou, shows us just how much weight a name can carry. China's shift from 'Canton' to 'Guangzhou' mirrors its journey, embracing a modern identity that reflects both cultural pride and political evolution. Changing a name can be seen as shedding colonial ties and embracing culture. Names aren't just tags we slap on things; they ebb and flow with our sense of self and they are heavy with history and culture.

Mei's Evolving Purpose

Jing-Mei embarks on a trip to China driven by her mother's longing to reunite with her twin daughters. Jing-Mei's trip to China evolves into a heartfelt quest to honor family legacy and realize long-held aspirations. Jing-Mei's motivations undergo a transformation. Learning about her sisters and having to tell them of their mother's passing adds unexpected complexity. Jing-Mei's internal conflict becomes palpable as she envisions the imagined scene at the airport. Jing-Mei's nervous anticipation of meeting her sisters peels back layers of who she is and underscores the heavy expectations resting on her. Tan highlights this by stating, "And I would recognize them instantly, their faces with the identical worried look" (Tan, 727). This emphasizes the emotional burden Jing-Mei carries, as the worry on her sisters' faces mirrors the weight of delivering this news.

The Symbolism of Photographs

In "A Pair of Tickets," snapshots aren't just still images; they're the threads that weave together past experiences, relationships, and identity itself. Jing-Mei's vision of her sisters at the airport, brimming with anticipation for a mother they've never met, underscores just how much these photos mean—they're not mere images but bridges to their shared past. Shanghai's backdrop, brings a deeper resonance to the long-anticipated gathering. You can feel the powerful yet silent ties that bind a family, echoing through time's relentless pace. Jing-Mei envisions her sisters' excitement, skillfully capturing the essence of the reunion within her mind's eye. However, these photos bear not only the hope of joyful reunion but also the risk of unmet expectations.These photographs reflect not just treasured memories but also the complex emotions they stir within such a culturally steeped landscape.

Comparison with Kawabata's "The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket"

One notable point of divergence is the role of names. While Tan weaves cultural depths into the names she chooses, Kawabata takes a more universal route by leaving his characters nameless to strike a chord with our collective sentiments. Tan's character names aren't just labels; they're rich symbols, steeped in cultural significance. In Kawabata's narrative, names are subtly integrated into light and shadows, creating a scene where lanterns, each bearing the name of the child who made it, form a vibrant mosaic of colors and patterns. Kawabata captures how fleeting childhood bonds can be, as the kids' names gently blend into their collective memories rather than standing out on their own. Kawabata emphasizes the subtlety of names in the scene, asking, "In the faint greenish light that fell on the girl's breast, wasn't the name 'Fujio' clearly discernible?" (Kawabata, p436). Kawabata artfully weaves in the nuanced role of names, showing that as kids age, these once vivid connections often fade just like the fleeting moments of youth. Kawabata suggests that as children become adults, the effects of these things may not pass, as he mentions, "Fujio! Even when you have become a young man, laugh with pleasure at a girl's delight" (Kawabata p.436). Kawabata captures the nature of human connections with a unique emphasis on how quickly our relationships can change and dissolve. Tan's narratives explore how our names resonate across generations as symbols of our ancestry, shaping our identities through time. (Admin 2022)

Conclusion

In "A Pair of Tickets," Amy Tan intertwines the threads of names, identities, and snapshots to paint a narrative rich with intricacies of family and cultural ties. Names aren't just tags we carry; they're rich with our ancestors' stories, tangled in our own life's battles, and constantly shaping us. Jing-Mei grapples with self-exploration and familial ties, against the backdrop of her ancestral expectations. Amy Tan shows us that photographs are not just snapshots but emotional beacons highlighting the inevitable shifts that time etches on our identities. Amy Tan unpacks the significance of names, steering us to see them as more than labels—they're threads woven into our cultural tapestry that shape our sense of self.

Works Cited

Kawabata, Yasunari. "The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket." 1924. “The Norton Introduction to Literature”, Edited by Kelly J Mays. Shorter Fourteenth ed., Norton. 2022 p.436

Tan, Amy. “A Pair of Tickets”. 1989. “The Norton Introduction to Literature”, Edited by Kelly J Mays. Shorter Fourteenth ed., Norton. 2022 p.727

O’Brian, Jill. “The Joy Luck Club.” Enotes.Com, enotes.com, 7 Sept. 2011, www.enotes.com/topics/joy-luck-club/questions/there-many-changing-images-story-how-does-tan-use-276423.

Admin, JL. “The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket – Literary Devices: Jotted Lines.” Jotted Lines | A Collection Of Essays, 31 Mar. 2022, jottedlines.com/the-grasshopper-and-the-bell-cricket-literary-devices/.