Connecting characters from The Bonesetter’s Daughter
and A Streetcar Named Desire
During
our class discussion/fishbowl activity on The Bonesetter’s Daughter, the
topic of Ruth’s character came up that I would like to discuss. Many people in
the class were describing that they did not like Ruth’s character because she
was “annoying”. I think that many people had this perception about Ruth because
the point of view of the novel allowed the reader to know her thought processes
especially when it came to her conflict with her mom. At the same time, there
was dramatic irony because the reader was also exposed to LuLing’s point of
view and we, as the audience, were able to gain appreciation for LuLing because
of her history and the struggles that she had to overcome before Ruth was able
to respect her mother in this way. This had the effect of making Ruth seem like
an inconsiderate person. Personally, I was not aggravated with Ruth’s character
because I could see where she was coming from and was able to connect her
characterization with that of Stella from A Streetcar Named Desire.
I think that these two characters
are very similar in that they can both be characterized as people-pleaser types
and can tend to be pushovers because they have both had to deal with very
outspoken, opinionated, and just generally intense close relatives. Ruth’s
people-pleaser tendency can be noted throughout the novel with her interactions
with many characters including her mother. Gideon pin points Ruth’s flaw by
telling her that she was “accommodating” and “willing to bend over backward”
for others, while trying to make this character trait seem positive by saying “They
walk all over you, and you just take it. You’re easy.” (Tan 45). Ruth seems to
have developed this aspect about herself by growing up with a very critical
Chinese mother. She recalls this when learning about her mother’s disease
thinking “That was how her mother had always been, difficult, oppressive, and
odd.” (Tan 59). Evidence of how she developed this submission to her mother
coming from a type of fear of her can be noted when Ruth was a young girl and
injured herself on the slide by being rebellious and dangerous as her mother
advised her not to be. Ruth was immediately scared that her mother would humiliate
her and be infuriated by her actions, even though LuLing did the opposite. This
preconceived idea about her mother being extremely critical led Ruth to play
the part of a very obedient girl, in a way pleasing her mother, just so that
she would not be yelled at. As this submissive behavior became a part of her
character and her relationships with others, Ruth felt the need to blame her
mother for being so strict and “unloving” to her. This is very relatable
because it is a normal thought that you can be the hardest on those who you are
closest too because you believe that they have a strong enough relationship
with them (like one of a mother and daughter) that they will not be hurt by you
throwing all your anger towards them. This relates to the theme, Often times we
are harshest on those we love the most, which can be seen throughout the novel.
As for A Streetcar Named Desire, Stella’s pleaser ways can be seen as
her just wanting to maintain peace when introducing Blanche to Stanley. She
recognizes the skepticism that they both have towards each other and tries to
vanquish them by making excuses for them to make them seem more appealing towards
the other. When Blanche complains of Stanley’s lack of wealth, Stella
emphasizes their love for each other, relinquishing Blanche’s argument because
love trumps all. When Stanley complains of Blanche’s excessively showy
belongings, Stella reveals that her gemstones are actually rhinestones,
revealing that her sister is quite normal after all. This need that Stella has
to maintain peace through her way of pleasing people can be seen when she tells
her sister, “You never did give me a chance to say much, Blanche. So I just got
in the habit of being quiet around you.” (Williams 13). Here, just like Ruth was influenced by LuLing’s
intense personality, the reader can decipher that Stella’s submissive
personality came from her being used to being overcome by her outspoken sister.
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