The Kitchen God's Wife Analysis

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Recommended: Stereotype in literature

Kerry Wade’s essay titled: “The Restoration of Voice in The Kitchen God’s Wife” is a literary criticism based upon Amy Tan’s fiction novel The Kitchen God’s Wife. She asserts that Winnie is able to escape the hardships of a patriarchal society and reshape her identity as she transitions from her past into her present life through the act of speaking up. Wade refutes this by first introducing Wen Fu’s dominance which acquaints Winnie’s oppressed silence, then by disclosing Winnie gaining a voice through Jimmie, and finally, by displaying what Pearl’s reaction is along with what she identifies her mother as after listening to the narration of her life story.

Wen Fu expects Winnie to “to become a proper wife (9),” one who entirely submits herself …show more content…

Wade states, “America and Jimmy turn out to be just another, gentler, form of silencing (15).” The moment when Jimmy passes away embarks the new beginning of Winnie living on her own. She becomes the figure of the household, working tremendously hard to raise her two children. Winnie is portrayed as an independent woman. Although Winnie speaks broken ungrammatical English, Pearl still finds “it her duty to listen to her mother (6).” Hence, Winnie finds it difficult verbally express her past to her daughter. Nonetheless, she ultimately discloses that Pearl is the result of Wen Fu’s rape not a symbol of Jimmie’s love. Wade believes that “Winnie has power in her speech to change the reality of others, she also allows others to shape her reality (17).” Pearl thinks of her mother as a fighter, who witnessed the pain of Wen Fu’s existence in her characteristics, her temper and behavior matched with his quite often. This allows restrained Pearl to open up about her multiple sclerosis condition. By speaking what is on her own mind, she motivates Winnie to no longer hold back upon what she is afraid to reveal. She promotes awareness develops the confident side Pearl to talk more by giving her the statue of the Kitchen God’s wife, who was originally forgotten and voiceless after her husband a mistress. Due to the fact that she has faced many hardships in her life, Winnie gives Pearl the statue and tells her: “She is telling you to speak. She will listen (17-18).” She describes the Kitchen God’s wife as “Lady Sorrow Free, happiness winning over bitterness, no regrets in the world (18).” Wade uncovers that the name change of the Kitchen God’s wife “not only restores Guo’s identity, but symbolizes both Winnie’s and Pearl’s final restoration as well (18).” Both women are not mind-readers, through the means of delivering

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