In The Joy Luck Club many aspects of Chinese culture and tradition were used to convey the cultural difference between the views of the mothers and their children. One of the many things mentioned in the book are Chinese zodiac years; the mothers believed that the year their daughter was born in, influenced their personality and characteristics. Much of Rose’s personality is that of those born in the year of the sheep. Rose is a passive person who cannot make decisions for herself. She finds it much easier to agree to the decisions of her husband. She seems to always play the role of a damsel in distress who always needs a knight in shining armor. Sheep people are not very fond of change and they do not like to make rash decisions. This is displayed in Rose, especially when she cannot make any decisions, even for the smallest things, like what to buy for dinner. She is very scared of making the wrong decision so she goes with what is told to her. She, like the sheep, finds comfort in well-laid plans and reiteration. Roses’ uncertainty in herself may have started when she was a child and lost her brother Bing, who was her responsibility. The trauma caused by the death of her brother might have subconsciously made her feel accountable for any unfortunate events that could occur under her …show more content…
She tells everyone a different story, a different aspect of her breakup. Later when she talks to her mom, she realizes that she doesn’t know how she truly feels and this thought upsets her. She has never been good at opening up to others especially her mother, which in Chinese culture is who a girl takes after and confides in. Like sheep, she creates a barrier between her and the rest of the world which acts as a safe zone for Rose’s emotions and feelings. Letting problems go by are easier than confronting them for