A protagonist whom others may view as a pushover is introduced by the name of Ruth. A widowed, Chinese-immigrant whom Ruth loathes to call ‘mother’, raised her in the 20th century in California. While Ruth was born and raised there, her mother, Luling, was born and raised in Beijing, China. The two extremely large cultural differences caused both mother and daughter to clash. In The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Amy Tan explores how humans who grow up with culturally diverse environments overcome their differences and learn to accept and adapt to each other's needs. Despite one’s differences, love is an essential ingredient in a relationship. As the novel begins, Ruth struggles to communicate with people around her. Ever since she was a child, Ruth