In Amy TanÆs (2002) The BonesetterÆs Daughter, we are provided with a similar theme in TanÆs earlier works. That theme revolves around the cause and effect impact on identity of intergenerational relationships and experiences. In The BonesetterÆs Daughter, the main character is Ruth Young, a middle-aged Chinese American ghostwriter living in San Francisco with her live-in, Art. Being a ghostwriter is apropos for Ruth, whose mother is haunted by ôghosts,ö in this case mainly memories, of the past. The story becomes involved when Ruth discovers her mother is suffering from the initial signs of AlzheimerÆs and her discovery of a manuscript kept by her mother in native Mandarin. Not speaking Mandarin, Ruth has the work translated and discovers the story of her motherÆs nursemaid, the ôbonesetterÆs daughterö of the title who raised her. The events that unfold in the novel transform Ruth, from a daughter who exhibits contempt for her motherÆs raising of her to her recognition that she is now her motherÆs keeper as her mother once kept her. Ruth comes to know her mother through the past and this provides her with greater understanding and healing in the present.
The intergenerational tale told by Tan does not just focus on LuLing and Ruth. It also focuses on the relationship between LuLing and her nursemaid Precious Auntie. Precious Auntie is actually LuLingÆs mother. Ruth discovers this due to her motherÆs manuscript she has translated into English. This explains many things to her, promoting greater awareness and healing. She discovers her motherÆs AlzheimerÆs necessitates her learning as much about her mother as she can, including reading her manuscript. In it, we discover that many of LuLingÆs attitudes, including her belief in mysticism and ghosts, her fear and pain over Ruth living her own life and many other aspects of her character that impact the mother-daughter relationship were forged in her yo...