In the final chapter, May accepts her impending death and reflects on her obsession with time, particularly after she moved to America. How do Chinese and American cultures differ in their ideologies related to time and productivity, in your opinion? Based on the trajectory of May’s life, in what ways does life in America perpetuate a future-focused worldview and lifestyle?
I don’t a lot about the Chinese culture to comment on that; however, it’s been my experience that America is focused on the future. Perhaps context is needed as the future is age related. Build for the future. Save (if you can) for the future. Now, though, as my life is in the fourth quarter, so to speak, I reflect on the past. I suspect this future outlook has changed over the generations. Many of us had a career, a pension, SS, and owned a house. Times have changed. The future looks different for different gens.
Time is money in the US so everything is about future production!! We are so linear in our thinking yet Chinese concept seems to be two fold, the now and the future carefully blended to take advantage of trust and success, you don’t want to waste people’s time yet you want to be productive now and for the future.
I think May picks up the frantic American habits of hurry, hurry, hurry, to get things done without wasting valuable time. She needs to be successful and she wants Lily to be successful as well so is frustrated by her lack of direction. In the end I think she regrets a lot if her Decisions based on security and success in both her professional and personal life.