Lena's mother, Ying-Ying, tells a gruesome story about how her great-grandfather and a beggar died. Her great-grandfather sentenced the other man to die the death of a thousand cuts. Before the executioner can raise the sharp sword to whittle the man's life away, the beggar's mind has already broken into a thousand pieces. A few days later her great-grandfather sees the same man as a ghost, a smashed vase hastily put back together. The man says he thought death was the worse he would have to endure, but the worst is on the other side. The dead man then embraces her great-grandfather and pulls him through the dividing wall. Lena asks her mother how her great-grandfather really died, and Ying-Ying wants to know why it.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 1,414 words. This
study guide contains 34,584 words (approx. 115 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our The Joy Luck Club Access Pass.