Themes

The main themes of the short story “Everyone Talked Loudly in Chinatown” by Anne Jew are cultural and generational differences. Through this short story, the author tries to explore the inner conflict and dilemmas of Chinese-origin children growing up in a Western environment with parents who are still attached to traditional Chinese values.

Cultural differences

The theme of cultural differences is a key element of the short story, as the narrative is set in Canada and follows a Chinese-origin narrator and her family. The narrator illustrates the Western lifestyle through her relationship with Todd, a white boy, and her German friend Sandra. Todd and Lin have a very typical teenage interaction, him walking her home, asking her to the movies and kissing her. Also, the narrator’s childhood friend and her family who are German illustrate v...