All in all it can be stated that a major theme in the works of May Tan is represented by the American colonialism taking place in the contemporary world at cultural level. Just as it has been stated in the beginning of the paper, language implies values. Conquering the world through its language, the U.S.A. is managing to export values that would otherwise be impossible to export. What Tan suggests is that behind language there is always an ideology to be transmitted.

Under these circumstances it can be affirmed that she becomes a militant against this type of cultural colonisation. Taking into consideration her biographical development this is easily understandable.

It can be noticed there are parental figures in her novels and her short stories. On the one hand they stand as symbols for one's roots, the...

Nevertheless, the relationship with these figures is never easy. It happens for the relationships to be dominated by a conflicting dimension. From this point-of-view, the parental figures and the relationships which they impose are a metaphor for the generational gap. At this point it may be safe to state that the writer is making a point about Asian women and the differences between generations, especially in the case of women, who, just like her, were raised abroad.
Class is another important theme in Tan's works. Also based on personal experiences this is an argument of big importance especially in the cultural, social and political context of the U.S.A. which is a real melting pot. The respect for the identity of the other is a further key theme that Amy Tan insists upon.