Joy Luck Club Quotes

World Connection Question:
How does parental expectations and pressure affect children in society?

These types of expectations and pressure put into children in our society for many reason such as getting good grades and doing well at school. In Joy Luck Club June (Jing-Mei Woo) deals with the pressure in a more distinct fashion compared to the children in our society today, as she rebels from her mother’s expectations. The expectations that are set high apply pressure to kids in society and Jing. This affects everyone in their own ways, as some people quit after a while like Jing, and some try to keep up with the expectations and goals. June doesn’t try to keep up with her mother’s expectations and expresses herself to her mom in a frustrated manner.

Quote: “You want me to be someone that I’m not!” I sobbed.”I’ll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be!” (Page 142)

Close-Ended Question:
What character in Joy Luck Club helps best define the inner, invisible strength through their conflict, and manage to overcome it?

Lindo Jong helps define what the true inner, mental strength truly is as she is forced into a terrible marriage. She accepts her fate, and in the process learns to stay strong mentally as she tries getting out of the marriage. With her inner strength from within her eventually overcomes the marriage and comes out strong mentally.

Quote: “I was like a blind person walking to my fate. But I was no longer scared.” (Page 59)

Open-Ended Question:
Should Jing-Mei have told her half sisters from before of her mother’s death, instead of telling them later?

I believe that Jing-Mei should have told the truth from before, instead of telling them later. For, this proves to Jing’s half sister’s unnecessary hope of seeing their mother again. If Jing would have told them earlier it would have been less heartbreaking, although it didn’t necessary mess up their joyful reunion; it might have psychologically affected her half sisters more than it would have done if they found out earlier.

Quote: “ If only, I think, if only my mother had lived enough to be one walking toward them.”

Universal

Theme:
Why does An-Mei’s mother kill herself? What sort of theme and meaning is there behind her death?

An-Mei’s mother reflects the universal theme of the important sacrifices done for love. An-Mei’s suicide was not done for selfishness and desperation, but it actually reflected the theme of the huge sacrifice she selflessly made for her love of her daughter. The suicide is done to make An-Mei to have a better life and have a future with happiness, as know she had more status and comfort in the household where she was “free” from the stress and tension after her mother’s death.

Quote: “When the poison broke in the body, she whispered to me that she would rather kill her own weak spirit so she could give me a stronger one.” (Page 240)

Literary Analysis Question:
Why does Amy Tan create various points of views in Joy Luck Club?

Amy Tan creates various points of views throughout the story to properly show how cultural diffusion was for immigrants from China. It also helps show the struggle between mother and daughters with the sudden vast cultural differences, and help the reader understand where the characters are coming from and how they feel towards their cultures.

Quote: “They see that joy and luck do not mean the same to their daughters that to these closed American-born mind “joy luck” are not a word, it does not exist.” (Page 41)