Symbolism In The Joy Luck Club

The Black and White Journey of Lindo and Waverly Jong
Throughout the novel The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan convey’s different mother-daughter relationships from each point of view. Joseph Campbell, a well known American Mythologist, in his interview “The Power of Myth” describes a true hero. In their conversation Campbell states “A hero is someone who moves out of a society that would have protected them, and into the dark forest, into the world of fire, or original experience” (3). Campbell is explaining how a hero goes from their original world into the unknown, the “Dark Forest”. He uses “World of fire” as a metaphor for the new experience you undergo. The Hero's Journey consist of eight steps, within these eights steps you change from a

person who is psychologically immature into a new refound person with a purpose or message.Going on this Journey is supposed to strengthen, or change your view of the world. Through physical and spiritual deeds a hero can merely be someone who gives up something in hopes of bettering oneself or another person.Throughout the book Lindo and waverly show characteristics of a hero and what it truly means to be a one.
In the beginning of Lindo Jong’s life she immediately took a step out of her ordinary world when she received her call to action. To please and honor her family she left for an arranged marriage to Tyan-yu. This would be described as a physical deed in relation to Campbell, by leaving and marrying him she sacrificed her life for her family. The deed is described in this line from the book, “I once sacrificed my life to keep my parent's promise. This means nothing to you, because to you promises mean nothing” (Tan 49). She wanted to do this unselfish deed to keep her family happy,