The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan

HOPE

A Chinese immigrant, when she lived in China, had bought a swan from a vendor who told her it was a duck who "stretched its neck in hopes of becoming a goose." The woman dreamed of having a daughter who, like the swan, "became more than what was hoped for." But when she arrived in America, the officials took the swan away from her. All she could save of it was a feather. She had a daughter, just as she hoped, who spoke only American English and lived a comfortable life. She wanted to give her daughter the swan feather, but only when she could explain its meaning "in perfect American English." -Amy Tan

SUMMARY

The Joy Luck Club written by Amy Tan concentrates on Chinese immigrants and their relationship with their daughters. The novel is set in California 1980s. The mothers Lindo, Ying-ying, An-mei and Suyuan are immigrants from China who started a new life in America after their horrible life in china. The book also focus on their American raised daughters Lena, Waverly, Rose and June. The book starts with the death of June mother, Suyuan. The Joy Luck Club asks June to take her mother place. June never understood her mother just like the other daughters didn’t understand their mothers. June mother Suyuan brought with her one wish from china which was to find her lost twin daughters that she lost in China , she never makes her wish happen. June is asked to make her mother wish came true but she feels that she doesn’t know her mother which it all changes when she meets her mother twin daughters and tells them her mother story. June feels more connected to her mother when she finds out the whole truth about her mother. Lindo, Ying-ying, An-mei and Suyuan immigrated from China to America because they had some pretty horrible things done to them. They believed that in America they could start a new life,a better life. The mother and daughters don't understand each other. Each mother and daughter struggles with cultural differences .But in the end the mothers and daughters came to learning more about each other and their relationship changes a lot for better.

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Jing-mei Woo (June) - June is an American Chinese. She is the daughter of Suyuan. June always felt of her mother high expectation and critics as lack of fondness but really it was because her mother had faith in her and loved her . June takes her mother place in the joy luck club - a club of her mother long time friends after her mother death. June feels that she doesn't know her mother well but her feelings change towards her mother when she goes to China to meet her mother lost twin daughters. She tells the twin daughters her mother story.

Suyuan Woo - She is a strong women who had some hardships in her life. Suyuan is the founder of The Joy Luck Club . She raised her daughter in an american culture rather then her own Chinese. Suyuan lost her twin babies when she flee her home town on foot because the Japanese where coming. Suyuan believes that in america you can be whatever you want to be, that's way she raised he daughter like an american. Suyuan has a wish to be happy but she is missing one element to realize her wish which is to find her lost twin daughters. She dies before her wish happens.

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Waverly Jong- is very smart and competitive. She's also very independent, stubborn and she likes to be a leader and in control . She is also independent from her mother. She doesn't want to take her mother advices and opinions but it's shown in the book that she longs for her mother approval of her dating a white man. She doesn't have a good relationship with her mother, her mother feels that she is too american and blames herself for it.

Lindo Jong- She knows how to hide her feelings and when to reveal them. Lindo feels that by naming her daughter Waverly she made her too american and feels that that's what separates them. She wants the best for her daughter. In China she was forced to marry . It was a horrible marriage and she also had to promise to her parents that she will not run away from the marriage. She kept her promise but found a way around to leave the marriage. she also have a clever mind to get what she wants.

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Lena St. Clair- Lena is married to Harold Livotny. They keep separated bank accounts so they don't own anything to each other. This suppose to solve problems but it actually creates problems. Lena is very submissive to her husband. She feels that separating their finances is stupid and she doesn't want to do it. But she give in all the time. She also didn't have a good connection with her parents. She couldn't stand up for herself until her mother helped her by telling her her story. In a way Lena mimicked her mother relationship with her father.

Ying-ying St. Clair- She lets her husband do everything for her, he makes every decision . She is like a shadow, she couldn't stand up for herself. But when she was young she was different she was independent. She realized that her daughter learned from her to be a shadow. She told her story to her daughter in order to save her which she did .

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Rosa Hsu Jordan - Rosa is the daughter of An-mei Hsu. She is divorcing her husband Ted Jordan because she had unpassionate marriage with him. Shes been afraid that things will get out of her hands.That's way she likes to act safe. She blames herself for divorcing her husband. She actually blames herself whenever a bad situation occurs. Her mother helps her to became a stronger person, so that she could speak up for herself.

An-mei Hsu- When she lived in China she went to live with her mother but because of her mother suicide she learned to never let anyone take away her happiness. She becomes a strong person. She also believes in nengkan which is the power to do anything if you set up your mind to it.