Themes of Hope in "The Joy Luck Club"
Themes of Hope in "The Joy Luck Club"
Many immigrants came to America with the hope and dream of a new life. Most had run from unbearable conditions in their “homeland” to seek the American dream. Continuing the theme of this semester, Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club looks at four Chinese women and their struggle to make it in America. All of the women try to give their daughters a better life than they had in China without losing their heritage and culture. The struggle between the Americanized daughters and their Chinese mothers is one of the main themes in the novel.
Suyan and Jing-Mei “June” Woo’s relationship seems confused with conflict but is ultimately composed of deep love and commitment for one another. Because of the major difference in the environment in which they were raised and their life experience miles around the globe, these two women have opposing ideas and beliefs. This, along with their lack of communication, is responsible for many of the problems in their relationship. It is only after Suyan dies, when June learns of her mothers past, that the conflicts are resolved. Then it is too late.
Most of the conflicts that June and her mother face are based on misunderstandings concerning each other’s feelings and beliefs. June does not understand or even fully know her mother because she does not know about her tragic past and the pain she still feels from its memory. Because Suyuan lost two daughters in China, and her entire family was killed in the war, she leaves this place behind her and places all of her hopes in America and her family there. She wants the very best for her daughter June. Even her name, Suyuan, meaning "long-cherished wish," speaks of this hope for Jing-Mei, meaning "the pure, essential, best quality younger sister." Suyuan tells her daughter June that she can be anything she wants to be, and that she has great talent. At first June is excited and dreams about what she will become. “In all my imaginings, I was filled with a sense that I would soon become perfect. My mother and father would adore me. I would be beyond reproach. I would never feel the need to sulk for anything.” (p. 143) Suyuan pushes June to be successful in many different areas such as dance, academics, trivia, and piano.
After failing to excel at each...