Inthe the emotions of the characters. Their anger

Inthe the emotions of the characters. Their anger

Inthe novel, The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, it tells of four Chinese women drawntogether in San Francisco to play mah jong, and tell stories of the past.

These four women and their families all lived in Chinatown and belong to theFirst Chinese Baptist Church. They were not necessarily religious, but foundtheycould improve their home China. This is how the woo’s, the Hsu’s, the Jong’sand the St Clair’s met in 1949.

The first member of the Joy Luck Club todie was Suyuan Woo. Her daughter, Jing-mei “June” Woo, is asked to sit inand take her mother’s place at playing mah jong. Memories of the past areshared by the three women left, An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong and Ying-ying St Clair.

June Woo learns of the real secret her mother carried to her grave from hermother’s friends. The twin baby girls, her half sisters, Suyuan pushed ina Wheelbarrow as she escaped from the Japanese. Due to sickness, Suyuan canno longer carry her babies, and is forced to leave them on the side of theroad. She lives her whole life not knowing if they are alive or dead.

Inthe book, the Woo’s left for America to build a better life for themselves.Suyuan Woo wanted to have a daughter like herself, and no one would look downon her. It was important that she speak perfect English and hopefully notshare in the same tragedies and sorrows she had known.The movie broughtthis concept out very vividly. You were able to imagine the time and placeand the emotions of the characters. Their anger in the early years, how womenand children were treated as possessions.

The book spoke of Rose Hsu Jordan,daughter of An-mei Hsu, who had seven brothers and sisters. A very tragictime in her life when her brother Bing drowns at age 1 while she was in chargeof watching him.The movie does not touch upon this tragic event and bringsout the rich family Rose marries into, and the instant rejection from her boyfriendsmother. Rose unhappiness in her marriage with Tod, is similar to the unhappinessher mother had throughout her life.Lindo Jong was a special character inthe book , referring to promises she made to her mother as a young girl, andkeeping them throughout her life. She was actually abandoned by her familyand Lindo was sent to live with her future husband’s family.

She never complainedbecause she would never dishonor her mother.The movie did an excellent jobof showing us the culture during that time in China and how the matchmakerarranged the marriages at an early age. She is a very smart girl and figuresout how she could get out of this marriage and still keep her promise to hermother. She puts the blame on the matchmaker and is released from the marriage.Whenspeaking of strong characters in the book, one would have to include WaverlyJong, daughter of Lindo Jong. She was a bright child who became a famous chessplayer, which made her mother very proud.The movie brought out her unhappinessin her life and the unhappy relationship with her mother.

The two shared similarfcars even though they lived in different countries and different times.Ying-yingSt Clair, according to the book, was married at an early age and referred toher husband as a “bad” man. In fact she tried so hard to forget him she forgetshis name. She tells of taking her baby before it was born because of the hateshe has for her husband.The movie tells the story a little different in referenceto her baby. After her husband comes home with his mistress and causes hershame, she drowns her tiny infant while bathing him.

A tragic and emotionalpart in the movie.Lena St Clair, daughter of Lindo St Clair, may not havehad such a tragic relationship with her husband as did her mother; but shewas unable to find happiness in her marriage. The book and movie were similarin showing us the relationship she had with Harold.

They were business partnersalso, but he made more money than she. They shared everything right down themiddle and kept a running journal. They also decided not to have childrenwhich goes along with their relationship.

In the final conclusion, the twinbaby girls did live and reunited with their half sister, June Woo, in China.This story actually includes three generations of mothers and daughters sharingsame or similar tragedies and unhappiness. Mothers protecting their children,wanting their daughters to know their worth. The influence of mothers on theirdaughters every day life, showing respect was very important. The culturalrules these women were raised with for so many years in China had a life timeeffect on their lives.

They wanted things different for their daughters inAmerica, but they still compared life as it should be in China. I was touchedby the strength and courage these women had whether they lived in China orAmerica.