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A Mothers Best Intentions In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club

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Recommended: Describe one of the mother daughter relationships in amy tan's the joy luck club

A Mothers Best Intentions “You must teach my daughter this same lesson. How to lose your innocence but not your hope. How to laugh forever” (Tan 213). The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan brings the perspectives of four traditional Chinese mothers, Suyan Woo, An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-ying St. Clair and the experiences of their American born daughters, Jing-mei “June” Woo, Rose Hsu Jordan, Waverly Jong, and Lena St. Clair growing up. Three of the mothers: An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong and Ying-ying St. Clair show their motherly intentions throughout their daughters' lives, shaping them into what they are now. A mother's best intentions have a great impact on identity once the daughters become aware of these intentions.
An-mei Hsu has always tried …show more content…

Lindo is constantly bickering with Waverly on what something means, as they both misunderstand each other's words: “‘It means we’re looking one way, while following another. We’re for one side and also the other. We mean what we say, but our intentions are different’”(Tan 266). Waverly takes this into account with her mother's words and intentions, causing constant fights between them. Waverly thinks that it makes them “Two-faced,” making her think that Lindo does everything to “get what [she] want[s]” (Tan 266). Waverly is also annoyed with Lindo when her mother does not push her into playing chess: “In her hands, I always became the pawn. I could only run away. And she was the queen able to move in all directions, relentless in her pursuit, always able to find my weakest spots” (Tan 180). Waverly feels pressured into playing chess after the argument with her mother. Lindo only wants Waverly to do something that allows her to find happiness and relief, but Waverly misinterprets these intentions as gimmicks for Lindo to brag about her achievements as a chess champion. Lindo is also constantly worried about Waverly’s health, wellbeing, and happiness: “She sat up and the lines on her face returned, only now they seemed less harsh, soft creases of worry” (Tan 180). Waverly constantly misreads Lindo’s motherly affections as control, as she sees that her whole life is based around satisfying her mother's happiness. Waverly’s constant misinterpretations of motherly affection as control have destroyed her will to have an identity, only getting satisfaction from the approval of her

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