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Jing-Mei's Letter Mother

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People experience many things in their life that can change their views on different things. In the novel The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan shows the lives of mothers and daughters. In the story The Joy Luck Club Suyuan and her daughter Jing-Mei show how their different experiences growing up changed their characters. Also it shows us how their different experiences changed how they acted in life. Suyuan grew up in China while Jing-Mei grew up in America and because of this it led to conflict. For example Jing-Mei says,”I used to dismiss her criticism as just more of her Chinese superstitions that conventionally fit the circumstances”(Tan 20). This shows us that Jing-Mei did not believe her mother which led them to more conflict. Also Jing-Mei says,”Too …show more content…

Jing- Mei shows this when she says”Then I wish I wasn’t your daughter I wish you weren't my mother” (Tan 153). This shows us that she did not like her mother very much, and this also shows that she is very negative. We also know that Suyuan experienced different things. For example Suyuan said”At first my mother thought that I could’ve been a chinese shirley temple” (Tan 141). This shows us that Suyuan had a very positive life growing up because her mother believed in her. This also shows that because of having a happy childhood this led her to being a very kind and good mother, and this shows us that because of her hardships it led her to being humble and positive and …show more content…

Because of this they eventually overtime come to understand one another. For example Jing-Mei shows this when she says “ I try to think of a castone word’s I can say to her” (Tan 316). This shows that she is learning to overcome her anger by thinking of nice things that she could say. Suyuan shows that she can work with Jing-Mei when she does this “ For a long time, I wanted to give you this necklace. See I wore this on my skin, then you can put it on your skin, then you know my meaning. This is your life’s importance” (Tan 232). This shows us that Suyuan wants her daughter to know that she will always be with her no matter what happens. They will always be

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Throughout her childhood life her mother, Suyuan, was continuously pushing her to be her best. Jing-Mei purposely tried to fail at everything to prover to her mother that she could never become a great and famous person. Then after a piano recital that went horridly wrong, her and her mother had an argument and their relationship was never the same. Many years later Suyuan tried to give Jing-mei the piano that she had as a child. She refused the offer, but than a year later her mother died and Jing-Mei was cleaning out her mother’s house and decided to play the piano and she was surprised that she still knew how.

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Jing-Mei has this mother who lost her husband and twins back in China and is now trying very hard to get a fresh and better start on her new life with her child. Now this could mean many different things to different people, but

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With the mother pushing her this much it makes her very strict. She doesn’t really give Jing a choice. This also made Jing feel like her mother didn’t like her the way she was. “’Why don’t you like me the way I am?’ I cried.

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When the story was told from Jing-mei’s perspective, Suyuan seemed like a selfish mother but when Suyuan’s story was told from Jing-mei’s father’s perspective, we saw the reality of Suyuan’s sacrifice. Another example of is when she takes on an extra job so that Jing-mei could take piano classes. After Suyuan had passed away, Jing-mei reminisced about her past and told her story of when she was 9. Her mother had wanted her to be a prodigy. When Suyuan saw a piano prodigy on TV, she called Jing-mei over and

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Her intentions are not meant for heartbreaks, but for the well-being of her babies. Support Point # 2- Suyuan’s top priority is to educate Jing-mei as ideal daughter; however, high expectations are difficult to achieve causing problems and leading bitterness into the relationship. Support Point

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June, however, struggled to please her mother in all she did, and never felt as if she had any worth. Their relationship becomes distant due to miscommunications. Asian culture and expectations weigh heavily on Suyuan’s mind as she worries about the path her daughter takes, one that is untraditional and looked down upon. June finally understands her mother, after it is too late. Secrets and traditions can either tear apart or build up a relationship.

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Jing-Mei’s American upbringing hindered her ability to understand her mother’s perspective – which was based on Chinese heritage – resulting in strong differences of opinion that led to arguments. In addition, since Jing-Mei and her mother failed to communicate effectively about their different perspectives, they became frustrated and upset with each other. The relationship between Jing-Mei and her mother was harmed by their emotional distance from each other. The absence of verbal affection between them translated to increased resentment and disappointment. Positive emotional connection between a parent and child proves vital in maintaining a healthy relationship in the face of

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The result of this is that they have different experiences, which have shaped their current points of view. One example of an experience that shaped Jing-Mei’s point of view is shown in the story. The text states,” So it was a surprise to me when I hit the first wrong note and I realized something didn’t sound quite right. And then I hit another and another followed that.

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Amy Tan uses Jing-mei and her mother Suyaun to show that communication is important when she wrote “‘You want me to be someone I’m not…I’ll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be!’”(Tan 153). The reason that this quote is important Is because Jing-mei and Suyuan didn't have a strong relationship and it was because of arguments similar to this. She also shows that communication is important when she wrote “‘Only you pick that crab. Nobody else take it. I already know this.

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Regardless, her mother still is persistent on Jing Mei becoming a prodigy, despite her passionless performance and her family’s negative reaction. In return, Jing Mei becomes angry at her mother, and will do anything to change her mind. Screaming, “I wish I were dead! Like them.”, her mother freezes, disappointed in her daughter, and quits Jing Mei’s piano classes. On Page 28-29, Jing Mei’s perspective on the world becomes more apparent: “For unlike my mother, I didn’t believe I could be anything I wanted to be, I could only be me.”

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Throughout the story, Jing-mei’s feeling toward her mother change in critical ways. As a young child, Jing-mei wants constant attention from her mother, going so far as agreeing to become a child prodigy. In the story, Jing-mei commented, “In fact, in the beginning, I was just as excited as my mother, maybe even more so” (Tan 221). This was before her mother becomes highly adamant about wanting her child to become a prodigy. As time went on, she wanted Jing-mei to become the epitome of a child star.

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At first Jing-Mei grew in her dreams and desirers to be perfect for her family; “In all of my imaginings

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However, this determination sometimes appears to be obsessive to the point of running her daughter’s life for her. Regardless, she is only trying to help, as she encourages Jing Mei by asserting “‘You can be best anything.’” (1). Because of this, it suggests that although she is very harsh on her daughter at times, it is only to make sure that Jing Mei can use her full potential and not end up losing everything like her

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In the words of Jing-Mei in the last line of the story, “Together we look like our mother. Her same eyes, her same mouth, open in surprise to see, at last, her long-cherished wish” (Tan 159). Throughout her life, Suyuan, their mother, held onto the hope that she would see her daughters again. In this hope, she named Jing-Mei in connection to her sisters, keeping the “long-cherished wish” that someday her daughters would reconcile and complete their family circle. The occasion that

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“For unlike my mother, I did not believe I could be anything I wanted to be, I could only be me.” (Tan 24). With this statement you can see that she does not agree with her mother. Jing-Mei’s Mother was raised in Chinese culture, therefore she is very strict and demanding to Jing-Mei to do what she wants. From doing a chore, to hobbies or even Jing-Mei’s passion.

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