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Power In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club

677 Words3 Pages

The main theme in the story “Rules of the Games” by Amy Tan is power. This essay will discuss to what extent the protagonist of the story is responsible for the conflict or predicament she faces. In the opening line of the story, the main character, Waverly, states: “I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it at that time, chess games” (Tan, 1952, p. 1490). Moreover, the effects of power have been evident in a mother-daughter clash, a brother-sister rivalry, a strife between Asian and American values, and the battle between “Black” and “White” in a chess tournament.
Waverly Jong was born in the United States. Although …show more content…

Conflict arises when her mother controls her life. The more she excels in playing chess, the more expectations her mother puts on her, and she loses her freedom to spend jovially as a kid. At heart, she enjoys playing chess, but her mother always wants her to do better. Waverly says: “At the next tournament, I won again, but it was my mother who wore the triumphant grin” (1952, p. 1495). Waverly’s mother is thrilled when her daughter is featured on the cover of Life Magazine. At nine years old, Waverly becomes a national champion. Lindo Jong proudly announces her daughter’s prowess and fame all over Chinatown. To Lindo’s Chinese perception, her daughter’s success is the whole family’s success, which is contrary to Waverly’s more American view that her success is her individual …show more content…

Jong to the market on Saturdays. One day, Waverly confronts her mother during their shopping expedition. She faces a dilemma when she replies defiantly to her mother. Waverly exclaims: “Why do you have to use me to show off? If you want to show off, then why don’t you learn to play chess?” (1952, p. 1496). Mrs. Jong’s eyes turn into dangerous black slits. After the incident, Lindo has no words but just sharp silence. Waverly goes home, and her family gives her a cold shoulder as a sign of punishment. Just like in a chess game, she ponders her next

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