The Joy Luck Club Research Paper

Myths and superstitions have been a part of societies for many generations. They have been major components of different cultures and traditions, and play a pivotal role in defining them. The novel The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, depicts the lives of Chinese immigrants, highlighting the common Chinese beliefs and superstition that they brought with them. The story line switches back and forth between the mothers that immigrated to America and their highly Americanized daughters. Throughout the story, we see many examples of myths and superstitions, which help illustrate the idea of magical realism. Despite speculations on the significance of these myths and superstitions, they hold a very important meaning, and play a vital role in Chinese families. In The Joy Club, Amy Tan uses imagery to express how Chinese myths and

When Lindo is preparing to get her hair cut, she makes comments about Waverly’s features in comparison to her own, stating to her “‘You have my nose. The hole is not too big, so your money will not be running out. The nose is straight and smooth, a good sign. A girl with a crooked nose is bound for misfortune. She is always following the wrong things, the wrong people, the worst luck’” (Tan 257). The use of imagery when describing Waverly’s features demonstrates how Lindo’s superstition about characteristics being attributed to features is conveyed across to her daughter, which emphasizes the cultural beliefs that Lindo still holds dear. Waverly accepts these superstitions, as she brought Lindo to the salon because of her Chinese face, and because she felt embarrassed to have connections to her Chinese mother, which further illuminates cultural connections. The article “Self-induced serenity” further demonstrates the cultural and traditional roots of myths and superstitions. The article suggest that “Rural life is far harsher than the urban one, but villagers manage to keep their