Mothers & Daughters
Q: Why is Jing-mei chosen to take her mother’s place at the Joy Luck Club?
A: Because her mother passed away and the club wanted her to take her mother’s spot.
Q: What does the piano symbolize in Jing-mei’s life?
A: Her mother’s expectations and Jing-mei’s eventual acceptance of them.
Q: Why does Rose’s inability to make decisions affect her marriage with Ted?
A: Because Ted wants her to take responsibility and she avoids it.
Q: What secret about Suyuan shocks Jing-mei after her mother’s death?
A: That she has twin sisters in China.
Q: How does the novel show the tension between American individualism and Chinese tradition?
A: Through daughters wanting independence and mothers clinging to tradition.
Q: How does An-mei’s scar symbolize both pain and strength in her relationship with her mother?
A: It reminds her of suffering but also resilience and connection to her mother.
Q: How does the soup scene with An-mei’s mother foreshadow her later strength?
A: It shows sacrifice and the power An-mei gains from her mother’s suffering.
Q: How does Lena’s marriage highlight issues of imbalance and fairness?
A: Her husband insists on splitting costs evenly, ignoring emotional imbalance.
Q: Why is An-mei’s mother’s suicide both tragic and empowering?
A: It frees An-mei from Wu Tsing’s control and gives her a voice.
Q: What role does storytelling play in connecting mothers and daughters?
A: It bridges cultural gaps and preserves memory.
Q: What lesson does Lindo Jong learn from escaping her arranged marriage?
A: She learns the importance of cleverness and self-determination.
Q: What does the piano symbolize in Jing-mei’s life?
A: Her mother’s expectations and Jing-mei’s eventual acceptance of them.
Q: Why does Waverly fear bringing her fiancé Rich to meet her mother?
A: She worries her mother will disapprove, reflecting cultural conflict.
Q: How does Lindo escape her marriage without dishonoring her family?
A: By using clever lies about the matchmaker and the gods.
Q: How do the mothers use sacrifice to give their daughters better opportunities?
A: By enduring hardships so their daughters can have freedom.
Q: Why does Ying-ying struggle to connect with her daughter Lena?
A: Because of trauma from her past and difficulty expressing emotions.
Q: How does the soup scene with An-mei’s mother foreshadow her later strength?
A: It shows sacrifice and the power An-mei gains from her mother’s suffering.
Q: How does Jing-mei’s trip to China resolve her conflict of identity?
A: By connecting with her mother’s past and meeting her sisters.
Q: What major decision from Ying-ying’s past continues to haunt her?
A: Abandoning her first child after a failed marriage.
Q: Why is the concept of 'joy luck' both ironic and hopeful?
A: It reflects resilience despite suffering.