Expectations
What group must Jing-mei join after the unexpected death of her mother?
The Joy Luck Club
Does Jing-mei exhibit a good relationship with her mother?
No, its clear that her relationship with her mother was strained and had some complications.
Whose mother dies at the very beginning of the book?
Jing-mei Woo. Her father told her, “She had a bad idea in her head. But before it could come out of her mother the thought grew too big and burst. “ Turns out, her mother had a cerebral aneurysm.
How does Jing-mei feel about the the first meeting at the Joy Luck Club?
She is confused the accepted customs and seems to feel out of place within the group.
What is the big secret that her aunties tell her in the end of this chapter? How does this discovery effect her initial attitude after the mah jong game?
She finds out that her mother has two secret daughters that survived in China that Jing-mei is going to find. She states, “I can’t hear Ying’s voice,” clearly shocked after learning about this news.
How does the telling of Suyuan‘s backstory effect the way the reader might perceive her as?
The story gives insight to the trials and tribulations that her mother went through to make it out of Kweilin and into Chungking.
How does the pressure of living up to her mother’s legacy affect her emotions?
She is anxious and nervous about taking on such an important role. Her mother states, “You don’t know a little percent about me! How can you be me?“ And she is right. How can I be my mother at the Joy Luck Club?“
How does Jing-mei feel about her relationship with her mother? (hint: did she feel like she knew her well?)
She believed that she knew nothing about her mom when it came time to tell her sisters about her. She believed they didn’t connect and had a troubled relationship. “See my sisters and tell them about my mother? I don’t know anything.”
Does Suyuan exhibit a feeling of respect around her friends and family? Why or why not?
No, the first chapter states that she is always displeased by them, annoyed at their habitats and lifestyles.